Northern Virginia FC

Last updated

Northern Virginia FC
Northern Virginia FC logo.png
Full nameNorthern Virginia Football Club
Founded1998;25 years ago (1998) as Northern Virginia Royals
StadiumVirginia Revolution Sportsplex
Leesburg, Virginia
Capacity1,500
League USL League Two
USL W League
Eastern Premier Soccer League
MASL3
2023 2nd, Chesapeake Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Website Club website

Northern Virginia FC (formerly Northern Virginia Royals and Evergreen FC) is an American soccer club from Leesburg, Virginia competing in USL League Two, USL W League, Eastern Premier Soccer League and the Major Arena Soccer League 3.

Contents

The club's women's team was known as the Northern Virginia Majestics, who played in the women's USL W-League, and fielded a team in the USL's Super-20 League, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues umbrella. Throughout their recent history, NVFC previously enjoyed minor league affiliation with D.C. United, the nearby Major League Soccer franchise. [1]

History

Professional

Northern Virginia FC was founded in 1998 and joined the USISL D-3 Pro League as an expansion franchise in 1998, entering the team under the name Northern Virginia Royals. [2] They ended their first season in 7th place in the Atlantic Division with a 5–12–1 record. [3] In their second season, they improved, winning 10 of their 18 regular season games, finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division and also qualified for their first US Open Cup campaign in 1999, where they were upset in the first round by Florida PDL side Cocoa Expos 5–3. [4] In the playoffs they beat divisional rivals South Carolina Shamrocks 2–1 in the first round before falling 4–0 to Charlotte in the conference semi-final. The 1998 season and the Royals were featured in the book "Unlucky: A Season of Struggle in Minor League Professional Soccer" by Dave Ungrady, who trained and played briefly for the Royals as well [5] [6]

The D-3 Pro League became the USL Pro Select League in 2003, and the Royals finished bottom of the 3-team Southern Division, with just 6 wins for the year. The USL Pro Select League became the USL Second Division in 2005, and dispensed with divisions in favor of a single-table format; for the Royals, this proved to be yet another disastrous season.

Move to PDL

After finishing bottom of the league in the USL Second Division, the Royals management took the decision to self-relegate themselves to the USL Premier Development League for the 2006 season. [7] The Royals won their first match in the amateur PDL 3–1 over West Virginia Chaos, ultimately finishing fourth in the Mid Atlantic Division in their debut 2006 season.

The Northern Virginia Royals were inducted into the USL Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007. [7]

Partnership with D.C. United

In 2015, the Royals rebranded as Evergreen FC and partnered with Major League Soccer club D.C. United and formed a joint PDL team called D.C. United U-23, who combined their NPSL side with the Royals, to play in the PDL, finishing fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Division. [8] [9]

Evergreen Hammers

After the 2015 season, the Royals transferred their operations and relocated to Loudon County, Virginia in 2016 playing under the Evergreen FC banner as the Evergreen Hammers. [7] [10]

Northern Virginia FC

For the 2021 season, Evergreen which was already part of the Northern Virginia FC club, renamed the USL League Two club to the Northern Virginia banner. [11] NoVa FC had already operated teams under that name in the lower level United Premier Soccer League and Eastern Premier Soccer League. [12]

On 27 August 2021, NoVa FC announced they would be reviving the women's program with a new side in the USL W League beginning in 2022. [13]

Logo history

Logo History NoVa FC logo history.png
Logo History

Year-by-year

Professional/USL League Two

YearDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffs U.S. Open Cup
Northern Virginia Royals
1998 3 USISL D-3 Pro League 7th, Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
1999 USL D-3 Pro League 4th, AtlanticConference Semifinals 1st Round
2000 7th, Southerndid not qualify 2nd Round
2001 4th, Southerndid not qualifydid not qualify
2002 4th, Southerndid not qualifydid not qualify
2003 USL Pro Soccer League 3rd, Southerndid not qualifydid not qualify
2004 3rd, Southerndid not qualifydid not qualify
2005 USL Second Division 9thdid not qualifydid not qualify
2006 4 USL PDL 4th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2007 7th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2008 5th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2009 7th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2010 5th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2011 2nd, South AtlanticConference Quarterfinalsdid not qualify
2012 7th, South Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2013 3rd, South Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2014 6th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
YearDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffs U.S. Open Cup
D.C. United U-23
2015 4USL PDL5th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
Evergreen FC
2016 4 USL PDL 7th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2017 7th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2018 6th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2019 USL League Two 8th, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Northern Virginia FC
2021 4 USL League Two 3rd, Mid Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify
2022 3rd, Chesapeakedid not qualifydid not qualify
2023 2nd, Chesapeakedid not qualifydid not qualify

Eastern Premier Soccer League

YearDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonRecord (W-D-L)Playoffs U.S. Open Cup*
2020–215 Eastern Premier Soccer League 2nd, Mid-Atlantic6–0–1did not qualify 2nd Round
2021–221st, Mid-Atlantic12–0–1 Champion 4th Qualifying Round
2022–231st, Mid-Atlantic10–0–0 Champion 4th Qualifying Round

*Club entered in local qualifying round

Major Arena Soccer League 3

YearDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonRecord (W-L-T)Playoffs
2021–223 Major Arena Soccer League 3 1st, East10–0–0 Champion
2022–23 Major Arena Soccer League 3 1st, East7–2–0 Champion

USL W League

YearDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonRecord (W-L-T)Playoffs
2022 4 USL W League 5th, Mid Atlantic1–7–2did not qualify
2023 USL W League 3rd, Mid Atlantic6–0–5did not qualify

Honors

League

Cups

Statistics

Career USL 2 Goal Leaders

RankPlayerGoalsCareer span
1AJ Sheta132016-
2JP Ayolmbong122022-
3Vagner Marquis112022-
4Tyler Clegg82018-2022
5KJ Nadeau72019-
6Bernardo Majano62016-2019
6Martin Ngoh62021
8DJ Charlton52018-2019
9Luke Campbell42021-
9Connor Coward42016-2017
9Jhonny de Souza42018-
9John Emmons42017-2018
9Lewis Long42017
14Samuel Biyo32018
14Graydon Hester32016-2017
14Iliass Laghjibi32022-
14Declan Quill32023-
14Alton West32021-

Head coaches

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL Second Division</span> Defunct American soccer league

The USL Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL). It was at the third tier of soccer in the United States, behind Major League Soccer and the USL First Division, and one step up from the USL Premier Development League and other leagues in the fourth tier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Soccer League</span> American sports governing body

United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as United Soccer Leagues, is a soccer league in the United States and Canada. It organizes several men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Men's leagues currently organized are the USL Championship, USL League One, USL League Two, and the youth Super Y League. A new women's league, the USL W League, began play in 2022. It is directly affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Adult Soccer Association. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston Battery</span> American soccer team

Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer club based in Charleston, South Carolina, and member of the USL Championship. Founded in 1993, the Battery are one of the oldest continuously operating professional soccer clubs in the United States, tied with the Richmond Kickers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL League Two</span> American development soccer league

USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a developmental soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league features 122 teams for 2023, split into eighteen regional divisions across four conferences. USL League Two is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Island Rough Riders</span> Soccer club

The Long Island Rough Riders are an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Kickers</span> Soccer team in Richmond, Virginia, USA

Richmond Kickers is an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia. The Kickers compete as a member of USL League One (USL1). The club was established in 1993, and began play that same year as a United States Interregional Soccer League expansion team, which at the time, was the fourth tier of soccer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States soccer league system</span> Series of professional and amateur soccer leagues

The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. Instead, the United States Soccer Federation defines professional leagues in three levels, called divisions, with all other leagues sanctioned by the USSF not having an official designated level or division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Fusion U23</span> Soccer club

North Carolina Fusion U-23, formerly known as Carolina Dynamo, is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spokane Shadow</span> Football club

Spokane Shadow is an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team competed in the National Premier Soccer League as well as the Evergreen Premier League, one of United States Adult Soccer Association's elite amateur leagues. From 1996 to 2005, the team played in the United Soccer Leagues' Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The men's team folded when the franchise was terminated in 2006 by the PDL after the 10-year-old artificial turf at their home ground, Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane, Washington was declared unsafe for play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean City Nor'easters</span> Soccer club

Ocean City Nor'easters is an American soccer team based in Ocean City, New Jersey. Founded in 1996, the team currently plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocoa Expos</span> Football club

Cocoa Expos was an American soccer team, founded in 1993. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Beach Piranhas</span> Soccer club

The Virginia Beach Piranhas were an amateur American soccer team based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2006 as the Virginia Beach Submariners as part of the development system of the now-defunct USL First Division franchise, the Virginia Beach Mariners, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. From 2007 to 2010 the team was known as the Hampton Roads Piranhas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sporting Arizona FC</span> Soccer club

Sporting Arizona FC is an American soccer team based in Arizona. Founded in 1989, Sporting Arizona FC is Arizona's professional development club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodrigo López (soccer, born 1987)</span> Professional soccer player

Rodrigo López Alvarez is a professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Sacramento Republic. Born in Mexico, he represented the United States national under-20 team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Sockers</span> Soccer club

The Chicago Sockers were an American soccer team that were founded in 1995 as the Chicago Stingers. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) and played at the professional level in the USISL Pro League, USISL Select League and USISL D-3 Pro League until 1999. The club was renamed Sockers and choose to be relegated to the amateur USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid, for the 1999 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FC Tucson</span> Association football club based in Tucson, Arizona

FC Tucson is an American soccer club based in Tucson, Arizona that plays in USL League Two. The club has an amateur women's team, FC Tucson Women, that play in the WPSL. Organized in 2010, the club first fielded a team in March 2011, then joined the Premier Development League Western Conference in 2012. in 2018, FC Tucson was a founding member of USL League One, where they played from 2019 to 2022. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, the ownership group changed and the team self-relegated back to USL League Two.

The 2015 USL Premier Development League season was the 21st season of the PDL and consisted of 63 teams. The regular season began on May 2 and ended on July 19. The Michigan Bucks were the defending champions and posted the best overall record in the League; however, they were defeated by K-W United FC in the Central Conference finals. K-W United went on to win the league championship by defeating the Seattle Sounders FC U-23 1-0 in the semi-finals and in high scoring final they overcame the New York Red Bulls U-23 4-3. 63 clubs competed in the semi-professional soccer leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calle Brown</span> American soccer player

Calle Brown is an American soccer player who last played for Loudoun United FC in the USL Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tormenta FC</span> American soccer club in Statesboro, Georgia

South Georgia Tormenta FC is an American soccer organization based in Statesboro, Georgia, United States. Founded in 2015, the club fields a professional team in USL League One, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, as well as a pre-professional team in USL League Two called Tormenta FC 2 and a pre-professional team in USL W-League. The team colors are midnight navy, sky blue, silver, and magenta. The team's crest shows an ibis.

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

Boston City FC is a men's soccer club based in Boston, Massachusetts that competes in the Northeast Division of USL League Two. The club was founded in 2015; their inaugural season was 2016. The club's colors are red, navy, and white, and plays its home matches at Brother Gilbert Stadium.

References

  1. "Royals Owner Mo Sheta Inducted in USL Hall of Fame". Northern Virginia Royals.
  2. Kuhns, Will (April 10, 1998). "Local Players, Coach Gonzalo make Royal Entrance to USISL". Washington Post .
  3. "USL Pro Media Guide". United Soccer League . 2012.
  4. "U.S. Open Cup: First-round result (June 10)". Soccer America. June 11, 1999.
  5. Holroyd, Steve (December 28, 2017). "Putting the book in: American soccer literature to read this winter". The Philly Soccer Page.
  6. Edwards, Bob (April 28, 1999). "Soccer". NPR .
  7. 1 2 3 "Evergreen FC formerly Northern Virginia Royals". Northern Virginia Royals.
  8. Candeloro, Christian (May 15, 2015). "New York Red Bulls and D.C. United U23 Join PDL". Ocean City FC. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  9. "D.C. United Under-23 team to compete in Premier Development League in 2015". D.C. United. February 19, 2015.
  10. "Next-Level Soccer: Evergreen Hammers Host Final Game Saturday". Loudoun Now. June 22, 2016.
  11. "UNVEILING THE SCHEDULE: USL League Two will kick off May 1". Front Row Soccer. February 25, 2021.
  12. "EPSL Welcomes Northern Virginia FC". EPSL . August 26, 2020.
  13. "Northern Virginia FC Announced as Newest Club to Join USL W League". www.uslwleague.com. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  14. Royals Hire Burke as PDL Coach