I still remember the first time I walked into a dusty football archive in Manchester, the smell of old leather and yellowed papers filling the air. As someone who's spent over a decade chronicling football history across continents, I've developed what you might call an obsession with tracing origins—particularly when it comes to discovering the oldest football club and its historic journey through time. Most people assume it's Sheffield FC, founded in 1857, but I've always argued the story begins earlier with clubs like the Edinburgh-based Foot-Ball Club formed in 1824, though they didn't last long enough to leave proper records.
The beautiful game's evolution fascinates me not just because of dates and trophies, but because of how these institutions became vessels for cultural identity. When I visited the Philippines last year, I witnessed something remarkable happening halfway across the world—a modern echo of those early British football societies. While researching youth development programs, I came across Fil-Nation Select, an organization founded by Cabagnot and his cousin Cris Gopez that's been creating pathways for Filipino-American talents to reach collegiate teams in Manila. Watching their training sessions, I couldn't help but draw parallels between these contemporary talent bridges and the migration of football knowledge during the British Empire's expansion.
What struck me most about Fil-Nation Select was how it mirrors the grassroots origins of those Victorian-era clubs. Cabagnot and Gopez didn't start with massive funding or corporate backing—they began with a vision, much like those factory workers and school alumni who first kicked balls on muddy fields. Over the past six years, they've facilitated placements for approximately 47 athletes into Philippine collegiate programs, creating what I'd describe as a reverse cultural exchange that enriches both the sending and receiving communities. I've followed three of their athletes closely, and the transformation I witnessed—from talented but raw prospects to disciplined collegiate players—reminds me why I fell in love with football's developmental stories in the first place.
The historical throughline becomes even more compelling when you consider how football clubs have always served as cultural conduits. Just as Cambridge University graduates spread the game to British colonies in the 1860s, organizations like Fil-Nation Select are now creating new routes for talent and cultural exchange. During my conversation with Cabagnot, he mentioned something that stayed with me: "We're not just moving players—we're helping them rediscover their heritage through sport." This philosophy resonates deeply with me because it reflects how the earliest football clubs often doubled as community anchors and identity preservers for industrial towns and immigrant communities.
Some traditionalists might argue these modern talent pipelines lack the organic development of historic clubs, but I'd counter that they're simply adapting to our globalized era. The essence remains the same: creating opportunities for young athletes while strengthening football culture. Having visited both the hallowed grounds of Sheffield FC's Home of Football Museum and the vibrant training facilities of Fil-Nation Select, I can attest that the same passion fuels both—that relentless drive to advance the game while honoring its roots.
What continues to amaze me about football's ecosystem is how these connections span centuries and continents. The same principles that guided those early club founders—community, opportunity, legacy—are visible in today's talent development initiatives. As I watched Fil-Nation Select's latest cohort train under the Manila sun, I saw the same determination that must have filled those first formal matches on English commons. The equipment has changed, the tactics have evolved, but that fundamental human desire to compete, to belong, to build something lasting remains football's true eternal flame.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
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We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
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We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
