FIND OF THE WEEK is made possible by support from Food Finders
By Davis Ramage
April 3, 2025
Honor and special are two of the words used by Long Beach FC captains—center back Aaron Minkoff and defender Jerry Showe—when describing how it feels to captain the club.
The two were captains in the club’s inaugural 2024 season and remain the captains for 2025 in the team’s second season in UPSL Premier, both donning the black captain's armband.
“That first season, and being able to, you know, be a leader with these boys,” Minkoff said. “It was a huge honor. And I just, I couldn't be happier with, with the boys, and the amount of work we put in and what we've done in these first two seasons.”
One of the great things about the UPSL is that its players are more than just athletes—they juggle school, work, and personal goals beyond soccer. Both captains acknowledged that balancing these responsibilities is challenging, but they always find a way to make it work.
Showe’s European Adventure
Showe practiced balancing these things at a young age when he was living in Europe and playing for Gateshead FC, which competes in the National League, the fifth division of English football.
“Obviously, playing in Europe is everybody's dream, and you know me being able to actually go and do it thinking I wasn't ever gonna do it, was very special,” Showe said.
He said the people he met and the realization of how big soccer is outside of the United States were his favorite parts about playing in Europe.
Showe came back to the U.S. and played at the same Long Beach high school that Minkoff attended, Millikan High School, although the big center back had a bit of a different route to LBFC.
Minkoff’s Journey
Minkoff started playing AYSO when he was 5 years old, but decided to quit because he felt bad that the other team couldn’t score any goals against his team.
His love for the game never stopped, however, always playing in the yard and practicing with his sister’s team, whose players were three years older than him. He eventually set aside his empathy for his opponents and made his return to organized soccer when he was 8 and played on his AYSO Extra team until he was 13. From there he played for a couple different clubs, including Pateadores and Strikers FC Irvine.
He took the club route instead of the high school route and was invited as a walk-on for Chico State after he graduated high school. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic canceled all Division 2 athletics his freshman year and he decided not to return to the program after that.
Minkoff and Showe drew inspiration from vastly different players while growing up. Showe followed the more popular route, aspiring to emulate Neymar Jr.’s flashy style. Minkoff looked to the center-backs of his favorite club, Tottenham Hotspur, admiring Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, and Michael Dawson.
Being a 6-foot-4 center back with a loud voice combined with him coming into the club already knowing a lot of the guys is what Minkoff says helps to be a good captain.
Drive for More Success
Both captains have the same favorite memory at the club: lifting the trophy after winning the Spring 2024 SoCal Division 1 Conference Playoff Championship. They also have a commitment to giving back to the Long Beach community and have supported Food Finders' Community Marketplace.
Showe also mentioned how he loves to be able to play with his younger brother, Danyal.
“My brother is four years younger than me and we were never able to actually play on a team together until that first year [the 2024 season,]” Showe said.
Minkoff and Showe both hope to lead the team to another trophy this season. At 5-0-1 and at the top of the SoCal North conference table with 15 points, LBFC is on its way to more success.
LBFC will continue chasing the conference title at 8 p.m. this Saturday, April 12th when they face off against Rose City FC at Arcadia City Hall Soccer Field.
FIND OF THE WEEK is supported by Food Finders, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) food rescue organization with a mission to reduce hunger and improve nutrition in communities in and around Long Beach. Fans are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to LBFC home games and help the club meet its goal of collecting more than 5,000 pounds this season.
https://longbeachfootballclub.com