Photo courtesy of @dlc_visualz_ / Instagram.
On a nice day, you may find Stephen R. Gregg Park, or better known as Bayonne Park, is packed with kids running through the grass, basketballs being dribbled against the concrete and people of all ages racing through the soccer fields. The park remains active when the weather and nearby waterfront cooperates.
But when the wind is a cold front and the trees sway too much for comfort, it won’t be as packed. Still, one of the few people you’ll see on the soccer field on a weekday night is Jersey United Football Club, a non-profit soccer club for Hudson County athletes.
You’ll find them there practicing for their next game—even on an unexpectedly cold April night.
The Jersey United Football Club was created in August of 2025 and currently competes in the Garden State Soccer League. Juan Jaramillo, the coach of the up-and-coming team, told Slice of Culture that he and Daniel Skoc, the owner of Jersey United FC, wanted to create a soccer club that’s accessible and able to give players the “best” experience.
The non-profit league was brainstormed back in March of 2025 by Jaramillo and Skoc, who were teammates on the New Jersey Wolves, which is also in the Garden State Soccer League.
The two departed the club to form Jersey United FC, with a goal to emphasize certain aspects and practices they did not see in their former club.
Jaramillo grew up playing soccer, and continued throughout highschool, even playing a summer in Colombia.
“Coaching these guys is great because I get to [give] everything I’ve learned… I think I’m able to pass down my knowledge of what I have with the sport [to them],” he said.
When asked about costs associated with the club, Jaramillo stated, “Yes, we charge them, but we don’t charge them an exaggerated amount. We just try to reinvest everything that we have into the team. It’s not really about making a profit or anything, it’s just about having the best players and the best experience that you can.”
Age varies within the club, with players ranging from as young as 18 to 33.
“I don’t really care how old you are as long as you can give a 100% on the field, you’re respectable,” Jaramillo emphasized.
The club does not charge goalies to play because they are scarce and vital to the team. There is only one goalie on the field at a time, and having a talented one can make the difference between a win and loss.
“What we decided to do as a club—because goalies are such a fundamental part on the field and there’s not many of them and it’s such a hard position to recruit—we decided to eat up the cost on keepers and we let our keepers play for free… We’re just like, ‘Hey, come play for us. We’ll take care of your training kits and all that stuff and you don’t have to worry about anything other than just being on the field,’” Jaramillo explained.
The team also allows players not on the team to practice with them, which helps with recruitment after finishing a season.
There is just one more home game for the season, which will take place on June 7, 2026 at 8 p.m. in Lincoln Park in Jersey City. Games are free to attend and are also posted on YouTube plus their Instagram account.
If you or someone is interested in joining for next season or looking to stay up to date, you can reach out to Jersey United FC on Instagram.
“I encourage everyone to come. We’re a local club. A lot of these players are local from Hudson County: Jersey City, Union City, North Bergen, West New York. So come support us and hopefully we’ll get more and more audience and as we progress through the leagues, we gain more and more followers,” Jaramillo smiled.
