Phoenix FC

Phoenix FC was an American professional football (soccer) team based in Phoenix. The team was a member of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team's colors were red and white.

Phoenix FC
Full namePhoenix Football Club
Nickname(s)Wolves
FoundedJuly 2, 2012 (2012-07-02)
DissolvedMarch 12, 2014 (2014-03-12)
GroundSun Devil Soccer Stadium
Tempe, Arizona
Capacity3,400
OwnersBDR Sports LLC
Head CoachDavid Robertson
LeagueUSL Pro

History

On June 18, 2012, BDR Sports LLC was incorporated in the State of Arizona to bring a professional soccer team to Phoenix.[1] On July 2, 2012, the USL Pro awarded a franchise to the BDR group for the 2013 season.[2] On July 15, the team announced they had hired David Robertson, Director of Boy's Coaching at Sereno Soccer Club, as head coach. He is a former Rangers, Aberdeen and Leeds United player. He also managed Elgin City and Montrose in the Scottish Third Division. The team name ("Phoenix City FC") and colors were announced the same day.[3][4] On August 28, the team selected Umbro as the team's official football uniform and equipment supplier.[5] On September 7, the team renamed itself "Phoenix FC", introduced its logo and selected "Wolves" as their nickname.[6]

On September 27, 2012, former Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie signed a one-year contract with Phoenix FC, becoming their first player signing.[7][8][9]

On December 11, 2012, Phoenix FC and Arizona State University announced a stadium agreement for 2013. Phoenix FC would play home games at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium beginning in April 2013. As part of the deal, the seating capacity was meant to be expanded by more than 4,000 additional seats, taking the total capacity to over 5,000 seats. However, due to the position of stadium lights poles on the east side of the stadium, the capacity was revised to just over 3,400.[10][11][12]

2013 Season
Main article: 2013 Phoenix FC season

Phoenix FC opened their only season with a 2–0 loss to the Los Angeles Blues on March 23, 2013.[13][14] They won their home opener at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on March 30, 2013. They defeated VSI Tampa Bay FC 1–0 on a goal by Netinho before a soldout, standing room crowd of 4,198.[15][16][17]

The team finished the 2013 season with 5 wins, 14 losses and 7 ties.[18] Donny Toia lead the team in scoring with six goals and was a nominee for USL Pro Rookie of the Year.[19]

Demise

USL Pro revoked the Phoenix franchise rights from BDR Sports LLC on November 1, 2013, citing multiple violations of the franchise agreement, failing to pay its players on time and for submitting misleading and inaccurate financial statements.[20][21][22][23] On December 16, 2013, USL Pro awarded the franchise rights for Phoenix FC to American Soccer Marketing LLC, owned by former interim Team President Tim Donald.[24][25][26] On March 12, 2014, American Soccer Marketing announced that it could not continue operating the team in the USL Pro league. They were replaced with Arizona United SC the next day.[27]

Year-by-year
Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. Attendance
2013 3 USL Pro 12th Place Did not qualify First Round 1,532

Players
Main article: All-time Phoenix FC roster

Roster

[28]

No. Position Player Nation
0 Goalkeeper Lalo Fernández  Mexico
1 Goalkeeper Andrew Weber  United States
30 Goalkeeper Sócrates Oliveira Fonseca  Cape Verde
2 Midfielder Reid Schmitt  United States
3 Defender Scott Morrison  Scotland
4 Defender Devon Grousis  United States
5 Defender Renan Boufleur  Brazil
6 Midfielder Anthony Obodai  Ghana
7 Midfielder David Paul  United States
8 Midfielder Netinho  Brazil
9 Midfielder Diego Faria  Brazil
10 Forward Darren Mackie  Scotland
11 Defender Cyprian Hedrick  Cameroon
13 Goalkeeper Sheldon Parkinson  Jamaica
14 Forward Aaron King  United States
15 Defender José Ramos  Mexico
16 Defender Isaiah Schafer  United States
17 Defender Brian Holmes  United States
18 Midfielder Thomas Ramos  United States
19 Defender Elliot Weber  United States
20 Goalkeeper Neal Kitson  United States
21 Midfielder Josh Bento  United States
22 Midfielder Cameron Vickers  United States
23 Forward Peabo Doue  United States
25 Forward Donny Toia  United States
26 Goalkeeper Humberto Soriano  United States
27 Forward Travis Bowen  United States
28 Forward Davy Armstrong (on loan from Colorado Rapids)  United States
29 Forward Roberto Valadez  United States
32 Defender R. Clayton Zelin  United States
— Forward Will Bates (on loan from Seattle Sounders FC)  United States

Front Office
  • Tim Donald – President
  • Eric Cornwall – Chairman
  • Rui Filipe Bento – General Manager
  • Shawn Dietrich – Director of Operations
  • David Robertson – Head Coach

Stadiums

References
  1. "Business Entity Search". Arizona Corporation Commission. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  2. "Phoenix to Join USL PRO in 2013". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 2012-07-02. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  3. "USL Pro Valley team names coach, reveals team name". Arizona Republic. 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
  4. "New USL PRO Team Owners Met With LFR 1881 Yesterday; Team Name, Team Colors & Head Coach Announced". AzKicksIt.com. 2012-07-16. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  5. Team Facebook Page
  6. "Phoenix Announces Name and Logo". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 2012-09-07. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  7. "Phoenix FC officially signs first player, former Scottish Premier League forward, according to sources". Odeen Domingo. Arizona Republic. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  8. "Darren Mackie, Phoenix FC's first signing and former Scottish Premier League striker, answers fans questions sent through Twitter; Phoenix FC tryouts update". Odeen Domingo. Arizona Republic. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  9. "Phoenix FC Signs First Player Former Aberdeen FW Darren Mackie". AZKicksIt.com. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  10. Phoenix FC Scores With Sun Devil Soccer Stadium Deal
  11. Phoenix pro soccer team will stake home field at ASU in Tempe
  12. http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/odeendomingofc/2013/03/22/phoenix-fc-season-preview-projected-starting-xi-team-and-season-prediction-series-vol-9-of-10-plus-team-names-18-player-travel-roster-to-la-makes-home-stadium-changes
  13. "Phoenix FC loses first ever game on Saturday; played much of the match a man down". Arizona Republic. March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  14. "Match Report – Los Angeles Blues vs. Phoenix FC". AZKicksIt. March 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  15. "Netinho scores Phoenix FC's 1st goal in win". Arizona Republic. March 31, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  16. "Phoenix FC gets first win in club history". AZKicksIt. March 30, 2013. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  17. "LA Blues Open USL Pro Season With A Victory". SoccerNation.com. March 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  18. "'With a Whimper': The Story of the 2013 Phoenix FC Wolves". Jason Robertson. recklesschallenge.net. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  19. "USL PRO Awards Finalists Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 4, 2013. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  20. "Phoenix FC terminated from USL PRO". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  21. "USL PRO terminates soccer franchise with Phoenix FC Wolves owners". Indy Week. November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  22. "League pulls franchise from Phoenix FC owners group". Ted Prezelski. Tucson Sentinel. November 2, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  23. "USL PRO Statement". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  24. "USL PRO Awards Phoenix Franchise Rights". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 16, 2013. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  25. "Phoenix FC, USL PRO announce new ownership group". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  26. "Phoenix FC to be back in 2014 under new ownership". Garrett Cleverly. AZKicksIt. December 16, 2013. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  27. "Ownership Change, Rebrand in Phoenix". United Soccer Leagues (USL). March 13, 2014. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  28. Phoenix FC Team Roster Archived 2013-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
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