Vermont Green FC

Last updated

Vermont Green FC
Vermont Green FC logo.png
Full nameVermont Green Football Club
Founded2021
Stadium Virtue Field
Capacity2,500
ManagerAdam Pfeifer
League USL League Two
2024 3rd, Northeast Division
Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
Website Club website

Vermont Green Football Club is an American soccer team based in Burlington, Vermont that began play in USL League Two in the 2022 season. [1] [2] [3] The club mission is centered on environmental justice with the goal of becoming a net zero soccer club. [4] They are also a member of One Percent for the Planet, donating 1% of the club's annual revenues to approved environmental partners. [5] VGFC's environmental mission has drawn coverage from BBC Sport, The Guardian , and the Men in Blazers podcast. [6] [7] [8]

Contents

History

Prior to the Green, the Burlington, Vermont area was home to USL League Two club, Vermont Voltage, which played from 1997 until 2014.

The club was officially announced as USL League Two's newest team on October 12, 2021. [9] [10] One of the club's co-founders is Matthew Wolff, a graphic designer known for his work on association football logos and jerseys. Wolff designed Vermont Green FC's logo, which was unveiled in February 2022. [11]

The club played its first match on May 16, 2022, defeating Boston City FC 4–0. Norwegian Eythor Bjorgolfsson scored their first goal on a penalty late in the first half. [12] On May 28, 2022, Vermont Green FC won in their home opener, in front of a crowd of 1,001 people. Portuguese midfielder Rodrigo Vaza scored his first goal for the club and the first home VGFC goal in history. [13] On July 17, 2022, the Green defeated Western Mass Pioneers 1–0 in front of a capacity crowd of 2,500 to clinch a playoff spot in their first season of play. [14] After upsetting hosts Lionsbridge FC in the opening round, VGFC were eliminated by eventual national runner up Long Island Roughriders. [15]

Interest in Vermont Green continued to grow in the leadup to their second season. In the spring of 2023, it was announced they had sold out of season tickets for the upcoming season with a total 1,250 sold. Five of the team's seven home league matches were sellouts. On the field, the Green won ten matches and finish 3rd in USL League Two's Northeast Division. The Green were eliminated from USL League Two playoff contention after a 1–1 draw at Pathfinder FC in their penultimate match, ultimately finishing two points behind Western Mass Pioneers for the final playoff spot. [16] In addition to their league schedule, the team also played friendlies against CS Mont-Royal Outremont of Ligue1 Quebec, Kingston Stockade of the National Premier Soccer League, and local side Juba Star FC. [17] After the season, the Green were recognized as the 2023 USL League Two Organization of the Year, chosen from the league’s 122 clubs across the US and Canada. [18]

On December 11, 2023, it was announced that Vermont Green qualified for the U.S. Open Cup for the first time. [19] Vermont Green won the first round match against USL League One team Lexington SC 4-3. [20] In round two, VGFC hosted again. Despite leading early on a goal by Israeli forward Yaniv Bazini, they were eventually defeated 2-1 by MLS Next Pro side Carolina Core FC in front of sellout crowd. [21]

In 2024, it was announced that the club would begin an annual match against the reigning champion of the Canadian Ligue1 Québec, to be known as the Maple Cup. [22] In May, the club announced they would form a women's team. [23] Coached by former NWSL and United States women’s national soccer team star Sam Mewis, they hosted a friendly match against Ligue1 Québec side FC Laval on June 22, 2024 as a preview to the Maple Cup, winning the match on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation. [24]

On July 13, 2024, Vermont Green clinched its second ever postseason birth after coming from behind in the second half to beat Western Mass Pioneers 3-1 in an away game. They finished the regular season with a 9-2-2 record, good enough for 3rd place in the Northeast Division.

Stadium

Virtue Field during a Vermont Green FC match in 2022 Vgfc.jpg
Virtue Field during a Vermont Green FC match in 2022

The club plays their home matches at Virtue Field on the campus of the University of Vermont. [25] [26] The club's founders have stated that their ultimate goal is to build their own dedicated stadium at some point in the future. [27]

Players

As of July 2, 2024

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
2 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Nathan Simeon
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lucas Windschauer
4 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Sam Layton
5 MF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Moussa Ndiaye
6 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Daniel Pacella
7 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Xavi O'Neil
8 FW Flag of Hungary.svg  HUN Jacob Labovitz
10 MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Ernest Bawa
11 MF Flag of Venezuela (state).svg  VEN Carlos Zambrano
12 MF Flag of Costa Rica.svg  CRC Gerardo Castillo
13 GK Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Lute Lillo
15 MF Flag of Costa Rica.svg  CRC Andrey 'Gato' Salmeron
16 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jackson Castro
17 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ryan Combe
18 FW Flag of Israel.svg  ISR Yaniv Bazini
No.Pos.NationPlayer
19 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Zachary Zengue
20 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Pearse O'Brien
21 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Theo Drennan
22 MF Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Rodrigo Vaza
24 DF Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Bernardo Prego
26 MF Flag of Libya.svg  LBY Ayoub Lajhar
27 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Reid Fisher
29 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Sebastian Gebhart
30 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jaheim Wickham
32 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Aidan Farwell
34 MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Mohammed Ibrahim
44 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gabe Threadgold
55 DF Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Sjur Drechsler
64 MF Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  CIV Yann Toualy
70 MF Flag of Somalia.svg  SOM Siad Haji
77 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Nick Lockermann

Technical staff

Notable former players

Year by year

YearLevelLeagueReg. seasonPlayoffsU.S. Open CupAverage attendance
2022 4USL 23rd, NortheastConference SemifinalsNot eligible1,405
2023 4USL 23rd, NortheastDid not qualifyDid not qualify2,234
2024 4USL 23rd, NortheastConference Semifinals2nd round2,431

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References

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