BEHIND THE SCENES
Behind the scenes is a dedicated team ensuring the growth and sustainability of United City FC. UCFC is proud to have a diverse group of owners all who add value to the foundation, objectives and core values of the club.
BEHIND THE TEAM
United City Football Club was created not only out of necessity for the game, but a passion for soccer itself. Set up by a team of Sport professionals with a mission to build a long-term development team to feed players into pro-leagues around the world.
STEVEN HAWTHORNE
Steven Hawthorne is United City FC’s founder and co-owner. Steven is a seasoned Sports Marketing advisor who worked in the Premier League for over 15 years with clubs including Chelsea, Fulham, Portsmouth and West Ham and players including: Salomon Kalou, Emmerson Boyce and Nigel Reo-Coker to name a few. A proven record in creating and building digital profiles in sport and other industries, he joined Cartel Entertainment to expand their presence internationally. Having produced 9 features and with 3 TV series in development, he brings Hollywood and Soccer together in United City FC.
JOSEPH ‘TARZAN’ FERNANDEZ
From the age of 4, Joseph ‘Tarzan’ Fernandez always dreamed of being a professional soccer player. Playing all through college, he was scouted and signed his first pro contract for Cheonan Dragons FC in South Korea while his other club accolades include IFK Kumla (Sweden) and LA Galaxy (California).
His passion for coaching started on his return to the US, and seeing the need for high level development for youth players. He continues to run his private academy while serving the role of United City FC’s Coach.
TREVOR LABUSCHAGNE
Trevor Labuschagne has experience at every level of soccer, having coached at the youth, high school, college and professional levels. His knowledge and experience have allowed him to create unique, successful teams by teaching advanced skills and concepts that help players develop into exciting, creative playmakers on the field. He has held positions as Director, Director of Operations, and Director of Coaching over the years. Trevor holds USSF Coaching Licenses and United Soccer Coaches Diplomas.
LAUREN SESSELMANN
Lauren Sesselmann is an American-born Canadian professional soccer player. She represented Canada, and played as a defender from 2011 to 2015. During her time with the national team, she won Olympic Bronze in London 2012, and played in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
She has continually pushed for equality in the game and is a registered FIFA Agent to help women in soccer. Lauren has also hosted shows including “Angels Wear Boots” been in numerous commercials including NIKE Women and featured in various projects helping women in soccer.
EMMERSON BOYCE
Emmerson comes on as an Advisor to UCFC. Emmerson Boyce is a former Wigan Athletic Captain, Crystal Palace FC, Luton Town and Blackpool FC defender and FA Cup winner. He is currently the Technical Director of Football at the Barbados Football Federation.
DUSTIN PLANTHOLT
Dustin Plantholt, a.k.a “The Count of Monte Crypto,” is one of the most respected figures in the world of disruptive technologies and media. Hosting some of the biggest Crypto Events around the world he is also the official NFT and Metaverse Advisor to several esteemed organizations, including the March of Dimes, European Women’s Association, Pan Logos Foundation, and World Influencers and Bloggers Association, and many more.
Dustin Plantholt continues to break digital barriers and has been the recipient of awards including: 2022 NFT Advisor of the Year (FORBES MONACO), 2022 Metaverse Advisor of the Year (ENTREPRENEUR), and the 2022 Dubai Future Innovation Award (FUTURE INNOVATION SUMMIT).
YASMEEN SEHBAI
Yasmeen Sehbai, who holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the University of Calgary, is a dedicated member of the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association since 2009.. Her professional journey has taken her from Dubai to Canada, where she has made significant contributions to counseling services, including the restructuring of programs for special needs children in Dubai. Yasmeen’s commitment to impactful global change extends to her philanthropic endeavors, notably her charity, The Global Schoolhouse Initiative, dedicated to providing free resilience education to underserved children worldwide. With her background in counseling psychology and her passion for making a difference, Yasmeen brings a wealth of experience and empathy to her role as a team psychotherapist for a women’s soccer team. Her understanding of human behavior and dedication to mental wellness will undoubtedly empower the players to excel both on and off the field, fostering resilience, teamwork, and personal growth. Yasmeen embodies the spirit of positive change, and her presence enriches the team’s journey to success.
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