Charleston Battery
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| Full name | Charleston Battery | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Battery | ||
| Founded | 1993 | ||
| Stadium |
Blackbaud Stadium Charleston, South Carolina | ||
| Capacity | 5,113 | ||
| Owner | Tony Bakker | ||
| Head Coach | Michael Anhaeuser | ||
| League | USL | ||
| 2014 |
Regular Season: 5th Playoffs: Quarterfinals | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
|
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Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer club based in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the United Soccer League and, along with the Richmond Kickers, is the oldest continuously operating professional club in the United States.
Charleston is one of the more successful lower division 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 club has played its home games at the soccer-specific Blackbaud Stadium in the Daniel Island section of Charleston since 1999. The team's colors are black and yellow, with a traditional red scheme for away uniforms. Since 2005, their head coach and general manager has been 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 Cup 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. Charleston remain the most recent non-MLS club to play in the Open Cup final.
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.
In 2010, Charleston led the league standings for the entire season and went undefeated at home. The team finished with 38 points in a shortened schedule caused by the NASL breakaway earlier in the year that the Battery declined to join. 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 league's manager of the year, his second time receiving the honor.[3]
In 2012 the Battery won their fourth league title in club history, defeating local rivals Wilmington Hammerheads 1-0 in the final. Micheal Azira scored a 74th minute winner after Jose Cuevas slipped a pass to him on the left side of the penalty area.
On January 23, 2014, it was announced that the Battery had signed a one-year deal to become the USL Pro affiliate of Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[4] For the 2015 season, the Battery signed a one-year deal to affiliate with the Houston Dynamo on December 22, 2014. [5]
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's naval history and prominent role in the American Civil War and American Revolution) above a depiction of a traditional-style soccer ball.
Stadiums
- Stoney Field; Charleston, South Carolina (1993–1998)
- Blackbaud Stadium; Daniel Island, South Carolina (1999–present)
The Battery played their first six seasons in downtown Charleston at Stoney Field, a facility they shared with various college and high school sports teams.
The club moved to Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island in 1999. The first privately funded soccer-specific stadium built in the United States, it seats 5,100 people.[6] Blackbaud Stadium is modeled on lower level English soccer grounds and features an on-site pub called The Three Lions behind the west stand.
Club culture
The Battery's official supporters' group is The Regiment, who stand in section E1 with other supporters' groups including the American Outlaws-affiliated Queen Anne's Revenge and the Spanish-speaking Charleston Barra Brava.
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 and currently held by DC. The clubs have regularly faced each other in friendlies and cup competitions, with the 2008 US Open Cup final remaining the highest profile match between the two clubs to date. Charleston are also longtime league rivals of the Richmond Kickers, DC's minor league affiliate.
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 18, 2015.[7]
Staff
Tony Bakker - Chairman- Andrew Bell – President/Broadcaster
Michael Anhaeuser – Head Coach/General Manager- John Wilson - Assistant Coach
- Dusty Hudock - Assistant Coach
- Bobby Weisenberger – Head Athletic Trainer
- Clark Brisson - Academy Director
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 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
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 2 | USISL | 5th, Atlantic | Play-in Game | Did not enter | |
| 1994 | 2 | USISL | 2nd, Atlantic | Semifinals | Did not enter | |
| 1995 | 2 | USISL Pro League | 1st, Atlantic | Divisional Semifinals | Did not qualify | |
| 1996 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 2nd, South Atlantic | Champions | Did not qualify | 1,467 |
| 1997 | 2 | USISL A-League | 4th, Atlantic | Division Finals | Did not qualify | 1,737 |
| 1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 4th, Atlantic | Conference Quarterfinals | Did not qualify | 1,896 |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Atlantic | Conference Quarterfinals | Semifinals | 3,542 |
| 2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Atlantic | Conference Semifinals | 2nd Round | 3,485 |
| 2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 2nd, Central | 1st Round | 3rd Round | 3,083 |
| 2002 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | 3rd Round | 3,320 |
| 2003 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Southeast | Champions | Did not qualify | 3,969 |
| 2004 | 2 | USL A-League | 8th Eastern | Did not qualify | Semifinals | 3,715 |
| 2005 | 2 | USL First Division | 9th | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | 3,649 |
| 2006 | 2 | USL First Division | 3rd | Semifinals | 4th Round | 3,628 |
| 2007 | 2 | USL First Division | 10th | Did not qualify | Quarterfinals | 3,968 |
| 2008 | 2 | USL First Division | 5th | 1st Round | Runner Up | 3,991 |
| 2009 | 2 | USL First Division | 4th | 1st round | Quarterfinals | 3,534 |
| 2010 | 3 | USL Second Division | 1st | Champions | Quarterfinals | 3,641 |
| 2011 | 3 | USL Pro | 4th, American | Division Semifinals | 2nd Round | 3,568 |
| 2012 | 3 | USL Pro | 3rd | Champions | 3rd Round | 3,947 |
| 2013 | 3 | USL Pro | 3rd | Semifinals | 4th Round | 3,554 |
| 2014 | 3 | USL Pro | 5th | Quarterfinals | 3rd Round | 3,770 |
Record vs. International and MLS teams
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Record: W:7–D:1–L:11
Carolina Challenge Cup Record: W:3–D:7–L:15
Exhibition Record: W:5–D:2–L:6
| Date | Competition | Location | Home Team | Result | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
See also
- Battery Park
- Carolina Challenge Cup
- Battery stuffs Sounders, Charleston Post and Courier Article
References
- ↑ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". usl2.uslsoccer.com. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- ↑ http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/aug/Charleston defeated the Richmond Kickers 2–1 to claim the championship, the third in the history of the club. 13/battery_stuffs_sounders50669/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". usl2.uslsoccer.com. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Vancouver Whitecaps announce USL PRO affiliate agreement with Charleston Battery". Major League Soccer. January 23, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
- ↑ "Battery, Dynamo sign 2015 deal". Charleston Battery. December 22, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.charlestonbattery.com/stadium_overview.asp
- ↑ "Roster – Charleson Battery". Charleston Battery. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
External links
| Preceded by Long Island Rough Riders |
USISL Pro League (USL-2) Winner 1996 |
Succeeded by Albuquerque Geckos |
| Preceded by Milwaukee Rampage |
USL A-League (USL-1) Champions 2003 |
Succeeded by Montreal Impact |
| Preceded by Orlando City |
USL Pro Champions 2012 |
Succeeded by Orlando City |
| Preceded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
Southern Derby Winner 2003 |
Succeeded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
| Preceded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
Southern Derby Winner Co-winners with Atlanta Silverbacks 2005 |
Succeeded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
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