Columbus Crew

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The Columbus Crew
  Team logo  
Year founded 1994
League Major League Soccer
Nickname The Crew, America's
Hardest Working Team
Stadium Columbus Crew Stadium
Columbus, OH
Coach Flag of Germany Sigi Schmid, 2006
Owner Flag of United States Clark Hunt
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
Home colors
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
Away colors
First Game
Columbus Crew 4–0 D.C. United
(Ohio Stadium; April 13, 1996)
Largest Win
Columbus Crew 6–1 New England Revolution
(Ohio Stadium; August 8, 1998)
Columbus Crew 6–1 Tampa Bay Mutiny
(Crew Stadium; June 16, 2001)
Worst Defeat
Monarcas Morelia 6–0, Columbus Crew
(Estadio Morelos; April 9, 2003)
All-time Top Scorer
Flag of United States Jeff Cunningham (62),
Flag of United States Brian McBride (62)
Supporter Groups
Crew Supporters Union: Local 103
MLS Cup
None
US Open Cup
2002
Supporters' Shield
2004

The Columbus Crew is a professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that participates in Major League Soccer. The club was owned by Lamar Hunt, who also owned the Kansas City Chiefs and FC Dallas until his 2006 death, upon which his son, Clark, took over his sports properties. The Crew currently play their home games at Columbus Crew Stadium, the first MLS soccer-specific stadium. From 1996–1999, the Crew played their home games at Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University. The name "The Crew" is the result of a local fan contest and refers to Columbus' blue collar community. The team colors are black and gold.

The Crew has won one tournament to date, the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, defeating the 2002 MLS Cup and Supporter's Shield winner Los Angeles Galaxy 1–0. The club has reached one other final, the 1998 Open Cup, which was postponed due to a hurricane and controversially relocated from Virginia Beach to Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Fire, who won the match in overtime 2–1.

During the 2005 season the Crew experienced their second worst average attendance since 1996 due to a poor season record.

Historically, the team has had three major supporters' groups: Legion 04, the V-Army, and Fort Knox. Prior to the 2007 MLS season, these groups merged to form the Crew Supporters Union: Local 103.

Contents

[edit] Television and radio

Crew matches are telecast on Columbus Sports Network and away games are on the Ohio News Network. Radio broadcasts appear on "The Brew" WBWR-FM and in Spanish on Radio Sol WXOL.

Dwight Burgess provides play-by-play with Dr. Jay Martin and Andy Krahling doing color commentary.

[edit] Team honors

[edit] Current roster

As of April 7, 2007

No. Position Player
1 Flag of United States GK Will Hesmer
2 Flag of United States MF Frankie Hejduk
3 Flag of United States FW Brad Evans
4 Flag of United States DF Rusty Pierce
5 Flag of United States MF Danny O'Rourke
6 Flag of Chile DF Marcos González
7 Flag of United States MF Jacob Thomas
8 Flag of New Zealand MF Duncan Oughton (captain)
9 Flag of United States FW Jason Garey
10 Flag of Zimbabwe FW Joseph Ngwenya
11 Flag of United States MF Ned Grabavoy
12 Flag of United States MF Eddie Gaven
14 Flag of United States DF Chad Marshall
15 Flag of Brazil MF Stefani Miglioranzi
16 Flag of Sierra Leone FW Kei Kamara
No. Position Player
17 Flag of United States MF Danny Szetela
18 Flag of United States GK Bill Gaudette
20 Flag of United States DF Tim Ward
22 Flag of United States MF Robbie Rogers
23 Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines DF Ezra Hendrickson
24 Flag of United States DF Jed Zayner
25 Flag of Brazil MF Ricardo Virtuoso
26 Flag of Costa Rica FW Andy Herron
29 Flag of United States FW Aaron Chandler
30 Flag of United States GK Andy Gruenebaum
Flag of United States MF Kevin Burns †
Flag of England FW Ben Hunter †
Flag of United States DF Ryan Junge †
Flag of United States MF Ted Niziolek †
Flag of Croatia MF Tonci Skroce †
Source: 3/28/2007 SoccerAmerica Article

† Unsigned player

[edit] Changes for the 2007 MLS Season

In

Out

[edit] Notable former players

[edit] Head coaches

[edit] Team records

MLS regular season only, through 2006 season

[edit] Stadiums

[edit] Year-by-year

Year Reg. Season Playoffs Open Cup
1996 4th, East Quarterfinals Did not enter
1997 3rd, East Semifinals Did not enter
1998 2nd, East Semifinals Final
1999 2nd, East Semifinals Semifinals
2000 4th, Central Did not qualify Quarterfinals
2001 2nd, Central Quarterfinals Quarterfinals
2002 2nd, East Semifinals Champions
2003 5th, East Did not qualify Round of 16
2004 1st, East* Quarterfinals Round of 16
2005 6th, East Did not qualify Round of 16
2006 6th, East Did not qualify Round of 16

* Won MLS Supporters Shield

[edit] International competition

[edit] Average attendance

regular season/playoffs

  • 1996: 18,950
  • 1997: 15,043
  • 1998: 12,275
  • 1999: 17,696
  • 2000: 15,451
  • 2001: 17,551
  • 2002: 17,429
  • 2003: 16,250/Missed Playoffs
  • 2004: 16,872/15,224
  • 2005: 12,916/Missed Playoffs
  • 2006: 13,294/Missed Playoffs
  • All-Time: 16,344

[edit] Famous supporters

[edit] External links

Eastern Conference
Chicago Fire  •  Columbus Crew •  D.C. United
Kansas City Wizards  •  New England Revolution
Red Bull New York  •  Toronto FC

Western Conference
Chivas USA •  Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas •  Houston Dynamo
Los Angeles Galaxy •  Real Salt Lake

Former teams On hiatus
Miami FusionTampa Bay Mutiny San Jose Earthquakes
Miscellaneous

MLS Cup • All-Star Game • SuperLiga • USSF • CSA • Central Division • U.S. Open Cup 
Supporters' Shield • MLS two-team Cups • Current Players • Foreign Players • MLS DraftsMLS Stadiums