Vermont Green FC

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Vermont Green FC
Vermont Green Football Club logo.png
Full nameVermont Green Football Club
NicknamesThe Boys in Green, Les Verts
Founded2021;4 years ago (2021)
Stadium Virtue Field
Capacity2,500
Coordinates 44°28′05″N73°11′40″W / 44.4681°N 73.1944°W / 44.4681; -73.1944
CoachChris Taylor
League USL League Two
2025 1st, Northeast Division
Playoffs: USL2 National Champions
Website vermontgreenfc.com
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

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 The New York Times , BBC Sport, The Guardian , and the Men in Blazers podcast. [6] [7] [8] The Green finished their 2025 campaign with 16 wins, 3 draws and 0 losses, winning their first National Championship.

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 soccer logos and jerseys. Wolff designed Vermont Green FC's logo, which was unveiled in February 2022. [11] He continues to design all of the club's kits and apparel. [12]

First seasons

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. [13] 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. [14] 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. [15] After upsetting hosts Lionsbridge FC in the opening round, VGFC were eliminated by eventual national runner up Long Island Roughriders. [16]

Interest in Vermont Green continued to grow in the lead-up 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 of 1,250 sold. Five of the team's seven home league matches were sellouts. On the field, the Green won ten matches and finished 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. [17] 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. [18] 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. [19]

On December 11, 2023, it was announced that Vermont Green qualified for the U.S. Open Cup for the first time. [20] Vermont Green won the first round match against USL League One team Lexington SC 4-3. [21] 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. [22]

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. [23] In May, the club announced they would form a women's team. [24] Coached by 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. [25]

On July 13, 2024, Vermont Green clinched its second-ever postseason berth 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.

Championship season (2025)

The Green were undefeated during the 2025 season, winning both the Northeast Division and the Eastern Conference. On August 2, the Green won their first-ever USL League Two national championship, defeating Ballard FC 2–1 after a Maximillian Kissel goal in stoppage time. [26] The Green hosted all five of their playoff matches en route to winning the trophy with sellouts at each. An estimated 5,000 people watched the final, far above the official stadium capacity of 2,700. [27]

Club culture

Vermont Green FC’s club culture is defined by a strong emphasis on social engagement, environmental sustainability, and progressive values. The organization promotes an identity that extends beyond sport, positioning itself as a community-focused institution that seeks to address wider social and ecological issues. The club has five formal goals it seeks to achieve: [6]

  1. Achieve net-zero emissions.
  2. Fight systemic racism.
  3. Donate 1% of annual sales to environmental non-profits.
  4. Use recycled or upcycled materials in merchandise.
  5. Promote education and awareness on influencing change.

Vermont Green FC integrates sustainability into its operations through carbon-conscious initiatives, eco-friendly merchandise, and campaigns highlighting the relationship between sport and climate action. This environmental focus is not presented as a marketing device but as a guiding principle shaping both club policy and supporter engagement.

The club’s supporters, including the Green Mountain Bhoys group, have cultivated a politically conscious fan culture. [7] Matchdays feature banners and messages promoting social justice, anti-racism, and inclusivity, while the stands attract a diverse following, including many who were not previously interested in football. Support for the club is often framed as participation in a community project rather than traditional fandom, combining enthusiasm for the sport with civic and ethical commitment. Vermont Green’s model has attracted attention within US lower-league football as an example of a club seeking to redefine success in non-commercial and community-oriented terms. In the absence of promotion and relegation, growth is measured through its social reach and influence rather than league status. [7]

Players and staff also adopt the club's values personally. Speaking in 2025, the team's co-captain Zachary Zengue spoke of how playing for Vermont Green encouraged him to live more sustainably, while defender Victor Akoum emphasised the need for athletes to engage with climate issues. Sam Mewis, the coach of the women's team, said working at Vermont Green has stated: "All my time through professional soccer, we were so wasteful with plastic bottles and not reusing things...To see the way [Vermont Green are] operating, and to see that it is possible to have that mission be a core part of a club, is so inspirational, and should be something that more clubs pick up on and feel inspired by". [28]

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, a 2,500-seat stadium on the campus of the University of Vermont. [28] [29] The stadium includes sorted recycling and portable toilets that collect waste for reuse as fertilizer. [28] The club's founders have stated that their ultimate goal is to build their own dedicated stadium at some point in the future with more environmentally-friendly features, such as solar power and natural fibers for the pitch. [28] [30]

Honors

League

Cup

Awards

Players

As of May 19, 2025

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Germany.svg  GER Niklas Herceg
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Brandon Marshall
3 DF Flag of Denmark.svg  DEN Luca Costabile
4 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Amoni Thomas
5 MF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Moussa Ndiaye
6 MF Flag of France.svg  FRA Julien Le Bourdoulous
7 FW Flag of Portugal (official).svg  POR Brandon Parrish
8 FW Flag of Hungary.svg  HUN Jacob Labovitz
9 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tyler Trimnal
10 MF Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Ask Ekeland
11 FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN David Ajagbe
12 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Owen O'Malley
13 DF Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Rui Aoki
14 FW Flag of France.svg  FRA Enzo Dovlo
15 MF Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Eskil Gjerde
16 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Diego Rived
17 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Ioannis Vassiliou
18 FW Flag of Hungary.svg  HUN Marcell Papp
19 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Zachary Zengue
No.Pos.NationPlayer
20 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Pearse O'Brien
21 MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Joseph Umberto Picotto
22 GK Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Judewellin Michel
23 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Nathan Simeon
24 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Alexander Hall
25 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Rommee Jaridly
26 FW Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  CTA Arnaud Tattevin
27 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ryan Zellefrow
28 MF Flag of Libya.svg  LBY Ayoub Lajhar
29 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gianluca Armellino
31 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tenzing Manske
34 MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Mohammed Ibrahim
35 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Will Sawin
42 DF Flag of Portugal (official).svg  POR Bernardo Prego
43 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Victor Akoum
44 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gabriel Fernandez
45 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sam McCann
77 FW Flag of France.svg  FRA Stephane Njike

Technical staff

Notable former players

Year by year

Season USL League Two Northeast DivisionPlayoffs US Open Cup Avg. Attendance
PWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGPos.
2022 14914381424282.003rdRound of 16 DNQ 1,405
2023 141013381226312.213rdDNQ DNQ 2,234
2024 1392231922292.233rdRound of 16 2nd Round 2,431
2025 14113038830362.571stNational Champions DNQ 2,500+

References

  1. ↑ "Vermont Green Football Club (USL 2)". protagonistsoccer.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Vermont Green's fan club helped propel the soccer team to first-year successes". vtdigger.org. August 2022. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ "'More than a soccer club': Vermont Green Football Club looks to create socially conscious community". vtdigger.org. June 5, 2022. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Vermont Green FC Environmental Justice Mission". Vermont Green Football Club. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ "The Vermont Green FC Environmental Justice Mission". Vermont Green Football Club. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "The new US club doing things differently". BBC Sport. May 11, 2022. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Root, Tik (June 30, 2023). "Vermont Green FC: the fourth-tier US soccer team out to save the world". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Men in Blazers 06/01/23: Live in Vermont – Men in Blazers". Men in Blazers. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Vermont Green FC, new men's soccer team will compete in USL League Two". Local 22/44 News. October 12, 2021. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  10. ↑ Staff, USLLeagueTwo com (October 12, 2021). "Vermont Green FC to Join USL League Two Ahead of the 2022 Season". USL League Two. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  11. ↑ Wolff, Matthew (February 17, 2022). "A Letter From Designer & Club Co-Founder Matthew Wolff". Vermont Green FC. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  12. ↑ https://shop.vermontgreenfc.com/collections/all/products/the-2025-pre-match-top
  13. ↑ "Vermont Green FC Win 4–0 in League Debut". May 16, 2022. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Vermont Green FC Earn Win In Historic Home Opener". Vermont Green Football Club. May 29, 2022. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Green community helps drive playoff push". July 18, 2022. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  16. ↑ "USL League Two Playoffs are here". USL League 2 Playoffs. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Standings | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  18. ↑ "2023 Schedule". Vermont Green Football Club. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Vermont Green FC named 2023 USL League Two Organization of the Year". December 2023. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Full Slate of 32 Open Division Underdogs Set for 2024 Open Cup | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  21. ↑ "2024 US Open Cup Round 1: Vermont Green upset Lexington as tournament debuts in Green Mountain State". thecup.us. March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Vermont Green F.C. Run in U.S. Open Cup stopped by Carolina Core". April 4, 2024.
  23. ↑ Mahmoudi, Nelson (April 20, 2024). "Vermont Green To Host League1 Quebec Champion In New 'Maple Cup'". Northern Tribune.
  24. ↑ "Vermont Green FC Announce Inaugural Women's Exhibition Match, Explore Launch of Permanent Women's Team". Vermont Green FC. May 7, 2024.
  25. ↑ Dugan, Michael (June 22, 2024). "Vermont Green wins inaugural women's match in penalties". WCAX-TV .
  26. ↑ "Vermont Green FC wins USL2 National Championship".
  27. ↑ Brown, Burgess (August 2, 2025). "Vermont Green FC claim national title over Seattle's Ballard FC". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Buckley, Cara (June 24, 2025). "This Vermont Soccer Team Plays for the Planet" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  29. ↑ Sports, Banner. "Vermont Green Football to bring amature [sic] soccer to Burlington". Bennington Banner. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  30. ↑ Farnsworth, Chris (June 26, 2024). "Burlington's Semipro Soccer Team, Vermont Green FC, is Winning on and off the Field". Sven Days.
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