It had been more than two years since players from Sacramento Republic FC had set foot in Folsom State Prison, which sits about 25 miles northeast of California’s state capital, but as the club returned on Tuesday to renew the relationship between itself and the staff and inmates at the second-oldest correctional facility in the state with a full-squad training session, the reception they received was a reminder of what had come before.

“This was tremendously rewarding,” said Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs. “I think we were all really impressed with everyone who we interacted with. What they knew about the game and the team was amazing. Experiencing this is something everyone will remember.”

Republic FC and Folsom had originally began working alongside each other in 2018, when club staff and players would visit the facility once a month for pick-up games that would see the players serve as coaches for the people that followed them and the side from within the facility’s walls.

“You can tell they all love the game of soccer and follow the team,” said Republic FC forward and Sacramento native Cameron Iwasa. “They were talking to us about our games and thanked us for coming. This was clearly big for them.”

Before departing, Republic FC equipment manager Alejandro Caparelli left a pair of practice balls and his boots for those that came to watch. It’s the sort of gesture that has been the foundation of the relationship between the club and the facility, which has aimed to show compassion and forge positive relationships with the incarcerated persons as they look to build a brighter future for themselves.

“This was such a welcome sight to us,” Lieutenant Ernie Valencia, the Prison’s Chief Information Officer, told the team. “This creates a great bond between the incarcerated population here and the club. It also gives our incarcerated population a sense of community and reminds them that they aren’t forgotten.”