Steve Padernacht takes us to meet co-captain and co-leading scorer Conor McGlynn. The midfielder from Queens, New York, discussed his soccer journey from the Blau Weiss Gottschee Academy to Siena College, Hartford Athletic, Rhode Island FC, and now his second season with Westchester Soccer Club. He highlighted his family’s central role in his career — including his brother Jack, who plays for the Houston Dynamo and the US Men’s National Team, and his father, who now serves as an assistant coach at Westchester. Conor emphasized that his work ethic, not raw talent, is his greatest strength, and shared the grinding story of earning his first professional contract through an open tryout at Hartford Athletic. He shared his goals of being a long-term role model at Westchester and his desire to eventually move into coaching. In rapid fire, he named Steven Gerrard as his favorite player growing up, Chipotle as his post-game meal, house music as his pregame go-to, and described his game in one word as “ferocious.” Conor expressed deep pride in representing New York and his commitment to the Westchester Soccer Club community.
What We Learned:
Conor McGlynn’s Introduction & Soccer Journey
- Conor outlines his path: developing at the Blau Weiss Gottschee Academy in Queens, committing to Siena College, signing with Hartford Athletic via open tryout, spending four years there, one year at Rhode Island FC, and now his second season at Westchester Soccer Club.
- He shares that his father introduced him to the game at age four, and that after-school soccer practice was the only thing he truly looked forward to.
Family, Brotherhood & Soccer Roots
- Conor shares that his younger brother Jack plays for the Houston Dynamo and the US Men’s National Team, and that the two faced each other in a professional game — a rare and emotional moment with family in the stands, including a grandmother who yelled at Connor for fouling his brother.
- He discusses the upcoming World Cup in New York and the possibility of Jack being on the squad, calling it a potentially massive moment for the family.
- Conor takes a moment on air to thank his parents, wish his mom a happy birthday, and acknowledge the sacrifices they made — driving to practices multiple nights a week for years.
- He shares that his father is now an assistant coach at Westchester Soccer Club, describing the dynamic as one that pushes him to train better every day.
Who Conor McGlynn Is On and Off the Field
- Conor describes himself off the field as someone obsessed with the game — constantly watching film, studying soccer, and doing far more behind the scenes than fans realize.
- He reflects on what it means to play so close to home in New York and shares how much it meant to wear the captain’s armband for Westchester’s opening game.
- He describes his on-field identity as defined entirely by work ethic, noting that being the most talented player was never his edge — but being the most obsessed always was.
The Work Behind the Performance
- Conor explains that professional soccer functions like a nine-to-five job when combining training, recovery, gym work, and film study — roughly eight hours of total daily investment.
- He references his Whoop sleep tracker as a window into how seriously he monitors his body, noting it typically reveals poor sleep.
- Conor discusses the difference between the college and professional levels, specifically the increased speed of play and the quality of decision-making at the USL League One level.
The Defining Test: Hartford Athletic Open Tryout
- Conor describes arriving at a 150-person open tryout for Hartford Athletic with no real ambitions of playing professionally — going on a suggestion from his brother’s agent.
- He shares that he was one of only two players selected for preseason, then spent nearly two months on trial driving daily from Albany to Hartford without pay, while still enrolled in school.
- He credits a professor who stayed late to help him complete lab work as one of the unsung people who helped him get to where he is today.
Representing Westchester Soccer Club
- Conor describes what goes through his mind when stepping onto the field for Westchester — a sense of swagger, gratitude, and feeling invincible while playing the sport he loves in New York City.
- He talks about what he wants fans to experience: a young, hungry team that presses hard, plays exciting soccer, and gives everything on the field, even if it sometimes leads to conceding goals.
- Conor outlines his legacy goals: being a positive role model on and off the field, having a lasting impact on the Westchester community, and hoping to remain with the club beyond his current contract.
- He expresses his long-term interest in coaching, sharing a desire to identify talent and help players reach their potential the way others believed in him.
Rapid Fire Questions & Closing
- Conor answers rapid-fire questions:
- “Something Better” by Audien as his pregame song. Neither an energy drink or coffee (a reformed Celsius addict). Rashid Teta as his toughest training partner. Steven Gerrard as his favorite player growing up. Chipotle as his post-game meal. Attempted piano as a surprising personal fact.
- And “ferocious” as one word to describe his game.
