LATHAM, N.Y. — Former Bethlehem Central High School soccer player Claire Hutton has done it all. Since playing for the Eagles, Hutton has moved on to greener pastures, manning the midfield for the NWSL’s KC Current before being traded to Bay FC earlier this year.
Most notably, Hutton is a member of the United States Women’s National Team, honoring her country on the greatest stage.
But this week’s honor may have been Hutton’s most unique yet. On Friday at Cardona’s Market in Latham, Hutton took part in a ceremonial “first bite” of a celebrity sandwich aptly named after the soccer star.
“The Hutton” sandwich, which is served hot on a freshly toasted pretzel bun, consists of roast beef, ham, Swiss cheese, horseradish mayo, spring mix, tomato, house-made citrus and Serrano jam.
And if you ask Hutton, it’s the perfect hand-held lunch option. She rated it a 10 out of 10.
“Sandwich is fire,” Hutton said. “Never sleep on it.”
Hutton fondly remembers dining at Cardona’s for sandwiches after games and practices when she was on the Bethlehem Central girls’ varsity soccer team. Then, as a member of the NWSL’s Current, a visit to a local sandwich shop in Kansas City sparked an idea.
The rest is history.
“I’ve literally woken up mornings thinking about it,” Hutton said. “When I was told that I could make my own, I mimicked what was on that sandwich and worked with Cardona’s in order to put a little twist on it, and them using their house-made jam and mixing it with a horseradish mayo kind of had that little spicy kick that I was looking for.”
The partnership between Hutton’s and Cardona’s will benefit the Albany Soccer Club, as a portion of the sandwich’s proceeds will go toward funding the organization. Additionally, the launch of “The Hutton” included a collection drive for new and gently used soccer equipment benefiting the Albany Soccer Club, with donation boxes available at all three Cardona’s Market locations throughout the Capital Region through Sunday, June 21.
“When I give back, and I’m looking to give back to communities, I always look for opportunities and how I can provide that to people who don’t necessarily have them,” Hutton said. “So being able to give soccer balls and cleats, and hopefully start a scholarship one day, is what I’m looking to do, and this is a great start to that.”
This week is a special homecoming for Hutton, who is back in upstate New York for a few days after Team USA’s two-game international friendly series against Brazil earlier this month. Next week, Hutton will be honored by the Tri-City ValleyCats, who are giving away Claire Hutton bobbleheads next Tuesday, June 23, at home versus the New York Boulders.
The youngest captain in modern USWNT history will soon be immortalized in bobblehead form, and she couldn’t be more thrilled about it.
“When I was told I was getting a bobblehead, I officially said, ‘I made it. I could die now,’” Hutton said with a laugh. “It’s amazing that hometown places and businesses are here honoring me. I just have so much respect for this city and for this town, and to know that it goes both ways is pretty cool.”
With excitement surrounding soccer already soaring as the men’s World Cup kicks off in the United States, Hutton can’t wait for the opportunity to represent the red, white and blue in Brazil next summer.
“It’s so cool just to see that football, soccer, it’s growing in this country, and people are really being able to understand on an international level,” Hutton said. “The crowds are just flooring everywhere around, and there’s double the amount of the population right now in certain cities. It’s got to be eye-opening for a lot of people.
“With the promotion of women’s soccer as of recent, it’s just going to continue growing, and now knowing that we have this opportunity in our hands for hopefully winning the 2027 World Cup and having the US support behind us is incredible. So I’m super excited about it and just also see how it grows in the next year.”