Erie Commodores FC

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Erie Commodores FC
Erie Commodores.png
Full nameErie Commodores Football Club
Nickname(s)Erie Commodores, Commodores, ECFC
Founded2009;15 years ago (2009)
Stadium Saxon Stadium
Erie, Pennsylvania
OwnerJohn Melody
Head CoachRich Wall
League National Premier Soccer League
United Women's Soccer
Website Club website
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Erie Commodores FC is an American soccer team based in Erie, Pennsylvania, competing in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team plays its home games at Saxon Stadium, located on the campus of Mercyhurst University. In 2021, the Commodores expanded by adding a pro-am women's team that competes in United Women's Soccer. [1]

Contents

The "Commodores" name is a tribute to Oliver Hazard Perry, a U.S. Navy commodore who operated out of Erie's Presque Isle Bay during the Battle of Lake Erie, a flashpoint in the War of 1812. Perry's ship, the USS Niagara, famously flew a flag with the phrase "Don't Give up the Ship" during the battle, both of which are symbolized in the Commodores' logo. The Erie Maritime Museum now preserves the Niagara at Presque Isle Bay.

History

In 2009, local soccer coach Pedro Argáez founded Erie Admirals SC, building on an existing youth soccer program. John Melody, a former player at Mercyhurst University in Erie, initially served as Argáez's head coach before taking full ownership of the team. On April 24, 2015, Melody rebranded the club as Erie Commodores FC. [2] Melody later appointed Micky Blythe, another Mercyhurst alumnus, as head coach for one season. Afterward, Neil Brown, a UEFA A License holder, helped lead the Commodores in their 2015 NPSL campaign. [3]

Player development

Several former Commodores players have advanced to professional soccer, including Adam Clement, who joined Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as Jeremy Deighton, Greg Blum, and Neil Shaffer with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the United Soccer League. Others, like Dan Howell, Billy Colton, Sam Dorf, and Danny Deakin, pursued opportunities in international leagues, with Deakin being drafted by Orlando City SC of MLS. [4]

Rust-belt rivalries

The Commodores developed notable rivalries, including with fellow Rust Belt Conference team Cleveland SC from Cleveland, Ohio. They previously had a rivalry with Detroit City FC of Detroit, Michigan until they moved to the National Independent Soccer Association. In 2020, Erie competed in the NPSL Members Cup alongside Cleveland SC, FC Buffalo, and the Pittsburgh Hotspurs. The club also participated in the Erie County Derby against FC Buffalo, a regional NPSL rivalry between Erie County, Pennsylvania and Erie County, New York, which ended when Buffalo joined USL League Two in 2023.

The Brewers Cup

In 2024, the Commodores reignited their rivalry with FC Buffalo through the Erie County Brewers Cup, sponsored by Erie-based John Russell Brewing Company and Buffalo-based Big Ditch Brewing Company. The Brewers Cup features a two-game series, with one game in each city, and the two breweries collaborated to release "Lake Erie Life," a tropical summer India pale ale. [5]

Current roster

As of May 17, 2022

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Chris Ralph
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Antonio De La Torre
3 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Faheem Khan
4 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Chad Eldridge
5 DF Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Bautista Corti
6 DF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Sam Richards
7 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Danny Stevens
8 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Tom Barry
9 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Max Wilkins
10 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Dylan Sumner
11 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Renan Diniz
12 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Gabriel Peres
14 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Tinashe Katsande
15 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ryan Beckinsale
16 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Thomas Binkowski
No.Pos.NationPlayer
17 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Owen Jowett
19 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Steve Yeonas
20 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ryan Lieser
21 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Joe Knox
22 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Andy Bennett
23 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Gavin Morgan
24 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Toby Gower
25 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jack Foht
26 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Shawn Rapal
27 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Peter Wagner
28 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jonathan Gomes
29 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Mitchell Wolff
30 MF Flag of Morocco.svg  MAR Anass Hadran
31 GK Flag of Germany.svg  GER Friedrich Petrelli

Year-by-year

Year Tier LeagueRegular SeasonRecordPlayoffs
2009 4NPSL1st of 6, Eastern Keystone9 wins, 0 losses, 1 tieNational Final
2010 4NPSL2nd of 7, Northeast-Keystone10 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties did not qualify
2011 4NPSL1st of 8, Northeast-Keystone10 wins, 1 loss, 1 tieNational Semifinals
2012 4NPSL1st of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes6 wins, 1 loss, 5 tiesDivision Final
2013 4NPSL3rd of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes6 wins, 3 losses, 3 tiesNational Semifinals
2014 4NPSL2nd of 4, Midwest-Great Lakes East6 wins, 6 losses, 2 tiesdid not qualify
2015 4NPSL7th of 13, Midwest5 wins, 7 losses, 0 tiesdid not qualify
2016 4NPSL5th of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes East2 wins, 4 losses, 4 tiesdid not qualify
2017 4NPSL1st of 7, Midwest-East6 wins, 3 losses, 3 tiesRegional first round
2018 4NPSL1st of 7, Midwest-East8 wins, 1 loss, 3 tiesRegional first round
2019 4NPSL3rd of 6, Midwest-East4 wins, 2 losses, 4 tiesdid not qualify
2020 4NPSLCancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic N/ANot played
2021 4NPSL4th of 6, Midwest-Rust Belt1 win, 5 losses, 4 ties did not qualify
2022 4NPSL4th of 5, Midwest-Rust Belt3 wins, 7 losses, 2 ties did not qualify
2023 4NPSL5th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes5 wins, 6 losses, 1 tie did not qualify
2024 4NPSL6th of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes3 wins, 4 losses, 3 ties did not qualify

Honors

National:

Region/Historic Equivalent:

Conference/Historic Equivalent:

Rivalry:

Staff

Owner

Head coach

Assistant coach

Stadia

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References

  1. ↑ UWS League Two launches Lake Erie Conference
  2. ↑ "Erie's NPSL Team Rebrands as Erie Commodores FC". International Soccer Network. Archived from the original on 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
  3. ↑ About the Erie Commodores Football Club
  4. ↑ "Orlando City Selects Midfielder Danny Deakin in Third Round of 2017 MLS SuperDraft | Orlando City".
  5. ↑ "Erie County Brewers Cup 2024". Erie Commodores FC. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  6. ↑ ""Rich Wall/Head Coach"". Erie Commodores FC.
  7. ↑ "Melody steps down as Admirals coach". Erie Times-News .
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