New Amsterdam FC

New Amsterdam Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in upstate New York. The club competes in the National Independent Soccer Association, the third tier of American soccer. New Amsterdam FC was established on April 20, 2020, and began play in July 2020.

New Amsterdam FC
Full nameNew Amsterdam Football Club
FoundedApril 20, 2020 (2020-04-20)
GroundHudson Sports Complex
Warwick, New York
OwnerLaurence Girard
Sporting directorMaximilian Mansfield
Head coachMaximilian Mansfield (interim)
LeagueNational Independent Soccer Association
2020–21Inaugural season
WebsiteClub website

The club was founded by both Laurence Girard and Maximilian Mansfield, with Mansfield serving as sporting director.

History

In November 2019 it was revealed by some journalists that a possible New York-based group had applied for a team in the National Independent Soccer Association, a new third division soccer league.[1] It was then further reported in January 2020 that the investor involved in the New York group was rumored to be Laurence Girard, the CEO of Fruit Street. The name "New Amsterdam FC" was also rumored to be in consideration.[1]

A few months later, on April 20, it was officially announced that New Amsterdam FC would be the name for the New York based NISA side.[2] The name is in reference to New Amsterdam, the 17th-century Dutch settlement that eventually formed New York City.[3] At the time of the reveal, it was not announced when New Amsterdam FC would begin playing.[2]

In May 2020, it was stated by New Amsterdam sporting director Maximilian Mansfield that the team would opt for a local approach, similar to Spanish club Athletic Bilbao, where 50 to 60 percent of the team will be local New Yorkers.[3] On July 1, 2020 it was announced that New Amsterdam FC would be participating in the NISA Independent Cup, a tournament created by the league in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] A couple days later, on July 3, New Amsterdam FC announced their first signing, midfielder Martin Williams from Brooklyn.[5]

On July 28, the team announced it would play its inaugural match against the New York Cosmos in the Independent Cup and the Fall 2020 season at the Hudson Sports Complex in Warwick, New York.[6] It was later clarified that the venue choice was due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City and the team plans to move games back into the city proper once fans are able to attend.[7]

Former US international and Major League Soccer player Eric Wynalda was announced as the first coach in team history on July 30.[8] 18 days later, Wynalda stepped down for personal reasons.[9]

Club culture

Associated teams

The team also established reserve sides in both local and national amateur leagues. New Amsterdam FC II-SASC, formerly known as Sporting Astoria SC, plays in the Eastern Premier Soccer League and Cosmopolitan Soccer League system.[10] Bronx River Futbol Club, which began play in the United Premier Soccer League in 2020 as a partnership between Sporting Astoria and NAFC, will change its name to New Amsterdam FC III beginning in the Spring 2021 season.[11][12]

Players and staff

Current roster
As of September 5, 2020[13]
No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Aldo Muñoz  United States
2 Defender Saad Afif  United States
3 Defender Jesús Álvarez  United States
4 Midfielder Martins Williams  United States
6 Midfielder Christian Camacho  United States
7 Defender Daniel Vicente (captain)  United States
8 Midfielder Evin Nadaner  United States
9 Forward Tom Yorston  England
10 Forward Cordt Flätgen  United States
11 Defender Braeden Smith  United States
12 Midfielder Yusuf Mikaheel  Nigeria
13 Forward Sekou Fofana  United States
14 Midfielder Ernest Mitchell  United States
17 Forward Mahmoud Keita  Ivory Coast
19 Midfielder Naeem Charles  Trinidad and Tobago
21 Midfielder Daniel Bedoya  Colombia
22 Defender Carlton McKenzie  England
25 Defender Tobi Esche  Germany
28 Defender Michael Nastu  United States
33 Forward James Baculima  United States
80 Midfielder Zaire Bartley  Jamaica
99 Forward Michael Bello  England
— Goalkeeper Mahamed Keita  Ivory Coast
— Defender Joseph Nastu  United States
— Forward Nico Brown  United States

Staff
As of July 30, 2020
Position Nation Staff
Head coach United StatesMaximilian Mansfield

Statistics and records

Season-by-season
Season NISA Playoffs U.S. Open Cup North America Top Scorer
Div P W D L GF GA Pts Position Player League
2020–21 Fall 4 0 0 4 1 12 0 5th, Eastern Group stage TBD DNQ — —
Spring 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — —

References
  1. Kivlehan, Chris (January 1, 2020). "New Details On NISA's Possible Second New York Team – New Amsterdam FC". Midfield Press. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  2. "NEW TEAM: New Amsterdam FC joins NISA". Front Row Soccer. April 21, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  3. Battista, Michael (May 12, 2020). "INTERVIEW: New Amsterdam FC Hopes Community Is the Key to Success on the Field and in the Stands". NYC Sports Nation. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  4. "PRE-SEASON PREP: Cosmos, New Amsterdam FC to participate in NISA Independent Cup". Front Row Soccer. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  5. "Martin Williams signed". New Amsterdam FC (Twitter).
  6. "Where We'll Play - New Amsterdam Football Club". New Amsterdam FC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  7. ""just a Covid solution, rest assured when fans are allowed in the stands we'll be back in the 5 boros"". Twitter. New Amsterdam FC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  8. Mendola, Nicholas (July 30, 2020). "NISA New York-based side New Amsterdam FC hires Eric Wynalda". ProSoccerTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  9. Lewis, Michael (August 17, 2020). "ERIC'S GONE: Wynalda won't coach New Amsterdam due to 'personal reasons'". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  10. "***OFFICIAL SASC Press Release*** @SportingAstoria and @NAFCNY have agreed to a partnership for the @EPSLsoccer 2020/2021 season. The team will officially be named #NewAmsterdamFCII-SASC. The team will call @hudsonsportscom home for the season."". Sporting Astoria Soccer Club. Twitter. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  11. "UPSL Announces New York Expansion with Bronx River FC". div1.upsl.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  12. ""@BronxRiverFC aka @NAFCNY III (beginning next season) will play their week 3 match this weekend at the legendary #MetOval."". Twitter. Bronx River Futbol Club. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  13. "XI for our away game against @DetroitCityFC go on boyzz #BusinessTrip". Twitter. New Amsterdam FC. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
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