Fordham Rams (USA)

Fordham Rams is the name of the varsity sports teams of Fordham University in New York. The University was established in 1841 as a private and independent concern affiliated with Roman Catholicism. As in 2015, Fordham enrolled 15,000 students across three campuses in New York State: Rose Hill in the Bronx, Lincoln Center in Manhattan, and Westchester in West Harrison.

The Rams have men’s teams for baseball, American football, golf, squash, and water polo. Women compete alone in softball, rowing, and volleyball, whereas both sexes have teams in basketball, cross country, football, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. 

All teams compete in the NCAA, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, in the Division One Atlantic 10 Conference. Amongst the famous alumni to have graced Fordham’s teams in sports are Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Frankie Frisch, Bill Chadwick, who is in the Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, and legendary American Football coach Vince Lombardi.

Non-sporting greats to have studied at Fordham include Denzel Washington, Alan Alda, and Lana Del Rey.

The 'soccer' team won the Atlantic 10 men's soccer tournament in 2014, with wins against VCU, Saint Louis, and then a 1-0 victory against Rhode Island in the final with a goal from János Löbe. They reached the semifinals the following year, where they were defeated by the VCU Rams. 

This was under head coach Jim McElderry, who had replaced long-standing coach Frank Schnur in 2003. In 2016, the Rams enjoyed wins against Duquesne, Rhode Island, and VCU after a penalty shoot-out to be crowned competition champions. Semifinal appearances followed in 2017 and 2019, the second of which was under new head coach Carlo Acquista. 

Another title followed in 2020, as George Washington was defeated 2-0 with goals from Matt Sloan and Alberto Pangrazzi. 2021 marked another semifinal appearance, which was repeated in 2024 when Dayton ended the dreams of the title.

Fordham Rams Soccer will play in the NCAA Division 1 Atlantic 10 Conference in the 2025 season.

My visit

Fordham Rams 0 New Jersey Institute Technology Highlanders 0 (Saturday 26th September 2015) NCAA Division One (att: c120)

It’s strange how plans can go astray, leading to unexpected findings if you are prepared to communicate and be open-minded and experimental. I awoke in my room at the West Side YMCA by Columbus Circle in New York, all ready to catch the Greyhound coach at 7am up to Boston to sightsee and then attend the MLS game between New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union.

Pre-planning had included getting in touch with the Midnight Runners supporters group, who had arranged a ride to Roxborough with Revs fan Jim Encalada for the pre-match tailgate party. I’d even written the foreword for my blog page.

It is fair to say that I was not exactly amused when I arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal to find disgruntled passengers who were scheduled on the 4.15 bus, only the driver hadn’t turned up. Add in those who were now gathering in hope of a seat on the 7am service, and you get the picture. 

The latest rumour suggested that the first bus to depart would not be until at least 8am, not that there would be room for everyone. I went upstairs to the hopelessly undermanned enquiry desk. Eventually, it was agreed to pay me my return bus fare. Suggestions had come in all shapes and sizes during my snooze. 

I took a complaint form in the hope of retrieving the expenses for my match ticket up north, as well as my trolley bus tour ticket. I sat in Central Park trying to work out what entertainment I could take as my replacement. Facebook was my friend as I uploaded a video and requested friends on the web who may offer suggestions. 

I was annoyed as much as anything as I’d got out of bed at a silly hour and broken off a top night in Rudy’s to make sure I made my ride. There was no merit in moping. I went back to my room to catch up on some sleep.

Ice Hockey in Brooklyn, American Football in New Jersey, and Baseball at Yankee Stadium. Some had just left pub details to watch the Premier League and the Rugby World Cup. However, the winning suggestion came from my cricket pal Chris Felton. He pointed me in the direction of Fordham Rams. 

His tip was the 3pm encounter at Jack Coffey Field between the Rams and Monmouth Hawks. After checking the Rams website, I saw that this was the US style of football, but at 7pm, the soccer teams were taking on NJIT. This was good! The pubs showing the rugby between England and Wales wanted a $20 cover charge, so this was quickly dismissed. 

Instead, I enjoyed lunch and a fantastic look around the south end of Manhattan, taking in Battery Park, Bowling Green, and the Financial District. The full-time rugby score confirmed I’d made a good choice. The MTA Metro-North train to Fordham left from Grand Central, which killed another sightseeing must at the same time. 

What an amazing building the terminus turned out to be. Milan has an impressive station, but this was something else. After a bite to eat, I found the correct track. The journey took just over twenty minutes to the Bronx. Fordham Station was in a state of flux. To get off, we had to walk over temporary bridges to reach the far platform to make an exit.

East Fordham Road looked like quite a hub of activity outside. The Bronx obviously had some very good areas. Within a few yards, I came across an entrance to the campus. I told the guard that I was there for the soccer, and he was most helpful, offering directions.

Fordham University Rose Hill Campus was a stunning place. The grounds had plentiful greens and some magnificent architecture. Happy-looking students were going about their business as I cut my way across the campus, taking a look at Murphy Field, the home of Fordham softball, and then going past the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium.

The Rams website had appealed to ‘Fill the Jack’ for the football in the afternoon. The team had won 54-31, and pictures showed that supporters had responded to the call. It didn’t look like the soccer team garnered the same enthusiasm. Jack Coffey Field had just one large open grandstand for 7,000 spectators. 

Metal benches flanked a section of maroon seating with a media centre at the top. The rest of the field was open, with a scoreboard behind the north goal, with Houlihan Park baseball field joining on the far side. Admission was free, as was a four-page programme, which was both unexpected and happily received. 

None of the concession stands under the seating were open, nor was the souvenir hut. The pitch, which had earlier staged the ‘other’ football, had pitch markings for both sports on the artificial Fieldturf surface. I found this a little confusing. I just hoped that the officials didn’t. It took me back to when American Football was at its most popular back in the early '90s. 

I was playing ‘soccer’ on a field with dual markings to stage a later game for Scarborough Warlords when the referee incorrectly gave me offside when I set off clean on goal from my own half. He’d confused it with a ten-yard marking. The first thing that struck me was that the beautiful, hot, sunny day was now turning into a cold night. 

I was hopelessly underdressed in just my Scarborough away shirt and cargo pants, without the bottom half. I even had to take my Yorkshire cap off to add to the chill during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. The teams were introduced in true American style before kick-off. 

Rams in all white with a maroon diagonal band started off well against the all-red clad Highlanders, who played in the Sun Belt Conference. The visitor’s junior keeper, Marco Luna, flapped at an early effort which hit the crossbar. Doberman from Sergeant Bilko fame was my first thought. I was sure I was about to see goals.

Just like many of my bets back home, I was way off. Both sides played some fine, fluent football without testing the goalkeepers often enough. It was a good standard of football. The Rams had many continental recruits in their lineup.

It is always very difficult to make comparisons to leagues in other countries. This was even harder owing to the age of the players. How would they do against grizzly old pros across Europe, relying on their win bonus?

It appeared that a certain number of rolling substitutions were permitted, which I’m definitely not against. It would certainly allow managers and coaches across the globe to keep their players interested and involved.

A fine acrobatic effort just failed to put the Rams ahead, as the crowd slowly grew. By this point, I was suffering from the cold. How I wished that I’d taken some extra layers with me. Just before the break, Rams Ghanian goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu pulled off two good saves in quick succession from Victor Kausch to keep the scoreline blank at the interval.

At this point, I decided that enough was enough. I headed back to Fordham station and caught the 8.06 train back towards town. Being the ingenious and inventive traveller I am, I saw that the train stopped at 125th Street. I also noted that several lines stopped there before proceeding to Columbus Circle, right by my hotel.

What I didn’t account for was that there were three 125th Street Stations. The one I required was at the other end of it. I got out in East Harlem. It was only a block’s walk to the subway station, but as Lou Reid sang, it was a ‘Walk on the Wild Side’.

Relieved to be heading into town, I eventually got out at 57th Street and walked along the south side of Central Park before having a warming shower and changing before heading down to Rudy’s for some much-needed refreshments.

The following morning, I caught up with the final score, which was still blank after overtime, and read the website reports. My visit to Fordham was certainly never planned, but I will not forget the day for a very long time!