Fort Worth Vaqueros FC

Last updated
Fort Worth Vaqueros Logo.jpg
Full nameFort Worth Vaqueros FC
Founded2013;11 years ago (2013)
StadiumW.O. Barnes Stadium
River Oaks, Texas
Capacity4,560
OwnerPlaybook Management International LLC
Head CoachTony Merola
League National Premier Soccer League
Website Club website

Fort Worth Vaqueros FC is an American amateur soccer club based in Fort Worth, Texas, which began play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in May 2014. [1] [2] The Vaqueros play in the Lone Star Conference of the South Region. [3] [4] The club is based at Farrington Field, a facility owned by the Fort Worth Independent School District. The team's name was announced at the Fort Worth Livestock Exchange Building on February 13, 2014, after a name the team contest. [5] [6] [7] The team's official logo was selected by the fans then revealed by the team on March 20, 2014. [8] The team played its inaugural 2014 season at historic LaGrave Field but had to relocate in 2015 after the Fort Worth Cats, from whom the Vaqueros had been subletting the field, lost their lease. [9]

Contents

Seasons

YearLeagueRecord (W-L-T)Regular SeasonPlayoffsOpen CupHead Coach
2014NPSL2–7–17th, South Centraldid not qualifydid not qualifyMark Snell
2015NPSL3–6–56th, South Centraldid not qualifydid not qualifyMark Snell
2016NPSL1–10–111th, South Centraldid not qualifydid not qualifyMark Snell
2017NPSL7–3–11st, Lone StarConference Semifinalsdid not qualifyNick Stavrou
2018NPSL7–3–24th, Lone StarConference Semifinals First round Nick Stavrou
2019NPSL8–2–43rd, Lone StarConference Championsdid not qualifyNick Stavrou
2020Roja League1-3-26th, Roja Leaguedid not qualify Qualified/Cancelled Sergio Franklin
2021NPSL0-9-18th, Lone Stardid not qualify Qualified/Cancelled Sergio Franklin
2022NPSL3-8-18th, Lone Stardid not qualifydid not qualifyTony Merola
2023NPSL4-7-07th, Lone Stardid not qualifydid not qualifyTony Merola
2024NPSL0-8-28th, Lone Stardid not qualifydid not qualifyTony Merola

Honors

Club culture

Supporters

Playing at the historic LaGrave Field, the Vaqueros welcomed 2,700 fans to their first home game and enjoyed an average attendance of 2,000 fans during the 2014 season. [10] The main supporters group for the Vaqueros is named The Panther City Hellfire, a name taken from a historic Fort Worth nickname.

The Vaqueros have a close connection with their fans, involving them in the evolution and growth of the club. When the team was first created and needed a name and logo, the club allowed the fan community to create, submit and vote on what both of these aspects would look like. Many names were submitted, but the final decision was between Fort Worth United, Fort Worth Vaqueros FC and Panther City FC, with Fort Worth Vaqueros FC ultimately being selected. Vaqueros season ticket holders do not receive paper tickets to the games, but instead receive a free team jersey that they wear to each game as their ticket into the game. [11] The club supporters come mainly from the city of Fort Worth and the surrounding Metroplex communities.

Rivalries

When the Vaqueros first entered the NPSL, they had an instant rival in Dallas City FC. With the teams in close proximity to each other in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, there is a natural rivalry between the two clubs. In addition to their conference play, the Vaqueros play a two leg cup series against Dallas City. The name of this cup was selected by both teams' fans, from the DFW area through social media. [12] The Vaqueros lost the first Trinity River Cup to Dallas City FC in 2014, suffering a 2–0 loss in the first leg and a 1–0 loss in the second leg. [13]

Beginning in 2016, the Vaqueros began a two-leg (non-league) series with Shreveport Rafters FC, called the Texas Trail Classic. Shreveport won the inaugural cup.

In 2019, the Chisholm Trail Clásico began, pitting the Vaqueros against the Denton Diablos FC.

Kit manufacturers and sponsorships

YearKit manufacturerSponsor
2014 Flag of Germany.svg Puma Hispano Exito [14]
2015 Tarrant County College [15]
2016 Flag of the United States.svg UN1TUSChimera Brewing Company [16]
2017Zadeh Law Firm
2018 Flag of Germany.svg Puma Fort Worth Weekly [17]
2019Pinnacle Bank
2020 Fort Worth Police Officers Association
2021 Sidral Mundet
2022 US Army
2023The Chat Room Pub [18]
2024The Rabbit Hole Pub

Coaching staff

Youth Academy

Partnerships

On January 1, 2015, Vaqueros owner Michael Hitchcock and the newly formed Legend Football Partners acquired a significant interest in English soccer club Alfreton Town F.C. From this acquisition, Fort Worth Vaqueros formed a partnership with the English club, creating an avenue for player sharing, cross marketing, international matches and preseason training in both countries. "This move automatically makes the Vaqueros a stronger organization through the benefits of sharing players, training techniques, matches and the collaboration of ideas from two different soccer nations," said Hitchcock. [19]

In August 2015, Hitchcock's Playbook Management International expanded the Vaqueros family ties by acquiring a stake in Tobago FC Phoenix 1976. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Premier Soccer League</span> Football league

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's soccer league. The league is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and has automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup. It is the successor of the Men's Premier Soccer League, a regional league originally based in the Western United States, which has now expanded nationwide to encompass teams from 29 states. The league's motto is "A National League with a Regional Focus".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FC Dallas</span> American professional soccer club

FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes as a member of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS). The franchise began play in 1996 as a charter club of the league. The club was founded in 1995 as the Dallas Burn before adopting its current name in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pegasus News</span>

Pegasus News was an online-only hyperlocal news source for the Dallas–Fort Worth region founded by Mike Orren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami FC</span> American soccer team

Miami FC is an American professional soccer team based in Miami, Florida that competes in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tulsa Athletic</span> Soccer club

Tulsa Athletic is an American soccer team and are based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. The 2023 NPSL National Champion, 2013 was their inaugural season in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), which is a national league at the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. They compete in the NPSL's Heartland Conference. The team maintains amateur status under NPSL rules, allowing college players to participate without losing their collegiate eligibility. The club currently plays at Athletic Community Field at Hicks Park since the 2022 season, having previously played at Veterans Park (2018–21), LaFortune Stadium (2017) and Drillers Stadium (2013–16), the former home of the Tulsa Drillers baseball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regals SCA</span> Soccer club

Houston Regals is a men's American soccer club based in Houston, Texas that played in the national soccer league. After a one-year hiatus, the club announced their return to the NPSL for the 2015 season in December 2014. The club again competed in NPSL in 2016, drawing their first match with Fort Worth Vaqueros, and finishing 9th in the NPSL's 11-team South Central Conference.

The 2013–14 Dallas Sidekicks season was the second season of the relaunched Dallas Sidekicks professional indoor soccer club. The Sidekicks, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. The team was led by general manager and head coach Tatu with assistant coaches Mike Powers and Caesar Cervin.

The 2013–14 Wichita B-52s season was the first season of the Wichita B-52s professional indoor soccer club. The Wichita B-52s, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The team was led by team president Joseph Pindell and head coach Larry Inlow with assistant coach Jamie Harding and strength coach Todd Stranghoner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas City FC</span> Soccer club

Dallas City FC (DCFC) is an American soccer club based in McKinney, Texas. DCFC competes in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as a member of the Heartland Conference of the South Region. The club changed their name before beginning play in the NPSL. Early in 2017, it was announced that the club would no longer compete in the NPSL. However, when the 2017 season began, the NPSL listed DCFC in the standings in the place of Liverpool Warriors. The primary rival of DCFC in the NPSL is Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. The two clubs annually compete in a cup competition, the Trinity River Cup, which is a two-leg total goal series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demize NPSL</span> American amateur soccer club

Demize NPSL, formerly known as Joplin Demize, is an American amateur soccer club based in Springfield, Missouri, which began play in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in May 2014. The team competes within the Heartland Conference in the NPSL's South Region and plays home games at Lake Country Soccer's Cooper Stadium. It formerly played in the now dissolved South Central Conference.

The 2014–15 Dallas Sidekicks season was the third season of the relaunched Dallas Sidekicks professional indoor soccer club. The Sidekicks, a Southern Division team in the Major Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas.

The 2014–15 Wichita B-52s season was the second season of the Wichita B-52s professional indoor soccer club. The Wichita B-52s, a Central Division team in the Major Arena Soccer League, played their home games at Hartman Arena in Park City, a suburb of Wichita, Kansas.

The 2014–15 Oxford City FC of Texas season was the third season for the Beaumont, Texas-based professional indoor soccer franchise. Founded as the Texas Strikers in 2012, new ownership rebranded the team as Oxford City FC of Texas in July 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WhoFest</span>

WhoFest is a recurring Doctor Who-focused science fiction convention held in the Dallas, Texas, area. First held in November 2013 as a one-off celebration of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, WhoFest is now held annually each April.

The 2015–16 Dallas Sidekicks season was the fourth season of the relaunched Dallas Sidekicks professional indoor soccer club. The Sidekicks, a Pacific Division team in the Western Conference of the Major Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. The team was led by new head coach Simon Bozas and assistant coach Nick Stavrou. The team struggled to recover from off-season turmoil and finished with a 7–13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in the arena era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunflower State FC</span> Soccer club

Sunflower State FC is a semi-professional soccer team based in Overland Park, Kansas that competes in the National Premier Soccer League as a member of the Heartland Conference and in the Major Arena Soccer League 3 as a member of the Midwest Division. The club was founded in Northwest Arkansas as Ozark FC in 2017, before merging with Sunflower State FC and moving to the Kansas City, Kansas area in 2022. The team colors are yellow, black, and white.

The 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was planned to be the 107th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. Atlanta United FC were the defending champions after defeating Minnesota United FC in the 2019 final. The competition was suspended on March 13, 2020, before the first round fixtures, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and later canceled on August 17. Despite the tournament's cancelation, the spot for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League was awarded to the defending champions, Atlanta United FC.

Eduardo "Pollo" Cortes is a Mexican footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for the Mesquite Outlaws in the Major Arena Soccer League.

Denton Diablos FC is an American amateur soccer club based in Denton, Texas, which began play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2019. The club made it to their conference's playoffs in their 1st season of competition. Due to Covid in 2020 the entire season was cancelled. In their 2nd season they also made it out of the Conference Playoffs for the 1st time in 2021 and made it all the way to the NPSL National Championship.

Lubbock Matadors SC is an American soccer club in Lubbock, Texas. It currently competes in the Lonestar Conference of the National Premier Soccer League, considered the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system.

References

  1. Welpton, Peter (February 6, 2014). "Are you aware Ft Worth is getting a soccer team?". The Dallas Morning News . Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  2. Nishimura, Scott (March 14, 2014). "Goal! Vaqueros set for May soccer debut at LaGrave Field". Fort Worth Business Press. Fort Worth, TX. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  3. "Fort Worth's Minor League Soccer Team to Begin Play May 9" (PDF) (Press release). Fort Worth Vaqueros. January 27, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  4. Dickson, Gordon (March 2, 2014). "New Fort Worth Vaqueros soccer club aiming to connect with community". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company . Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  5. Hunt, Steve (February 13, 2014). "Vaqueros FC makes strong initial impression". The Dallas Morning News . Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on November 25, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  6. "Fans select Vaqueros as name of Fort Worth's new minor league soccer team" (PDF) (Press release). Fort Worth Vaqueros. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. "Seleccionan nombre de 'Vaqueros' para equipo de fútbol". Diario La Estrella (in Spanish). Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  8. Welpton, Peter (March 3, 2014). "With name picked, Ft. Worth Vaqueros need a logo". The Dallas Morning News . Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  9. Dickson, Gordon (April 14, 2015). "Fort Worth Vaqueros moving home soccer games to Texas Wesleyan University". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company . Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  10. Kost, Kenneth; Prince, Jeff (July 9, 2014). "Take Me Out to the Soccer Match". Fort Worth Weekly . Fort Worth, TX . Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  11. "About Us". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  12. Welpton, Peter (May 24, 2014). "Dallas vs Ft Worth – a new rivalry begins". Dallas Morning News . Dallas, TX. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  13. "Vaqueros Surrender Trinity River Cup to Dallas City FC". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. June 8, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  14. "Fort Worth Vaqueros jersey will sport a charity". Dallas Morning News. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  15. "TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE TO ADORN VAQUEROS JERSEY FRONT IN 2015". NPSL. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  16. "Vaqueros Will Sport New Look This Season". Fort Worth Weekly. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  17. "Sports Rush: A New Look for the Vaqueros". Fort Worth Weekly. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  18. "Decade of Vaqueros Sponsorship Lottery 2023". FortWorthVaqueros.com. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  19. "Vaqueros Owner Purchases Interest in England's Alfreton Town FC". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  20. "FC Phoenix gets US owners | Tobago Today". Archived from the original on 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2016-01-24.