'Chemistry Is Building Fast' For Jimmy Ockford In Second Stint In New York

Jimmy Ockford spent the 2014 NASL season on loan with the New York Cosmos. After a year spent with Seattle Sounders FC 2, Ockford has rejoined the defending NASL Champion, again on loan.

It’s like he never left.

“Being back here it’s almost the same exact [back] four that I played with,” Ockford told NASL.com. “The chemistry is building fast for sure and playing next to Carlos [Mendes] is awesome.”

Ockford, 23, started in the heart of the Cosmos’ back line in the season-opening win over Ottawa Fury FC, 3-0. He won seven duels, had four clearances, and four interceptions in helping to preserve a clean sheet.

For the Yardley, Pa., native, it’s great to be back on the East Coast, and closer to his family.

“My family is ecstatic that I’m here,” he said. “They can make pretty much every home game. I think it is nice being able to see them more often and it makes me more comfortable on the East Coast having that support.”

Ockford played 13 times for Sounders FC 2, scoring one goal, a year ago, while spending time with Seattle’s first team.

“Hopefully consistent games and work my way up to starting games,” Ockford said on what he hopes to accomplish in New York. “In Seattle, I was going back and forth with S2. I’d train with the first team and get my minutes with S2. Here I’ll be staying with the same team for the full year.”

Ockford is hoping to make it further in a few different competitions now back with New York. The Cosmos lost in The Championship Semifinals during his stay with the team as well as losing to the Philadelphia Union in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fifth Round.

Also, he is hoping to return to the scoresheet as he did three times, in all competitions, in his first stint with New York.

“I would love to, definitely,” Ockford said about scoring. “Hopefully I’ll make an appearance on corner kicks and set pieces.”