Wilmington Hammerheads FC

Last updated
Wilmington Hammerheads FC
Wilmington Hammerheads 2014.svg
Full nameWilmington Hammerheads Football Club
Nickname(s)Hammers
Founded1996(29 years ago) (1996)
Dissolved2017(8 years ago) (2017)
Executive DirectorCarson Porter
League Premier Development League
Website www.wilmingtonhammerheadsyouth.com

Wilmington Hammerheads FC was a semi-professional American soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded in 1996, the team last competed in the Premier Development League, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid in 2017.

Contents

History

The Hammerheads had one championship in 2003, and were a finalist in 2002 and 2012, losing to the Long Island Rough Riders 2–1 in 2002 and losing 0–1 to the Charleston Battery in 2012. Wilmington found great success in the US Open Cup in their later years, regularly drawing MLS teams in the late rounds. Their most famous result occurred in 2003 when they drew the Dallas Burn, an MLS team, in the middle of a particularly bad year. They shocked the soccer world by defeating the Burn 4–1 at Legion Sports Complex before bowing out to D.C. United 1–0 in the quarterfinal round. The Hammerheads regularly drew well over 2,000 fans per game, and had drawn nearly 5,000 for playoff games. On June 30, 2009, the Hammerheads upset the Chicago Fire in the third round of the 2009 US Open Cup 1–0 at home.

The team went on hiatus in 2010 and returned for the 2011 USL PRO regular season, due to local businessman Bill Rudisill and a minority ownership group combining their efforts and financial support to the Port City. Following the 2011 USL PRO regular season, the Hammerheads competed in the division semifinals. In 2012, the Hammerheads finished their regular season with an overall record of 10–7–7 After qualifying for playoffs, they defeated both the Richmond Kickers and Orlando City Lions to obtain their spot in the finals versus the Charleston Battery whom took the 2012 USL PRO Championship title at Blackbaud Stadium after defeating the Hammerheads 1–0. The Hammerheads fell short of qualifying for a playoff position following their 2013 regular season.

In 2013, Daniel Steres led the team in goals with seven. [1] He received the team's Most Valuable Player award, and was named to the 2013 USL PRO All-League Second Team. [1]

In September 2013, the Wilmington Hammerheads announced that after three years of ownership, Bill Rudisill had sold a majority share to George Altirs, CEO of Capelli New York. Rudisill retained a minority share of the club. [2]

In January 2014, the Wilmington Hammerheads entered a developmental partnership deal with Major League Soccer side Toronto FC that would see a minimum of four Toronto players come to Wilmington with the goal of gaining first team experience. [3] In August 2014, the Hammerheads' longtime head coach, Englishman David Irving, stepped down from his position following fifteen seasons with the club.

New York City FC announced a one-year affiliation with the Hammerheads in January 2015, in which NYCFC would send players to train and play in Wilmington for further development. [4] The clubs renewed their affiliation agreement for the 2016 season. [5]

On August 1, 2016, it was reported that the Hammerheads were planning another hiatus from the USL, beginning with the 2017 season. This would allow the club to restructure "in order to keep pace with the growth in stature of the USL." [6] Six weeks later, the Washington Post reported that the Hammerheads were a possible contender to move to Baltimore, Maryland for the 2018 season, noting that Wilmington is the smallest of the league's twenty-nine markets. [7] The team self-relegated to the Premier Development League on September 29, 2016. [8]

After the 2017 season, the PDL team was disbanded. [9] The organization continues as a youth soccer academy under the name Wilmington Hammerheads Youth FC.

Stadium

Notable former players

Glenn Murray

Head coaches

Achievements

Record

Year-by-year

YearDivisionLeagueReg. SeasonPlayoffsOpen CupAvg Attendance [10]
19963USISL Pro League3rd, South AtlanticSemifinalsdid not qualify1,310
19973USISL D-3 Pro League5th, South Atlanticdid not qualify1st Round1,146
19983USISL D-3 Pro League6th, AtlanticDivision Semifinalsdid not qualify778
19993USL D-3 Pro League2nd, AtlanticConference Finals2nd Round1,208
20003USL D-3 Pro League2nd, SouthernConference Quarterfinals2nd Round1,506
20013USL D-3 Pro League1st, SouthernConference Finalsdid not qualify2,312
20023USL D-3 Pro League1st, SouthernFinaldid not qualify2,554 [a]
20033USL Pro Select League2nd, SouthernChampionQuarterfinals2,829
20043USL Pro Soccer League2nd, SouthernQuarterfinals3rd Round2,270
20053USL Second Division4thSemifinals3rd Round3,317 [a]
20063USL Second Division8thdid not qualify4th Round3,072 [a]
20073USL Second Division7thdid not qualifydid not qualify2,978 [a]
20083USL Second Division7thdid not qualifydid not qualify2,577 [a]
20093USL Second Division1stSemifinalsQuarterfinals2,467
2010On Hiatus
20113USL Pro2nd, AmericanDivision Semifinals3rd Round4,053
20123USL Pro5thChampionship3rd Round4,265
20133USL Pro9thdid not qualify3rd Round3,162
20143USL Pro7thQuarterfinals2nd Round2,326
20153USL12th, Easterndid not qualify2nd Round2,960
20163USL9th, Easterndid not qualify4th Round3,000
20174USL PDL8th, South Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify—
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Top attendance in league.

Supporters

The primary supporters group was the Port City Firm. The group was founded in 1997 and stuck together during the team's hiatus year in 2010. [11] [12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Wilmington Hammerheads defender Daniel Steres named to 2013 USL PRO All-League second team". boxscorenews.com.
  2. ↑ "New York CEO buys Hammerheads". WWAY. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  3. ↑ "Toronto FC announce partnership with USL Pro club – Waking The Red". wakingthered.com. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "NYCFC Announce Affiliation with Wilmington Hammerheads". nycfc.com. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "New York City FC Announces extension with Wilmington Hammerheads FC". NYCFC.com. New York City FC. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  6. ↑ Hollingsworth, Chad. "Aztex & Hammerheads Out for 2017 USL Season". Scratching the Pitch. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  7. ↑ Goff, Steven. "Are USL's Wilmington Hammerheads moving to Baltimore?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Wilmington Hammerheads FC Awarded PDL Franchise". Premier Development League (PDL). September 29, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  9. ↑ Flanagan, Brenna (22 March 2023). "Pro soccer group seeks Legion Stadium lease for 2024 season". Port City Daily. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Attendance Project: Div. III". kenn.com blog.
  11. ↑ Meet the Port City Firm (Press Release), Wilimington Hammerheads, June 4, 2012, retrieved July 21, 2015
  12. ↑ USL Pro Supporter Group Q&A: The Port city Firm, Reckless Challenge, March 6, 2013, retrieved July 21, 2015


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