Akron City FC is an American soccer club based in Akron, Ohio, United States.
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| Full name | Akron City FC | ||
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| Founded | 2021 | ||
| Stadium | Green Street Stadium St. Vincent–St. Mary High School Akron, Ohio | ||
| Owner | Nick Turchan, Craig Lyndall, John Phillips, Justin Carson, Aaron Cornell, SCVFA LLC, Mike Turchan, Jason Fisher | ||
| Head Coach | Andy Hoggarth | ||
| League | National Premier Soccer League | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Founded in 2021, the men's team plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national semi-pro league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Conference of the Midwest Region.[1] The team plays its home games at Green Street Stadium on the campus of St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron.[2] The team's colors are sky blue, red and white.
History edit
Founding and inaugural season edit
Akron City FC joined the NPSL as an expansion franchise in 2021 and took part in its first competitive season in 2022. On September 16, 2021, Kia Zolgharnain was named as the technical director and was responsible for player acquisition for the new team.[1] Akron City played their first NPSL game on May 14, 2022. In front of 1,051 fans, the team secured a 2–1 victory over Pittsburgh Hotspurs.[3]
The team would not win again until its final game on July 15, 2022 against the Erie Commodores. Kia stepped down as head coach after three games due to medical reasons and assistant coach Jay Stepp assumed head coaching duties for the reaming of the season. Cedric Tschami was elevated to top assistant. Despite the team's final record, four of their losses were by one goal and they played to four draws. One of those draws was against eventual Rust Belt champion and Midwest Region finalist Cleveland SC, avenging their two worst losses of the season. In that game, Akron City FC scored early and held a 1-0 lead for over 70 minutes before conceding the equalizer in the 86th minute.
Despite the results on the field, the 2022 season was a great building block for the future. The team drew over 1,000 fans twice and averaged 625 fans for the season, well above league averages. The team secured 19 sponsorships, proving the business community was on board with the cities newest sports asset.
Kit manufacturers edit
- 2022–: UN1TUS
- 2023–: UN1TUS
- 2024–: ARRIVO (formerly Un1tus)
Shirt sponsors edit
- 2022–: Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Springside Athletic Club, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Circle K
- 2023–: Sgt. Clean Car Wash, TL Worldwide Transportation, Circle K, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Hoppin' Frog Brewery
- 2024–: Uncle Tito's Mexican Grill, Sgt. Clean Car Wash Circle K, Lyndall Insurance, Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Days of Gifts
Players and staff edit
Current & Historical Rosters edit
"2024 Roster"
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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"2023 Roster"
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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2022 Inaugural Season Roster [1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Current & Historical Standings edit
NPSL Rust Belt Conference- 2022 Season edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland SC | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 33 | 14 | +19 | 25 | Midwest Region Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Hotspurs | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 15 | +9 | 24 | |
| 3 | Akron City FC | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 23 | −13 | 10 | |
| 4 | FC Buffalo | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 16 | |
| 5 | Erie Commodores | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 23 | −10 | 11 |
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. If three or more teams are tied on points, a mini-table involving only the tied teams is used, and teams are ranked in the mini-table on points. If two teams are tied on points in the mini-table, the two-team rules for classification apply. If three or more teams are tied on points in the mini-table, they are ranked based on 1) wins in conference competition; 2) total goal differential in conference competition; 3) fewest losses in conference competition; 4) coin toss.
Year-by-year edit
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | W-L-D | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | NPSL | 5th Place | 2–6–4 | did not qualify | did not enter |
| Total | 2–6–4 | 0–0 | ||||
Managerial history edit
| Coach | Years | League W-L-D | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Zolgharnain/Jay Stepp | 2022–2022 | 2–6–4 | 0-0-0 |
| Total | |||
Stadium edit
- Green Street Stadium, St. Vincent–St. Mary High School;Akron, Ohio (2022–present)
References edit
- ^ a b "Akron City FC Joins the NPSL for the 2022 Season". akroncityfc.com. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Akron City FC @ Green Street Stadium at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School". npsl.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "HISTORIC NIGHT FOR NPSL SOCCER IN AKRON, OHIO ENDS WITH A 2-1 WIN FOR AKRON CITY FC". npsl.com. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
External links edit