The Women’s Game is an exclusive editorial series written by writer, broadcaster, and former college and pro soccer player Renee Washington for BrooklynFootballClub.com. Each week, Renee goes behind the scenes with Brooklyn FC Women, giving unique insights into the squad and sharing stories of the people behind the crest.
Brooklyn FC Women will have a different look on the sideline on Friday night when the side welcomes Ft. Lauderdale United FC to Maimonides Park.
With Head Coach Alex Smith away, First Assistant Coach Errol McFarlane will step in to lead the team. Despite the change, McFarlane’s presence provides continuity for a group he has helped lead throughout the season.
Building Standards in Brooklyn
A USSF B-licensed coach and USSF instructor, McFarlane joined Smith’s staff ahead of the Gainbridge Super League Fall Season. He has been instrumental in helping lead training, set-piece preparation and the implementation of team standards.
From the beginning, he and Smith have worked to establish a culture centered around three things: winning, accountability and togetherness.
“Winning is about creating an environment where players are accountable to themselves, accountable to their teammates, and accountable to the standards of the club,” McFarlane says. “In practice, that means being demanding about the small things—how we train, how we communicate, how we prepare, how we respond to mistakes, and how we compete.”
So far, despite the team’s struggles to get results, McFarlane has seen glimpses of the group’s potential. The challenge now is stretching those moments into periods of consistent play and then stretching those periods into complete performances for 90 minutes.
“We have shown that we can compete and play the way we want to play,” McFarlane says. “Now we have to raise the standard of what we expect from ourselves every day and make sure those standards show up consistently on game day.”
From the Field to the Sidelines
Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, McFarlane played collegiately for Hofstra University before embarking on a 14-year professional career that began with with Port of Spain-based club Defence Force FC. Other stops around the world included Iceland, Lebanon, China, and the Rochester Rhinos of the USL.
McFarlane’s success at the club level saw him become a mainstay for the Trinidad & Tobago national team, making 38 appearances and scoring 7 international goals. He was integral to his nation’s historic qualification to the 2006 FIFA World Cup — the Soca Warriors’ first appearance at the finals. Unfortunately, an injury kept him out of the squad that traveled to Germany that summer.
Toward the end of his playing career, coaching became a natural next step. He naturally transitioned to the sideline, bringing many of his well-traveled experiences to bear as a coach.
“My years as a professional player have greatly influenced how I approach coaching and leadership,” McFarlane says. “Playing at that level taught me that talent alone is never enough. Successful teams need to have trust, accountability, discipline and a willingness to sacrifice for one another.”
Playing across different environments also exposed McFarlane to different approaches to leadership.
“Being around different coaches, teammates and football cultures has also taught me that there is no single way to lead,” he says. “You must understand your players, know when to challenge them, when to support them and, most importantly, be consistent in your expectations.”
Filling in for Smith
For McFarlane, the opportunity to temporarily lead BKFC Women brings added responsibility without changing the direction the staff has already established.
“This is something I take very seriously, and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” McFarlane said. “I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to learn from many different coaches and leaders, and this gives me an opportunity to put some of those experiences into practice.”
His priority is continuity.
“My approach isn’t to come in and try to completely change who we are,” McFarlane says. “Alex has established a direction and a way of working with this group, and my responsibility is to provide continuity while ensuring the players remain focused and prepared.”
That approach reflects the leadership philosophy McFarlane has developed throughout his career, one based on clarity, consistency, and calmness.
“The players need to know the expectations, and they need to feel confident that the staff is aligned and that we believe in them,” he says.
When asked what makes him proud as a coach, he didn’t talk about wins or trophies. He didn’t talk about awards or accolades. He focused on the work of helping a player grow and progress.
“I’m most proud when I can help a player move one or two steps closer to where they need to be as professionals,” he says.
Fitting. It’s essentially been his own philosophy as a player and then as a coach — moving one or two steps closer to the goal — and he hopes it will help the squad when he’s on the sideline on Friday.
Up Next: Brooklyn FC vs. Ft. Lauderdale United
Brooklyn FC Women face Ft. Lauderdale United FC on Friday, October 2. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.
Themed “Sharktober,” the matchnight will include many shark-centered fun, including a visit from the NY Aquarium’s shark mascot, Fin, and shark-tooth necklaces for the young fans who come out.
