Charleston Battery

Charleston Battery

Full name	Charleston Battery
Nickname(s)	Battery
Founded	1993
Stadium	Blackbaud Stadium Charleston, South Carolina
Ground Capacity	5,113
Owner	Tony Bakker
Head Coach	Michael Anhaeuser
League	USL Pro
2013	Regular Season: 3rd Playoffs: Semi-Finals
Website	Club home page
Home colors Away colors
Current season

Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division.

Charleston is one of the more successful minor-league soccer teams in the United States, having previously won the USISL Pro League in 1996, the USL A-League in 2003, and the final season of the USL Second Division in 2010.^[1] In 2012, the team won the USL Pro Championship, winning its fourth title in club history.

The team has played its home games at the soccer-specific Blackbaud Stadium since 1999. The team's colors are yellow, black and red. Their current head coach is Michael Anhaeuser.

History

The Battery were formed in 1993 as a member of the PDSL, and joined the A-League (later the USL First Division) in 1997. The Battery won the PDSL championship in 1996, defeating the Charlotte Eagles 3–2 and the A-League championship in 2003, defeating the Minnesota Thunder 3–0 to win the title.

In 2008, the Battery qualified for the U.S. Open Final match for the first time, playing against Major League Soccer team D.C. United.^[2] In the final the Battery conceded an early goal but bounced back with a quick-fire equalizer through an Ian Fuller goal, assisted by Chris Williams. Later in the half Lazo Alavanja hit the post but at half time the scores were tied at 1–1. At the start of the second half Charleston conceded early again, but in the final seconds of extra time Marco Reda put the ball in the back of the net for Charleston, only to have his goal controversially disallowed as offside. DC United would go on to win the match 2–1.

The Battery started the 2009 USL-1 season impressively, recording 7 wins, 6 ties and not a single loss. Late in the season, the Battery lost goalkeeper and captain Dusty Hudock to injury, but were still able to make it to the USL-1 finals, losing to the Montreal Impact 4–2 on aggregate goals. After the USL split, the Battery voluntarily self-relegated to the USL-2.

The Battery began 2010 play in the USL Second Division on April 17, 2010 with a 3–2 win at rival Charlotte Eagles. Charleston led the league standings for the entire season, finished with 38 points. Charleston defeated the Richmond Kickers 2–1 to claim the championship, the third in the history of the club. Lamar Neagle was named the USL-2 league MVP and lead the league in scoring with 13 league goals.^[3] Battery Manager Mike Anhaeuser was named the leagues manager of the year, his second time receiving that honor.^[3] The Battery finished the 2010 season unbeaten at home.

In 2012, the Battery scrapped their way to the USL PRO Final, where they defeated Wilmington 1-0. Micheal Azira scored a 74th minute goal after Jose Cuevas slipped a pass to him on the left side of the penalty area.

Colors and badge

Charleston's traditional colors are yellow, black and red. The club badge is a classic shield in yellow and black featuring a pair of crossed artillery cannons (alluding to the city of Charleston's part in the American Civil War and American Revolution) above a depiction of a traditional-style soccer ball.

Stadium

• Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, South Carolina (1999–present)

Blackbaud Stadium opened in 1999. The first privately funded soccer-specific stadium built in the United States, it seats 5,100 people.^[4] The stadium is modeled on lower level English soccer stadiums and features an on-site pub called "The Three Lions."

Club culture

The Battery's official supporters' group is called the Regiment. The Battery's most passionate fans stand in section E10. The Battery competes for the Coffee Pot Cup every time it faces their rival team DC United of Major League Soccer, a trophy established by the two sides' supporters. DC United currently hold the Coffee Pot Cup. The 2008 US Open Cup final remains the highest profile match between the two clubs to date.

Broadcasting

Players and staff

Current roster

Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of March 3, 2012.^[5]

No.	Position	Player	Nation
0	Goalkeeper	Cooper, OdisnelOdisnel Cooper	Cuba
2	Defender	Wiltse, MarkMark Wiltse	United States
4	Defender	Mueller, TaylorTaylor Mueller	United States
5	Midfielder	Azira, MichaelMichael Azira	Uganda
6	Defender	Ferguson, ShawnShawn Ferguson	United States
9	Forward	Kelly, DaneDane Kelly (On loan from Tivoli Gardens)	Jamaica
10	Midfielder	Cuevas, JoseJose Cuevas	United States
11	Midfielder	Griffith, QuintonQuinton Griffith	Antigua and Barbuda
12	Midfielder	Chang, MaikelMaikel Chang	Cuba
16	Forward	Cordovés, HevielHeviel Cordovés	Cuba
19	Midfielder	vanSchaik, JaradJarad vanSchaik	United States
22	Defender	Ellison, CodyCody Ellison	United States
23	Midfielder	Sanyang, AmadouAmadou Sanyang	Gambia
24	Midfielder	Prince, ZachZach Prince	United States
25	Defender	Wilson, JohnJohn Wilson	United States
26	Forward	Savage, AustinAustin Savage	United States
30	Goalkeeper	Klasila, KevinKevin Klasila	United States
32	Defender	Falvey, ColinColin Falvey	Ireland

Staff

• Andrew Bell – President
• Michael Anhaeuser – Head Coach and General Manager
• Bobby Weisenberger – Head Trainer
• Dr. David Geier – Head Physician

Notable former players

This list includes those former players who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left.

• See also: All-time Charleston Battery roster

Head coaches

• Tim Hankinson (1993–1994)
• Nuno Piteira (1995–1999)
• Alan Dicks (1999–2001)
• Chris Ramsey (2001–2004)
• Michael Anhaeuser (2004–present)

Achievements

• USL A-League
  • Champions (2): 1996*, 2003
  • Atlantic Division Champions (2): 1995*, 2000
  • Southeast Division Champions (2): 2002, 2003

• USL Second Division
  • Champions (1): 2010
  • Regular Season Champions (1): 2010

• USL Pro
  • Champions (1): 2012

• US Open Cup
  • Runner Up (1): 2008
  • Semifinals (2): 1999, 2004
  • Quarterfinals (3): 2007, 2009, 2010

• Southern Derby
  • Winner (4): 2003, 2005^, 2009, 2010, 2011

as co-champions^

Record

Year-by-year

Record vs. International and MLS teams

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Record: 7–9–0
Carolina Challenge Cup Record: 2–13–5
Exhibition Record: 3–5–0

See also

• Battery Park
• Carolina Challenge Cup
• Battery stuffs Sounders, Charleston Post and Courier Article

References

External links

• Charleston Battery official site
• Post and Courier Battery section

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