Fort Wayne FC explained

Clubname:Fort Wayne FC
Upright:0.72
Fullname:Fort Wayne Football Club
Stadium:Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Capacity:3,500
Owntitle:Owners
Mgrtitle:Sporting director
Manager:Mike Avery
Coach:Mike Avery
League:USL League Two
Season:2023
Position:1st, Valley Division
Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals
Website:https://www.fortwaynefc.com
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Fort Wayne Football Club is a pre-professional soccer club in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. The club currently competes in the Valley Division of the USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. Fort Wayne FC played home games in its first two seasons at Shields Field Stadium at Bishop Dwenger High School. On January 10, 2023, the club announced it would play home games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons at BishopJohn M. D'Arcy Stadium on the campus of the University of Saint Francis.[1] [2]

History

Fort Wayne FC was founded by a group of local business people who wanted to provide a stepping stone for young talented soccer players. In 2019, the club applied to and joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as an expansion team for the 2020 season.[3] In a public announcement on September 9, 2019, City of Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry introduced the club to the city and Fort Wayne FC's president Dr. Erik Magner introduced Greg Mauch as the club's general manager.[4] [5] [6] On December 19, 2019, the club announced Nick Potter and Russ Lawson as the club's assistant coaches.[7]

On January 29, 2020, the club introduced Jeff Richey as the goalkeeper coach.[8] Two weeks later, FWFC announced Mike Avery as the club's head coach.[8] [9] [10]

On March 26, 2020, the NPSL announced the cancellation of the 2020 summer session due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] [12] [13]

On October 28, 2020, USL League Two announced its addition of Fort Wayne FC into their league for the 2021 and 2022 season. It was also announced that Fort Wayne native and former United States men's national soccer team and Major League Soccer (MLS) player DaMarcus Beasley would be a co-owner of the club.[14] [15] [16] The club plans to join USL League One in the future.[17]

On May 9, 2021, the club played their first-ever match, a 3–0 loss to Oakland County FC.

On May 23, 2021, the club played their first-ever home match in a 2–1 loss to Toledo Villa FC, where the club's first goal was scored by forward Noe Garcia in front of a crowd of over 2,700.[18]

On May 23, 2021, the club won their first-ever match, a 1–0 friendly win over Erie Commodores FC, the goal being scored by forward Max Amoako.

On June 11, 2021, the club won their first USL League Two match, and first ever away match with a 3–1 win over Toledo Villa FC, with goals being scored by Pep Casas, Joe Kouadio and Breno Boccoli.[19]

On June 25, 2021, the club hosted its first international-friendly match, welcoming the Chivas Guadalajara's U19 Reservas.

On August 31, 2021, the club announced that Head Coach Mike Avery signed a contract extension for 2022 while also being appointed as sporting director for the club. Avery reports directly to and works alongside part-owner, DaMarcus Beasley.

On September 22, 2021, the club announced that Laurie Perolio-Bullinger would be leading Club Operations with DaMarcus Beasley leading Football Operations.

Colors and badge

In 2022, Fort Wayne FC signed a multi-year agreement with global sports company, PUMA, as their official apparel partner.

The 2022 PUMA CUP branded home kit featured a bold design that incorporated a wavy design in royal blue and the away featured PUMA's Team Liga 25 red kit.

Fort Wayne FC's 2021 home kit was white, away kit was blue, and the goalkeeper's kit was red. The three-wave lines on the club's uniform jersey sleeves, shorts and socks represent the three rivers, St. Mary's River, St. Joseph River and Maumee River, of Fort Wayne.[20] Symbols of the flag of Indiana, the flaming torch and its stars, can be found in front of the Fort Wayne FC uniform jersey.[21]

Year-by-year

YearDivisionLeagueRegular Season (W–L–T)PlayoffsOpen Cup
20214USL28th, Great Lakes (1–8–5)did not qualifyIneligible
20224USL23rd, Valley (9–3–2)did not qualifyIneligible
20234USL21st, Valley (10–0–2)Conference Quarterfinalsdid not qualify
4USL2Conference Semifinals

Honors

League

Staff

Operations

Laurie Perolio-Bullinger, Director, Operations

DaMarcus Beasley, Director, Football Operations

Technical Staff

Mike Avery, head coach, sporting director

Keelan Barker, assistant coach

Jeff Richey, goalkeeper coach

Rene Sanchez, Team Administrator

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bishop Dwenger making progress on new stadium. Groth. Zach. March 28, 2019. WPTA21. May 11, 2020.
  2. Web site: Bishop Dwenger students, parents check out new football stadium for first time. Tran. Louie. August 31, 2019. Fort Wayne's NBC. May 11, 2020.
  3. Web site: Fort Wayne FC Joins the NPSL for the 2020 Season. September 9, 2019. National Premier Soccer League. May 11, 2020.
  4. Web site: MAYOR HENRY WELCOMES FORT WAYNE FC; ANNOUNCES NEW SOCCER EXPANSION FOR 2020 SEASON - City of Fort Wayne. www.cityoffortwayne.org. May 11, 2020.
  5. Web site: Fort Wayne adds pro soccer team. September 9, 2019. WANE. May 11, 2020.
  6. Web site: Professional soccer team coming to Fort Wayne. Burbrink. Jacob. September 9, 2019. WPTA21. May 11, 2020.
  7. Web site: Fort Wayne FC Welcomes Nick Potter and Russ Lawson as Assistant Coaches. Fort Wayne FC. May 11, 2020.
  8. Web site: Goalkeeper Coach: All About Jeff Richey. Fort Wayne FC. May 11, 2020. March 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220315140933/https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/jeffrichey. dead.
  9. Web site: Ex-Valpo coach to lead local soccer club Sports Journal Gazette. www.journalgazette.net. February 15, 2020 . May 11, 2020.
  10. Web site: Fort Wayne FC names head coach, inaugural schedule. Cr. Kayla. all. February 14, 2020. Fort Wayne's NBC. May 11, 2020. October 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001114835/https://fortwaynesnbc.com/2020/02/14/fort-wayne-fc-names-head-coach-inaugural-schedule/. dead.
  11. Web site: A Message from Kenneth Farrell, NPSL Chairman of the Board. March 26, 2020. National Premier Soccer League. May 11, 2020.
  12. Web site: Soccer club sees season canceled Professional Journal Gazette. www.journalgazette.net. March 27, 2020 . May 11, 2020.
  13. Web site: Fort Wayne FC season canceled amid COVID-19 pandemic. WFFT News. May 11, 2020. June 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210630033140/https://www.wfft.com/content/sports/Fort-Wayne-FC-season-canceled-amid-COVID-19-pandemic-569149631.html. dead.
  14. Web site: mlssoccer. Former MLS and USMNT legend DaMarcus Beasley officially joins Fort Wayne FC ownership MLSSoccer.com. 2021-06-16. mlssoccer. en.
  15. Web site: Fort Wayne FC To Join USL League Two For 2021 Season. USL League Two. October 28, 2020. October 28, 2020.
  16. Web site: Club Joins USL League Two for 2021 With Plans for USL League One in 2023. October 28, 2020. Fort Wayne FC. October 28, 2020. March 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220315140945/https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/fwfc-joins-usl2. dead.
  17. Web site: Fort Wayne FC To Join USL League One In 2023. USL League One. October 28, 2020.
  18. Web site: 2021-05-24. Fort Wayne FC draws huge crowd for club's first-ever home match. 2021-06-16. WANE 15. en-US.
  19. Web site: Fort Wayne FC picks up first league win over Toledo. 2021-06-16. WFFT News. en. June 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210613161051/https://www.wfft.com/content/sports/Fort-Wayne-FC-picks-up-first-league-win-over-Toledo-574617461.html. dead.
  20. Web site: Fort Wayne FC Crest Explained. Fort Wayne FC. May 12, 2020.
  21. Web site: Fort Wayne FC Uniforms Explained. Fort Wayne FC. May 12, 2020.