Wilmington Hammerheads
Wilmington Hammerheads is an American professional soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
Having spent the 2010 season on hiatus from competitive play, the Hammerheads organization announced their intention to return to the field in 2011.[1] The team had to cease its operations prior to the 2010 season due to the USL ending its relationship with the team's owner for not meeting certain key requirements set forth by the league.[2][3]
The team plays its home games at Legion Stadium, where they have played since 2003. The team's colors are sky blue and white. Their head coach is Englishman David Irving.
History
The Hammerheads had one championship in 2003, and were a finalist in 2002, losing to the Long Island Rough Riders 2-1. Wilmington found great success in the US Open Cup in their later years, regularly drawing MLS teams in the late rounds. Their most famous result occurred in 2003 when they drew the Dallas Burn, an MLS team, in the middle of a particularly bad year. They shocked the soccer world by defeating the Burn 4-1 at Legion Sports Complex before bowing out to DC United 1-0 in the quarterfinal round. The Hammerheads regularly drew well over 2,000 fans per game, and had drawn nearly 5,000 for playoff games. On June 30, 2009, the Hammerheads upset the Chicago Fire in the third round of the 2009 US Open Cup 1-0 at home.
The final season of the Hammerheads was one of their most successful, but is also reported to be one of their most chaotic. After the 2009 season the USL explained that they had discontinued their relationship with the franchise owner Chuck Sullivan because "the USL is a franchised based league, where certain requirements must be met and in this case they were not met."[2] The town of Wilmington was awash with rumors of what those requirements were, including reports of players not being paid since mid-season.[2] The franchise was recently purchased by two investors (one based in Jacksonville, North Carolina and the other in Chicago, Illinois).
The team is set to return to the pitch for the 2011 season.[4] The team will participate in the USL Pro League in the 2011 season.[5]
Colors and badge
Stadium
Club culture
Broadcasting
Players and staff
Current roster
As of June 10, 2011.[6]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Staff
- David Irving - Head Coach/Director of Soccer Operations
- Roxanne DeMonte - Game Day Operations
Notable former players
Head coaches
Achievements
- USL Second Division Regular Season Champions 2009
- USL Pro Select League Champions 2003
- USL D-3 Pro League Southern Division Champions 2002
- USL D-3 Pro League Southern Division Champions 2001
Record
Year-by-year
| Year |
Division |
League |
Reg. Season |
Playoffs |
Open Cup |
| 1996 |
3 |
USISL Pro League |
3rd, South Atlantic |
Semifinals |
Did not qualify |
| 1997 |
3 |
USISL D-3 Pro League |
5th, South Atlantic |
Did not qualify |
1st Round |
| 1998 |
3 |
USISL D-3 Pro League |
6th, Atlantic |
Division Semifinals |
Did not qualify |
| 1999 |
3 |
USL D-3 Pro League |
2nd, Atlantic |
Conference Finals |
2nd Round |
| 2000 |
3 |
USL D-3 Pro League |
2nd, Southern |
Conference Quarterfinals |
2nd Round |
| 2001 |
3 |
USL D-3 Pro League |
1st, Southern |
Conference Finals |
Did not qualify |
| 2002 |
3 |
USL D-3 Pro League |
1st, Southern |
Final |
Did not qualify |
| 2003 |
3 |
USL Pro Select League |
2nd, Southern |
Champion |
Quarterfinals |
| 2004 |
3 |
USL Pro Soccer League |
2nd, Southern |
Quarterfinals |
3rd Round |
| 2005 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
4th |
Semifinals |
3rd Round |
| 2006 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
8th |
Did not qualify |
4th Round |
| 2007 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
7th |
Did not qualify |
Did not qualify |
| 2008 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
7th |
Did not qualify |
Did not qualify |
| 2009 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
1st |
Semifinals |
Quarterfinals |
| 2010 |
|
on hiatus |
|
|
|
| 2011 |
3 |
USL Pro |
|
|
3rd Round |
References
- ^ Hammerheads Return for 2011
- ^ a b c Bonner, Bob; Ondo, Kristy; Worley, Debra (October 15, 2009), "Hammerheads removed from USL: Owner has comment", WECT, http://www.wect.com/global/story.asp?s=11265308, retrieved August 30, 2010
- ^ Bonner, Bob (December 2, 2009), "USL moving on without Hammerheads", WECT, http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=11548335, retrieved August 30, 2010
- ^ Bonner, Bob (2010-03-28), USL officials hopeful for Wilmington return, WECT TV, http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=12212395, retrieved 2010-08-30
- ^ Bonner, Bob (2010-11-10), Soccer returns to Wilmington with Hammerheads, USL-Pro, WECT TV, http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=13473092, retrieved 2010-11-11
- ^ http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2011/13380700.html#ROSTER
External links
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Phoenix · San Antonio · Boston Victory
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