Learn about First Touch Online
Here is where you can learn a bit about First Touch Online and how to contact us. Did you know that First Touch was the very first weekly soccer fanzine in the USA, starting back in 1995? From humble beginnings in the downtown soccer bars, it grew into a full-color tabloid that graced pubs and restaurants across the New York regiun until 2020. That’s a span of 25 years in publication.
Now First Touch Online continues to serve the soccer community with a popular website and free mobile app, making it easier than ever for fans to access our articles, interviews, live game guides, and find local soccer bars and supporters clubs nationwide.
First Touch is all about celebrating soccer culture with sincerity and passion. We’ve helped to promote many soccer bars over the years, and even helped to form official Manchester United clubs here in the US!
Check out the story behind this iconic publication and see hundreds of cover shots through the years at First Touch. Drop us a message below if you have questions or want to list your soccer bar.
Contact First Touch Online Here
Have a question for First Touch? Looking to list your soccer bar? Please reach out to us here for a prompt answer!
First Touch Tributes
Your website has been most valuable in finding new US clubs. Since the start of 2024, the site has provided me with 7 new groups of Man United fans, that we ended up making official MUFC clubs! They are all delighted to become official!… so, from them, me and the club.. thank you very much.
Manchester United Football Club
‘Excellent coverage with observation and foresight far more interesting than some of the clichéd dirge we often read in our national press here in England.’
Football Trader Magazine, UK
‘These writers find sincerity, honesty and a genuine nature of what real soccer provides. They find not only culture and pride, but a humanity that is evident in every player who believes this game defines them, whatever level of soccer they may play.’
New York Cosmos
‘There’s so much quality here. This is the original voice of the voiceless. First Touch is unspeakably important. Defend it with all your might, you lovers of freedom.’
Empire Supporters Club, NY Red Bulls.
"I have no idea what it is!"
Listen to Matty Lawrence skillfully plug First Touch
to Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music!
About the First Touch Authors
First Touch has been blessed with contributions from so many fine writers over the years. We are so thankful, as our reputation was largely built on your efforts. Sadly, not all of the articles were archived electronically, so we can no longer present them here. Nevertheless, we will always be grateful for those offerings.
To all of our contributors, past and present. Thank you!
Below are the authors' bios of those writers whose work currently appears on the website.
David Witchard launched First Touch onto the streets of New York as a fanzine in 1995, almost before the internet or mobile phones existed. He continues to run First Touch Online website and mobile apps today.
Brian’s ‘Full Scottish’ weekly article has been one of the most popular features in First Touch for the past decade. We now preserve his weekly articles as monthly bulletins, which you can browse. Brian also features annual awards for Team of the Season, along with other accomplishments in the Scottish game.
First Touch was fortunate enough to feature Dave Bowler’s commentaries and articles on a weekly basis throughout the print life of First Touch magazine. Most of those have sadly been lost forever, but many are still preserved here, including Dave’s amazing World Cup reports.
Dave Bowler has had many great books on football and music published, including biographies of Sir Alf Ramsey, Danny Blanchflower, Bill Shankly, The Cowboy Junkies, and others. He also wrote an acclaimed history of Playing for England. Many of his works are now available as Kindle editions on Amazon. They make great gifts for discerning football fans.
Dave is also club historian for West Bromwich Albion, where he has also worked as Press Officer in the Premier League. Dave’s latest work is a History of the Hawthorns, which you can order from the club website.
Matty Lawrence
Matty contributed many great articles to First Touch between the years 2015-18. This was shortly after he finished playing football and showed up in New York City. Matty had a long and successful playing career with the likes of Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Millwall, who he captained to an FA Cup final against Man Utd. We are happy to say Matty’s new career in media has also blossomed, and he now works on broadcasts for NYCFC, ESPN, and others.
Tim Hall
Tim Hall took over Red Bulls (MetroStars) coverage in First Touch from Matt Doyle when he got hired by MLS. Tim’s highly entertaining and prolific work represented the Empire Supporters Club and the club itself magnificently – although he was never slow to criticize the powers that be if needed. Tim’s weekly View From 101 article was one of the best-loved features in First Touch.
Jon Langford
Many of the most entertaining and most consistently popular features on this site are the work of Jon Langford. Jon has also conducted some intriguing interviews with celebrities about their passion for the beautiful game, including Tim Booth of James, Felix White of The Macabees, and Cedella Marley, daughter of the late, great Bob Marley.
Jason Joseph
Jason was the chief photographer for First Touch print magazine, documenting many great games and events throughout the years. He also contributed some classic interviews.
James’s features were always highlights in First Touch during its 25-year print run, including this exclusive interview with Welsh actor Michael Sheen, and this one with Scotland legend Gordon McQueen. James is also a prominent member of the New York Evertonians and is now a popular Financial Columnist for MarketWatch.
Greg McKay
Greg was another regular and has numerous articles on many subjects here on First Touch online.