 | |
| Nickname | The Trees |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| Stadium | |
| Coach | Carlos Rubio |
| League | USL League Two |
| 2025 |
|
| Website | hickoryfc |
Hickory FC is a semi-professional men's soccer club based in Hickory, North Carolina. Led by an ownership group consisting of five families, the club was founded in 2023. It competes in USL League Two, an amateur league in the United States league system, and previously played in the National Premier Soccer League. It plays its home games at Moretz Stadium.
Serious discussions about bringing a semi-professional soccer club to Hickory began in late 2022, [1] with the club being officially announced as an expansion club of the NPSL in late 2023. [2]
In their inaugural season, Hickory FC finished the regular season second in the NPSL's Southeast Conference. In the playoffs, they won the Southeast Conference championship before falling in the South Region semifinals. [3] In their second season, Hickory FC finished the regular season first in the NPSL's Southeast Conference. In the conference playoff final, Hickory FC beat Appalachian FC 1-0 after extra time, in front of a then record crowd of 5,758 fans, to win the Southeast Conference championship for the second straight season. [4] Hickory FC would go on to win two more home matches in the 2025 NPSL playoffs, defeating Lubbock Matadors SC 1-0 in the South region final and Ristozi FC 3-2 in the National semifinals. The home win over Ristozi FC set a new home attendance record of 6,247 fans. [5] In the NPSL National final played in San Francisco, Hickory FC beat the defending NPSL champions El Farolito SC 3-2 to win the club's first NPSL national championship. [6]
The club colors are red and black. The crest draws from the foundations of Hickory as a city with the Hickory tree and the railroad track that played a prominent role. [7]
Hickory FC's supporters group is the 28601. The group consists of fans that play different instruments including drums and trumpets, and they put up tifos across the stadium.
Hickory FC's main rivalry is with Appalachian FC. The clubs' cities, Hickory and Boone, are separated by just 45 miles. Hickory FC also has a secondary rivalry with Charlottetowne Hops FC. The rivalries between Hickory FC, Appalachian FC, and Charlottetowne Hops FC make up the three-way derby series known as the Moonshine Cup. [8]
| Season | League | Position | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | Conference/Division | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Conf./Div. | Overall | |||
| 2024 | NPSL | Southeast | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 14 | +12 | 22 | 2nd | 18th | Region Semifinals | DNE |
| 2025 | NPSL | Southeast | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 7 | +24 | 28 | 1st | 3rd | National Champions | DNE |
| Total | 20 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 57 | 21 | +36 | 50 | ||||||
| Year | Personnel | Country | Position | Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Antonio Pineda |  USA | Midfield | NPSL Southeast Conference MVP |
| 2025 | Antonio Pineda | USA | Midfield | NPSL Golden Ball |
| 2025 | Carlos Rubio |  SPA | Manager | NPSL Coach of the Season |
| 2025 | Tomas Pollacchi |  ARG | Midfield | NPSL National Final Man of the Match |
