They’re looking to score a different kind of goal. The Brooklyn Italians soccer club has been around since 1949, but now, with the spotlight shining brighter than ever on the sport, the organization wants to take the next step in growing hometown talent. The team first formed as a social club for new Italian immigrants in Brooklyn to ease themselves into living in a new country by giving them a chance to speak their native language and spend time with those facing similar struggles.

Now, nearly seven decades later, the club is a respected member of the National Premier Soccer League, winning U.S. Open Cup championships in 1979 and 1991. Along the way, the players and fans have changed with the city around them. Royett noted that now, the team features players from all over the world and all different backgrounds, similar to the area that they call home. The team plays its home matches on the campus of Long Island University and is made up of mostly college athletes from area schools.