Full name | AFC Cleveland |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Royals |
Founded | November 11, 2011 |
Dissolved | December 12, 2017 |
Ground | Stan Skoczen Stadium, Independence, OH |
Capacity | 2,200 [1] |
Website | Club website |
AFC Cleveland was an American semi-professional soccer club based in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, Ohio. Founded in 2011 and playing its first season in 2012, the team spent six years in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League. [2] After being expelled from the NPSL at the end of the 2017 season, [3] AFC Cleveland folded and was replaced by Cleveland SC, who began play in the NPSL in 2018. [4]
Following the folding of the Cleveland Internationals in 2010, the city of Cleveland was without a soccer team. [5] On November 11, 2011, AFC Cleveland announced that they would join the National Premier Soccer League. [6]
AFC stands for A Fans' Club, signifying that the organization is for the fans and created by the fans, and was inspired by the English club AFC Wimbledon. [7]
Period | Stadium | Location |
---|---|---|
2012 | Byers Field | Parma, Ohio |
2013 | Krenzler Field | Cleveland, Ohio |
2014 | DiSanto Field | |
2015 | Rocky River HS Stadium | Rocky River, Ohio |
2016–2017 | Stan Skoczen Stadium | Independence, Ohio |
From 2012 to 2013, the kit sponsor of the club was Admiral Sportswear. [8] Beginning with the 2014 season, Givova took over as the kit sponsor. [9]
Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
2012–2013 | Admiral Sportswear | AdmiralSoccer.com |
2014–2015 | Givova | Rocky River Urgent Care |
2016–2017 | Joma | NovaCare |
6th City Syndicate is the supporters' group for Cleveland soccer. [10]
This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the NPSL, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.
Name | Nationality | Tenure |
---|---|---|
Andy Hoggarth | England | 2012–2014 |
Aaron McGuiness | Australia | 2014 |
Carter Poe | United States | 2015–2017 |
Mike Sesar | United States | 2017 |
National | ||
---|---|---|
Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
National Premier Soccer League | 1 | 2016 |
Midwest Region (Playoffs) | 1 | 2016 |
Great Lakes Conference (Playoffs) | 2 | 2012, 2016 |
Great Lakes Conference (Regular Season) | 1 | 2016 |
Season | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, Midwest-Great Lakes | Regional Finals | Did not qualify |
2013 | 4 | NPSL | 4th, Midwest-Great Lakes | Conference Semi-Finals | Declined Entry [15] |
2014 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, Midwest-Great Lakes East | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
2015 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd, Midwest Conference | Regional Finals | Did not qualify |
2016 | 4 | NPSL | 1st, Midwest-Great Lakes East | Champions | 2nd Round |
2017 | 4 | NPSL | 4th Midwest - East | Did not qualify | 2nd Round |
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...folding after a last-place finish. Cleveland fans were again left pining, and things looked rather bleak as the first decade of the 21st century ended. Outside of the local amateur leagues, the only soccer in the city was provided by the amateur USL-PDL's Internationals...