AFC Cleveland

Last updated

AFC Cleveland
AFC Cleveland Crest.png
Full nameAFC Cleveland
Nickname(s)Royals
FoundedNovember 11, 2011;13 years ago (2011-11-11)
DissolvedDecember 12, 2017;7 years ago (2017-12-12)
Ground Stan Skoczen Stadium, Independence, OH
Capacity2,200 [1]
Website https://www.afccleveland.com/

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]

Contents

History

Cleveland players huddle before a game against FC Cincinnati in 2017 CINvCLE 2017-05-17 - AFC Cleveland huddle (34403939140).jpg
Cleveland players huddle before a game against FC Cincinnati in 2017

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]

Stadium

PeriodStadiumLocation
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

Kit supplier and sponsorship

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]

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2012–2013 Admiral Sportswear AdmiralSoccer.com
2014–2015 Givova Rocky River Urgent Care
2016–2017 Joma NovaCare

Club culture

Supporters

6th City Syndicate is the supporters' group for Cleveland soccer. [10]

Rivalries

Players and staff

Cleveland players in action during a 2017 U.S. Open Cup fixture CINvCLE 2017-05-17 - Declan McGivern, Skye Harter, Ben Truax, Tom Beck, Coletun Long, Eric Stevenson, Admir Suljevic, Djiby Fall (34628309542).jpg
Cleveland players in action during a 2017 U.S. Open Cup fixture

Notable former players

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.

Head coach history

NameNationalityTenure
Andy HoggarthFlag of England.svg England2012–2014
Aaron McGuinessFlag of Australia (converted).svg Australia2014
Carter PoeFlag of the United States.svg United States2015–2017
Mike SesarFlag of the United States.svg United States2017

Honors

National
CompetitionsTitlesSeasons
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
Minor Trophies

Year-by-year

SeasonDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffsU.S. Open Cup
2012 4 NPSL 3rd, Midwest-Great LakesRegional FinalsDid not qualify
2013 4NPSL4th, Midwest-Great LakesConference Semi-FinalsDeclined Entry [15]
2014 4NPSL3rd, Midwest-Great Lakes EastDid not qualifyDid not qualify
2015 4NPSL2nd, Midwest ConferenceRegional FinalsDid not qualify
2016 4NPSL1st, Midwest-Great Lakes EastChampions2nd Round
2017 4NPSL4th Midwest - EastDid not qualify2nd Round

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References

  1. ↑ "STAN SKOCZEN STADIUM AT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL". AFCCleveland.com. Retrieved January 5, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ "Cleveland join revamped Midwestern NPSL". TheSoccerRoom.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  3. ↑ @NPSLSoccer (December 12, 2017). "NEWS: The #NPSL today announced the termination of the memberships of AFC Cleveland (@AFCCleveland) and Sports Club Corinthians USA (@SCorinthiansUSA) in line with the NPSL Bylaws for teams not in good financial standing with the league" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ↑ "New Cleveland semipro soccer team is off to a hot start". CrainsCleveland.com. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ "History of Soccer in Cleveland". Homepages.Sover.net. Retrieved June 28, 2018. ...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...
  6. ↑ "HISTORY – AFC Cleveland". AFCCleveland.com. Retrieved June 28, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ Sandrick, Bob (June 3, 2012). "New soccer club calls Parma home". The Plain Dealer . Advance Publications . Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  8. ↑ "AFC Cleveland Begins with Admiral". AFCCleveland.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ О футболе в Америке в одном видео [About football in America in one video]. Givova-Sport.com (in Russian). Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  10. ↑ "6th City Syndicate". 6CSCleveland.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  11. ↑ "The Rust Belt Derby". SoccerNewsDay.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  12. ↑ "The Battle for Ohio Begins with a Bang". ISNSoccer.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Dynamo realigns with NPSL Midwest East". DaytonDailyNews.com. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  14. ↑ "BATTLE FOR OHIO: THE I-71 CUP". AFCCleveland.com. Retrieved June 28, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ "Great Lakes Division teams decline 2013 US Open Cup berths as NPSL entries finalized". TheCup.us. April 9, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
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