FlashFC History

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Wednesday, February 05, 2025

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We estimate Flash FC club teams have won more than 100 indoor and outdoor Leagues for over 25 years. And Flash squads have won virtually every Tournament we've entered, not every year, but we've won multiple times at PA West, Akron GFS, Windsor Teutonia, the Columbus Cup, The Champions Cup - the legacy includes losing a few too, the indoor National Finals in Kansas where we reached the Semi's, and the indoor USA Finals in Detroit where a team of ex national, mostly European, professionals showed the gap between us amateurs and real players ! ~ the legacy is still formidable, and something no other Soccer Club from Columbus has come close to accomplishing over this time, but with some players now counting grandchildren, let's face it Boy's, it's over !!

Anyway, here's an incomplete snapshot of a few years...

Fall 2010 Outdoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
2010 FADO's Open National Tournament - Flash in Columbus, Ohio
Windsor Teutonia 2010 Tournament Champions - Columbus Flash 35+ at Teutonia Club, Ontario, Canada
Winter 2010 Indoor Champions - FU-Allstars - 30+D at All-Stars
Fall 2009 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Fall 2009 Outdoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
2009 Columbus Cup - Flash & Club Columbus - 30+ division
Windsor Teutonia 2009 Tournament Champions - Columbus Flash 35+ at Teutonia Club, Ontario, Canada
Spring 2009 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Winter 2009 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Fall 2008 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Fall 2008 Outdoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Spring 2008 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Winter 2008 Indoor Session II Champions - Flash II - 30+ 'C' at All-Stars
Winter 2008 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Fall 2007 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Winter 2007 Indoor Session I Champions - FUFC - 30+ 'B' at All-Stars
2007 FADO's Open National Tournament - Flash in Columbus, Ohio
2007 Columbus Cup - Flash&ClubColumbus - 30+
Fall 2007 Outdoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Spring 2007 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Winter 2007 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Fall 2006 Outdoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Spring 2006 Outdoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First
Winter 2005 Indoor Champions - FUFC - 40+ at Soccer First

Columbus Cup 30+ Champions: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009 ( this list may not be complete or more year may be wrong! ...help us out if you know, I found winners Tee shirts for the bolded ones! - Flash and Club Columbus joined squads for ColCup since 2007 = Club Columbus won in 1997 and at least once more!)

From 1990 thru 2005 we estimate Flash teams in 30+ and 40+, indoor and outdoor, amassed over 65 League Champions titles; played in over 40 Tournaments winning at least 20 Championships; should be world record holders for number of beers drank by one Club (players only!) and have seen 100% of our players have medical attention for soccer related injuries!!

Hi, I’m Tom Winslow and I’ve been asked to tell of the genesis of Flash soccer.

Well, the year was near on about 1987, after an indoor match at SportSite, a few of the boys, as usual, were blowing the froth off a couple. This particular indoor team was loosely put together, and who exactly was included is, now, not clear. But, to be sure, what was to become the foundation of the Flash knew how to party! And yes, Todd Jones was a star.

After a few of the aforementioned beers, Bob Kirkland suggested we take a side up to the German Family Society’s (GFS) annual 4th of July 30+ Tournament in Akron-- the Meindl-Leisner Memorial Tournament. Now, as is Kirkland’s habit, he then slinked into the background and did nothing to help in moving the thought to any action. But it was an excellent idea, so we got to work. I recall Mark Bachmann turning up at a pre-tournament training, where I enlisted him to add a player or two, aside from himself. Of course Mark came through-- and from that point on Mark and myself pretty much ran things. From the beginning I may have, admittedly, been somewhat overzealous in making phone calls to ensure we always had a full, respectable side for each game or tournament. Mark will tell you he almost got fired because of all the phone calls to his office.

The team was built on one basic tenet—don’t give your teammates a ration of s---. That’s not to say we didn’t have a few real jackasses over the years, we did, but generally speaking we were friends, and acted like it. While this sounds simple and obvious, we’d noted many of the teams we played would begin to get on each other when Flash would get on top early--we wanted to be different. We created a supportive environment, and the rest took care of itself.

A couple of notable achievements from the early days include winning the Windsor Tournament (probably 1989 or 90) with only 11 players from the start! That’s enough, right? I remember two players had partied particularly hard for the Saturday games (yes I said for the game) so they were pretty wired, and while both were running on empty on the second day, each gave a great effort which contributed greatly to the end result. The final was played at some neighboring high school with no nets (the Teutonia pitch was unplayable due to heavy rain). Mark Bachmann stepped in goal for the tie breaking penalty kicks and sealed the victory, Ken Lake was the keeper and as you know Kenny has a few specialties, but PK’s aren’t one. Mike Brezasi also contributed, may he RIP. Winning the GFS tournament two years in succession (1992 and 93) was no mean feat. It was particularly sweet beating GFS in the final with guest goalie Todd Brenn, Todd was spurned by the home club in favor of a barrel-chested major division goalie. GFS was also my once and future Club. But Flash rules!