Phoenix FC
 | |||
| Full name | Phoenix Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Wolves | ||
| Founded | 2012 | ||
| Stadium |
Peoria Sports Complex Peoria, Arizona | ||
| Capacity | 12,880 | ||
| Owners |
American Soccer Marketing, LLC (Tim Donald) | ||
| Head Coach | David Robertson | ||
| League | USL Pro | ||
| 2013 |
Regular Season: 12th Playoffs: DNQ | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
| |||
 Current season | |||
Phoenix Football Club is an American professional football (soccer) team based in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 2012, the team is a member of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team's colors are red and white.
History
On June 18, 2012, BDR Sports LLC was incorporated in the State of Arizona to bring a professional football team to Phoenix.[1] On July 2, 2012, the USL Pro awarded a franchise to the BDR group for the 2013 season.[2] On July 15, the team announced they had hired David Robertson, Director of Boy's Coaching at Sereno Soccer Club, as Head Coach. He is a former Rangers, Aberdeen and Leeds United player. He also managed Elgin City and Montrose in the Scottish Third Division. The team name ("Phoenix City FC") and colors were announced the same day.[3][4] On August 28, the team selected Umbro as the team's official football uniform and equipment supplier.[5] On September 7, the team renamed itself "Phoenix FC", introduced its logo and selected "Wolves" as their nickname.[6]
On September 27, 2012, former Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie signed a one-year contract with Phoenix FC, becoming their first player signing.[7][8][9]
On December 11, 2012, Phoenix FC and Arizona State University announced a stadium agreement for 2013. Phoenix FC will play home games at Sun Devil Stadium beginning in April 2013. As part of the deal, the seating capacity was meant to be expanded by more than 4,000 additional seats, taking the total capacity to over 5,000 seats. However, due to the position of stadium lights poles on the east side of the stadium, the capacity was revised to just over 3,400.[10][11][12]
2013: Inaugural season
Phoenix FC opened their first season with a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Blues on March 23, 2013.[13][14] They won their home opener at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on March 30, 2013. They defeated VSI Tampa Bay FC 1-0 on a goal by Netinho before a soldout, standing room crowd of 4,198.[15][16][17]
The team finished the 2013 season with 5 Wins, 14 Losses and 7 Ties.[18] Donny Toia lead the team in scoring with six goals and was a nominee for USL Pro Rookie of the Year.[19]
New Ownership
The USL Pro revoked the Phoenix franchise rights from BDR Sports LLC on November 1, 2013, citing multiple violations of the franchise agreement, failing to pay its players on time and for submitting misleading and inaccurate financial statements.[20][21][22][23] On December 16, 2013, USL Pro awarded the franchise rights for Phoenix FC to American Soccer Marketing LLC, owned by former interim Team President Tim Donald.[24][25][26]
2014 Season
The team will play at the Peoria Sports Complex for the 2014 season.[27][28][29]
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 | USL Pro | 12th Place | Did not qualify | 1st Round | 1,532 |
Supporter groups
A supporters group called La Furia Roja 1881 / The Red Fury 1881 was organized by members of the local American Outlaws chapter. 1881 refers to the year the City of Phoenix was incorporated. La Furia Roja 1881 have their own section of the ASU Soccer Stadium for their use during Phoenix FC games.[30]
In the inaugural season, LFR voted Donny Toia as Player of the Year.
Players
Current roster
As of 2/5/2014 [31]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Midfielder | Schmitt, ReidReid Schmitt |  United States
|
| 3 | Defender | Morrison, ScottScott Morrison |  Scotland
|
| 4 | Defender | Grousis, DevonDevon Grousis | United States
|
| 5 | Defender | Boufleur, RenanRenan Boufleur |  Brazil
|
| 7 | Midfielder | Paul, DavidDavid Paul | United States
|
| 8 | Midfielder | Netinho, Netinho | Brazil
|
| 9 | Midfielder | Faria, DiegoDiego Faria | Brazil
|
| 13 | Goalkeeper | Parkinson, SheldonSheldon Parkinson |  Jamaica
|
| 15 | Defender | Ramos, JoséJosé Ramos |  Mexico
|
| 16 | Defender | Schafer, IsaiahIsaiah Schafer | United States
|
| 17 | Defender | Holmes, BrianBrian Holmes | United States
|
| 18 | Midfielder | Ramos, ThomasThomas Ramos | United States
|
| 20 | Goalkeeper | Kitson, NealNeal Kitson | United States
|
| 21 | Midfielder | Bento, JoshJosh Bento | United States
|
| 22 | Midfielder | Vickers, CameronCameron Vickers | United States
|
| 23 | Forward | Doue, PeaboPeabo Doue | United States
|
| 26 | Goalkeeper | Soriano, HumbertoHumberto Soriano | United States
|
| 27 | Forward | Bowen, TravisTravis Bowen | United States
|
| 32 | Defender | Zelin, ClaytonClayton Zelin | United States
|
Staff
Front Office
- Tim Donald - Owner / President [32]
- Eric Cornwell - Chairman
-
Rui Filipe Bento - Managing Director - Shawn Diedtrich - Director of Operations
- Erika Martinez - Community & Player Relations / Office Admin / Media Contact
- Billy Denman - Operations Manager
- Jason Prichett - General Counsel
- Luciano Couto - Director of International Business
Coaching Staff
- David Robertson - Head Coach
- Joao Bento - Assistant Coach
- Mike Hewitt - Goalkeeper Coach
- Brian O'Donnel - Fitness Coach
- Jason Erickson - Trainer
Stadia
- Sun Devil Soccer Stadium (2013 - 9 games)
- GCU Soccer Stadium (2013 - 1 game)
- Reach 11 Soccer Complex (2013 - 3 games)
- Peoria Sports Complex (2014–present)
References
- ↑ [http://starpas.azcc.gov/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/names-detail.p?name-id=L17618096&type=L.L.C. "Business Entity Search"]. Arizona Corporation Commission. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ↑ "Phoenix to Join USL PRO in 2013". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
- ↑ "USL Pro Valley team names coach, reveals team name". Arizona Republic. 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
- ↑ "New USL PRO Team Owners Met With LFR 1881 Yesterday; Team Name, Team Colors & Head Coach Announced". AzKicksIt.com. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ↑ Team Facebook Page
- ↑ "Phoenix Announces Name and Logo". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
- ↑ "Phoenix FC officially signs first player, former Scottish Premier League forward, according to sources". Odeen Domingo (Arizona Republic). 27 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ↑ "Darren Mackie, Phoenix FC's first signing and former Scottish Premier League striker, answers fans questions sent through Twitter; Phoenix FC tryouts update". Odeen Domingo (Arizona Republic). 28 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ↑ "Phoenix FC Signs First Player Former Aberdeen FW Darren Mackie". AZKicksIt.com. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ↑ Phoenix FC Scores With Sun Devil Soccer Stadium Deal
- ↑ Phoenix pro soccer team will stake home field at ASU in Tempe
- ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/odeendomingofc/2013/03/22/phoenix-fc-season-preview-projected-starting-xi-team-and-season-prediction-series-vol-9-of-10-plus-team-names-18-player-travel-roster-to-la-makes-home-stadium-changes
- ↑ "Phoenix FC loses first ever game on Saturday; played much of the match a man down". Arizona Republic. March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Match Report – Los Angeles Blues vs. Phoenix FC". AZKicksIt. March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Netinho scores Phoenix FC's 1st goal in win". Arizona Republic. March 31, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Phoenix FC gets first win in club history". AZKicksIt. March 30, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ↑ "LA Blues Open USL Pro Season With A Victory". SoccerNation.com. March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ↑ "‘With a Whimper’: The Story of the 2013 Phoenix FC Wolves". Jason Robertson. recklesschallenge.net. August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ↑ "USL PRO Awards Finalists Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 4, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Phoenix FC terminated from USL PRO". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. November 1, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ "USL PRO terminates soccer franchise with Phoenix FC Wolves owners". Indy Week. November 2, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ "League pulls franchise from Phoenix FC owners group". Ted Prezelski. Tucson Sentinel. November 2, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ "USL PRO Statement". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 2, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ "USL PRO Awards Phoenix Franchise Rights". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Phoenix FC, USL PRO announce new ownership group". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Phoenix FC to be back in 2014 under new ownership". Garrett Cleverly. AZKicksIt. December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Phoenix FC officially announce home stadium". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. January 21, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ↑ "PHOENIX FC MOVES TO THE WEST VALLEY". Phoenix FC. January 21, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ↑ "Pro soccer moves to Peoria Sports Complex with Phoenix FC". Darrell Jackson. Peoria Times (AZ). January 31, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/LFR1881
- ↑ Phoenix FC Team Roster
- ↑ Front Office Staff
External links
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