Detroit City FC

Detroit City FC
Full name Detroit City Football Club
Nickname(s) Le Rouge, DCFC
Founded 2012
Stadium Cass Technical High School Stadium, Detroit, MI
Capacity 3,000
Head Coach Ben Pirmann
League National Premier Soccer League
Website Club home page

Detroit City FC (DCFC) is an American soccer club based in Detroit, Michigan that plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. Detroit City play their home games at Cass Technical High School in downtown Detroit. Their manager is Ben Pirmann.

Detroit City FC has a rivalry with FC Buffalo, and AFC Cleveland with whom they contest in the Rust Belt Derby. The team's nickname is Le Rouge, derived from Detroit's French roots.

History

Detroit City FC was started by a group of five Detroit residents who wanted a club of their own that would promote the city and help build community through soccer.[1] In their first season in the NPSL, Detroit City FC finished second in the five team Great Lakes Conference of the Midwest Region. Le Rouge went on to lose 2-1 to AFC Cleveland in the Great Lakes Conference Semi-finals, ending their season with a 5-2-5 record. In December 2012, it was announced that head coach Kylie Stannard and associate coach Cale Wassermann would not be returning for a second season with the team due to other obligations. The following month, Ben Pirmann took over as head coach and Adil Salmoni was hired as associate head coach.

In 2013, Detroit City finished first in the Great Lakes Conference of the Midwest Region and were ranked #1 in the NPSL following an undefeated regular season and a Rust Belt Derby Championship. After beating rival AFC Cleveland for the 3rd time that season in the semi-finals 3-1, DCFC lost to Erie Admirals, ending their season with a 12-1-1 record.

Current Season

The club went 8-3-3 in all competitions in 2014 and finished in second place in a newly aligned Great Lakes West Conference of the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League, which is one of two fourth-division soccer leagues in the United States. Detroit City FC made its Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup debut on May 7, losing to RWB Adria in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. In the NPSL regular season, the club claimed the Rust Belt Derby trophy for its second-straight year. Additionally, the team extended its home winning streak to 15 games, with its last home loss being in July 2013. In attendance, the club reached its all-time record of 3,398 supporters for its 3-1 win against the Fort Pitt Regiment on July 11, 2014.

In The Community

Detroit City FC supporters with the city's skyline behind them

Since its beginning in 2012, Detroit City FC has been dedicated to supporting the city of Detroit and building community through its own partnerships and philanthropic missions, as noted in the club's motto, "Passion for our city. Passion for the game."[2]

As the team's success grows, so too does its commitment to the sport. Born out of a desire to bring together soccer and community in Detroit, the club operates the Detroit City Futbol League, a recreational, community-driven adult soccer league in the summer.[3] In 2014, the team announced its first fall recreational adult league, Soktoberfest.[4] Detroit City FC also works with Think Detroit PAL to operate free youth soccer clinics and give free admission to Detroit PAL participants.

Each season, one regular-season home game is dedicated as a fundraiser for a Detroit-area charity. On May 26, 2013, the club's match against Zanesville Athletic benefitted the Wounded Warrior Project and Hooligans for Heroes, a nonprofit started by members of the Northern Guard Supporters. On June 6, 2014, the club became the first American sports team to wear a uniform in support of LGBTQ inclusion in a regulation match. Le Rouge dedicated the June 6th match versus Erie Admirals S.C. to inclusivity in sports, auctioning off the commemorative jerseys to benefit the Ruth Ellis Center, a Highland Park, MI., shelter for at-risk, runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth.[5]

Also in 2014, the club announced its partnership with United Way of Southeastern Michigan to support its "Michigan No Kid Hungry" initiative and promote healthy lifestyles for youth in Detroit.[6] On September 7, 2014, City hosted its inaugural Detroit Public Schools Showcase, which featured a friendly match for City followed by a regulation match between Cass Tech High School and Detroit Renaissance High School, with proceeds from the night going toward the boys soccer programs.[7] The club has strong ties with Cass Tech High School, investing thousands of dollars into improving the Cass Tech field, a benefit to the both the soccer and football programs. City also presented the Cass Tech girls soccer program with new uniforms early in the 2014 season.

Club Culture

The Northern Guard celebrate a goal during a home game at Cass Tech

Supporters

Northern Guard Supporters, Le Rouge supporters, Motor City Supporters, and the Red and Black Brigade are three distinct groups that collectively represent the soccer supporting culture at DCFC matches.

Known for setting off smoke bombs, marching into the stadium in a parade-like manner, and chanting an established series of songs and cheers, supporters groups have become a staple at Detroit City FC home and away games.

Rivalries

See also: Rust Belt Derby

Supporters of Detroit City FC, FC Buffalo, and AFC Cleveland formed the 'Rust Belt Derby'. The winner of the Derby is based on the head to head record of the midwestern clubs during regular season NPSL matches.[8] These are typically high pressure games and particular fan favorites, especially by Detroit City FC supporter groups who have been known to greatly antagonize DCFC’s opponents.[9] Cleveland won the inaugural Rust Belt Derby on June 23, 2012 following a 1-1 draw with Detroit.[10] Detroit City FC would come back and win the 2013 Rust Belt Derby trophy after beating FC Buffalo 2-1.

The end-of-season friendly against the Windsor (Ontario) Stars has become a mainstay of Detroit City FC season fixtures. The final match of the season against Windsor has become a showcase of reserve players for Le Rouge, giving those in attendance a preview of future talent for the next season. It also has become tradition for the Northern Guard Supporters to light off the remainder of their smoke supply from the year as a sendoff for the players and supporters.

Ownership

Head Coach

Associate Head Coach

Stadium

Players

2013 Detroit City FC

2014 Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
United States MF Jeff Adkins
United States MF Latif Alashe
United States FW Wade Allen
United States MF Tyler Arnone
Lebanon MF Mustafa Bazzi
Bulgaria MF George Chomakov
United States DF Lucas Diener
Romania MF Danny Dragoi
England MF David Edwardson
United States MF Jon Evans
United States DF Connor Furgason
England MF Oliver Harris
United States DF Sebastian Harris
United States DF Zeke Harris
United States MF Alex Isaevski
United States MF Chase Jabbori
England DF Michael Lamb
United States DF Nick Lewin
United States MF Miche’le Lipari
United States FW Shawn Claud Lawson
United States MF Brent McIntosh
No. Position Player
England FW William Mellors-Blair
United States DF Colin McAtee
United States GK Bret Mollon
United States FW Zach Myers
United States FW Tom Oatley
United States MF Raphael Reynolds
United States DF Josh Rogers (Captain)
United States MF Lachlan Savage
United States MF Cyrus Saydee
United States DF Zach Schewee
United States FW Nick Schroeder
England GK Eliott Tarney
United States MF Kevin Taylor
United States DF Ryan Thelen
United States MF Spencer Thompson
United States MF T.J. Van Slooten
United States FW Joey Tinnion
United States MF Zach Vasold
United States GK Jason Wise
United States MF Matt Ybarra

Notable Former Players

Black Arrow Award Recipients

At the conclusion of each season fans get to vote for the team's MVP and recipient of the Black Arrow Award. The title of the trophy is taken from the nickname of Gil Heron, a Jamaican footballer who lived in Detroit and became the first ever black player for Celtic F.C..

Honors

Domestic League

Regional Competitions

Year-by-year

Year Tier League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg Attendance
2012 4 NPSL 2nd of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes (5-2-5) Conference Semifinal Not Eligible[11] 1295
2013 4 NPSL 1st of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes (11-0-1) Conference Final Did not qualify[12] 1715
2014 4 NPSL 2nd of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes West (8-3-3) Did not qualify First Round 2857[13]
2015 4 NPSL In progress TBD Qualified

Current Season

2015 NPSL Midwest Region Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification[lower-alpha 1]
1 Detroit City FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Madison 56ers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Michigan Stars FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Lansing United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Indiana Fire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Cincinnati Saints 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Fort Pitt FC Regiment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 FC Buffalo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 AFC Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Minnesota United FC Reserves 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Minnesota Twin Stars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 FC Indiana Lions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Erie Commodores FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on May 9, 2015. Source: NPSL standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head to head; 3) goal differential in head to head results; 4) wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) fewest losses; 7) coin toss
Notes:
  1. ↑ Four teams qualify for the NPSL playoffs.

Historic Record Vs Opponents

Legend
0-0-0 Win-Loss-Draw
0-0 Win-Loss
* No games played
Opponent Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Total Played Win %
Ohio AFC Cleveland 3-1-3 1-1 * 4-2-3 9 0.611
Ohio Cincinnati Saints 3-0-0 * * 3-0-0 3 1.000
Pennsylvania Erie Commodores FC[A] 3-1-2 0-1 * 3-2-2 7 0.571
New York FC Buffalo 4-1-1 * * 4-1-1 6 0.750
Pennsylvania Fort Pitt FC Regiment 1-0-0 * * 1-0-0 1 1.000
New York GBFC Thunder 2-0-1 * * 2-0-1 3 0.833
Indiana Indiana Fire 1-1-1 * * 1-1-1 3 0.500
Michigan Lansing United 1-0-1 * * 1-0-1 2 0.750
Michigan Michigan Stars FC[B] 3-1-0 * * 3-1-0 4 0.750
Illinois RWB Adria * * 0-0-1
(0-1 PKs)		 0-0-1 1 0.500
Ohio Zanesville Athletic FC[C] 3-0-0 * * 3-0-0 3 1.000
ALL-TIME 24-5-9 1-2 0-0-1 25-7-10 42 0.714
Notes
  1. ^ A Erie Admirals S.C. were renamed Erie Commodores FC in 2015.
  2. ^ B FC Sparta Michigan were renamed Michigan Stars FC in 2013.
  3. ^ C Zanesville Athletic FC folded in 2013.

Kit Supplier and Sponsor

Years Kit manufacturer Sponsor
Front Sponsor Back Sponsor
2012 Nike Independent Detroit businesses sponsored individual players Slows to Go/ Michigan Greensafe Products
2013 None CorePower/MillKing it Productions
2014
2015 Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Local Marketing Association[14] Henry Ford Health System and M1 Imaging Center

References

  1. ↑ http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2012/01/26/pitch-invasion-podcast-extra-interview-with-sean-mann-of-detroit-city-fc/
  2. ↑ http://detcityfc.com/
  3. ↑ http://detroitcityfutbol.com/
  4. ↑ http://www.detcityfc.com/news/detroit-city-fc-introduces-first-adult-recreational-soccer-league-soktoberfest/
  5. ↑ http://www.detcityfc.com/news/detroit-city-fc-to-dedicate-a-match-to-supporting-the-cause-of-lgbtq-inclusion-in-sports/
  6. ↑ http://www.detcityfc.com/news/tag/united-way/
  7. ↑ http://www.detcityfc.com/news/soccer-shines-in-dps-showcase/
  8. ↑ http://www.soccernewsday.com/usa/a/134/the-rust-belt-derby
  9. ↑ "Detroit City FC brings soccer culture and excitement back to downtown". MLive.com. MLive Media Group. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Rust Belt Derby". Soccer News Day. Soccer News Day. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  11. ↑ Gerald Barnhart. "NPSL announces four of 6.5 US Open Cup berths for 2012 tournament". TheCup.us. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  12. ↑ Josh Hakala (April 9, 2013). "Great Lakes Division teams decline 2013 US Open Cup berths as NPSL entries finalized". TheCup.us. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Boys in Rouge: Number Crunchin'".
  14. ↑ http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150415/NEWS/150419907/detroit-city-football-club-signs-three-jersey-sponsors

External links