Captain Colin Falvey's Fighting Spirit Leading Indy Into The Championship Final
Photo credit: Indy Eleven/Trevor rRuszkowski
Indy Eleven’s Colin Falvey may have left the field bloody against FC Edmonton in The Championship Semifinal, but he didn’t leave beaten.
The club’s captain put on a combative display, despite playing with a bandaged head for the majority of the game after a collision in the 39th minute. Falvey continued to put his body on the line in the physical battle at Carroll Stadium on Nov. 5.
“He symbolizes the word courage,” Indy Eleven coach Tim Hankinson said. “Not many players would get stitched up twice in the same game and be willing to wrap it up. Once the second half started, Edmonton launched the ball directly at him to see what he would do and he pounded it halfway up the field with his head.
“He’s fearless and that makes the rest of the team fearless as well. They can play off that and be motivated by that, so they know on game day you put it all on the line. He’s been a tremendous captain this year.”
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Leading by example, Falvey’s heroics helped lead the Boys in Blue to advance to The Championship Final, after the 1-0 win, and now will take on the New York Cosmos on Nov. 13 at Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y.
Sinisa Ubiparipovic, who scored the game-winning goal against FC Edmonton, has played with Falvey in the past, as a member of the Ottawa Fury FC squad that lost to the Cosmos in The Championship Final last year. He said the reason that Falvey wears the captain’s armband in Indy is easy to see.
“It’s a clear message,” Ubiparipovic said referring to Falvey playing on with the injury. “He’s not captain for no reason. It’s because of things like that. We know we can count on him on any day.
“Regardless of what happens he’s willing to put his body up for the team. A lot of guys wouldn’t have taken the risk with the head injury to play the entire game. He did. He gave us the extra energy to know that we have great support of the defenders behind us.”
Early in the second half, Falvey blocked two crossing attempts from FC Edmonton left back Adam Eckersley. It was the epitome of the defender’s play. After blocking the first attempt, he steadied himself to get an outstretched leg to the second cross before firing up his teammates and the crowd.
“A couple of us before the game spoke about standing up and being counted – putting your body on the line,” Falvey said. “It wasn’t just me, but it was everyone in fact. You see the commitment in the group.”
The tough defender brushed off the cut that required him to finish the game using his third different jersey.
“This is just part and parcel, these things happen,” he said. “Lucky it wasn’t a concussion. The little wound will take care of itself.”
Falvey, Ubiparipovic and Nicki Paterson – all teammates on Fury FC – are hoping for a little revenge by defeating New York this weekend after last year’s loss. Falvey’s fighting spirit will be a source of strength for the Boys in Blue against the Cosmos.
“After the disappointment for me last year it’s nice to get a quick chance to rectify the loss last season,” Falvey said. “We have some unfinished business in New York.”
