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'''Wilmington Hammerheads''' is professional American [[association football|soccer]] team based in [[Wilmington, North Carolina]]. Founded in 1996, the team competes in the Eastern Conference of the [[United Soccer League]], the third tier of the [[American Soccer Pyramid]]. |
'''Wilmington Hammerheads''' is professional American [[association football|soccer]] team based in [[Wilmington, North Carolina]]. Founded in 1996, the team competes in the Eastern Conference of the [[United Soccer League]], the third tier of the [[American Soccer Pyramid]]. |
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Having spent the 2010 season on hiatus from competitive play, the Wilmington Hammerheads organization returned to the field in 2011.<ref>[http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/479430.html Hammerheads Return for 2011]</ref> |
Having spent the 2010 season on hiatus from competitive play, the Wilmington Hammerheads organization returned to the field in 2011.<ref>[http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/479430.html Hammerheads Return for 2011]</ref> |
Revision as of 09:39, 14 April 2015
Full name | Wilmington Hammerheads Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Hammers | ||
Founded | 1996 | ||
Ground | Legion Stadium Wilmington, North Carolina | ||
Capacity | 6,000 | ||
Owner | George Altirs | ||
Head Coach | Carson Porter | ||
League | USL | ||
2014 | Regular Season: 7th Playoffs: Quarterfinals | ||
Website | Club website | ||
| |||
Wilmington Hammerheads is a professional American soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded in 1996, the team competes in the Eastern Conference of the United Soccer League, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
Having spent the 2010 season on hiatus from competitive play, the Wilmington Hammerheads organization returned to the field in 2011.[1] The Wilmington Hammerheads play their home matches at Legion Stadium, where they have played since 2003. The team's colors are sky blue and white. The Hammerheads are currently under the instruction of Head Coach Carson Porter.
History
The Hammerheads had one championship in 2003, and were a finalist in 2002, losing to the Long Island Rough Riders 2–1. 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 returned to the pitch at Legion Stadium for the 2011 USL PRO regular season after their 2010 hiatus 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 2013 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 September 2013, the Wilmington Hammerheads announced that after three years of dedicated ownership, Bill Rudisill would no longer be majority owner of the team and that George Altirs, CEO of Capelli New York, has taken the role of Wilmington Hammerheads Owner.
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.[2] In August of 2014, the Hammerheads' longtime head coach, Englishman David Irving, stepped down from his position following fifteen season with the club.
In January 2015, New York City FC announced to have signed a one-year affiliation with the Hammerheads, by which NYCFC can send players to train and play in Wilmington for further development.[3]
Stadium
- Legion Stadium; Wilmington, North Carolina (2003–2009, 2011–present)
Club Culture
The primary supporters group for the Hammerheads is the Port City Firm. The group was founded in 1996, and stuck together during the team's hiatus year in 2010. The Port City Firm is known as one of the most dedicated and loyal fan groups in the USL Pro League.[4]
Players and Staff
Current roster
As of January 8, 2015 [5]
No. | Position | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
0 | GK | Andre Rawls | United States |
1 | GK | Larry Jackson | United States |
2 | DF | Tom Parratt | Scotland |
3 | DF | Anthony Peters | United States |
4 | DF | Ashani Fairclough | Jamaica |
5 | DF | Troy Cole | United States |
6 | FW | Brian Ackley | United States |
7 | MF | Ross Tomaselli | United States |
8 | MF | Paul Nicholson | England |
9 | FW | Aaron Wheeler | United States |
10 | MF | Justin Moose | United States |
11 | FW | Sunny Jane | Lesotho |
12 | DF | Andrae Campbell | Jamaica |
14 | MF | Marc Godelman | United States |
16 | MF | Stefan Defregger | United States |
17 | FW | Cody Arnoux | United States |
19 | MF | Corben Bone | United States |
21 | MF | William Heaney | England |
22 | GK | Matt Glaeser | United States |
23 | MF | Nick Zimmerman | United States |
Staff
- George Altirs - Owner
- Jason Arnold – General Manager
- Danielle Dorantich – Director of Marketing & Public Relations
- Matt Sadler – Director of Development & Partnerships
- Kelly Wenger – Director of Ticket Sales
- Jessica Hotzelt – Manager, Ticket Sales & Game Day Operations
- Jessica Coleman – Marketing & Event Coordinator
- Carson Porter – Technical Director & Head Coach
- Kenny Bundy – First Team Coach
- Mark Briggs – First Team Coach
- Mark Williams – Director of Sports Science
- Mary Biehner – Head Athletic Trainer
- Charlie Aldridge – Equipment Manager
Notable Former Players
- See also: All-time Wilmington Hammerheads roster
Head Coaches
- David Irving (1998–2014)
- Carson Porter (2014-present)
Achievements
- USL PRO Championship Finalist 2012
- USL Second Division Regular Season Champions 2009
- USL Pro Select League Champions 2003
- USL D-3 Pro League Southern Division Champions 2002
- USL D-3 Pro League Southern Division Champions 2001
Record
Year-by-year
Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 3rd, South Atlantic | Semifinals | Did not qualify |
1997 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 5th, South Atlantic | Did not qualify | 1st Round |
1998 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 6th, Atlantic | Division Semifinals | Did not qualify |
1999 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 2nd, Atlantic | Conference Finals | 2nd Round |
2000 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 2nd, Southern | Conference Quarterfinals | 2nd Round |
2001 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 1st, Southern | Conference Finals | Did not qualify |
2002 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 1st, Southern | Final | Did not qualify |
2003 | 3 | USL Pro Select League | 2nd, Southern | Champion | Quarterfinals |
2004 | 3 | USL Pro Soccer League | 2nd, Southern | Quarterfinals | 3rd Round |
2005 | 3 | USL Second Division | 4th | Semifinals | 3rd Round |
2006 | 3 | USL Second Division | 8th | Did not qualify | 4th Round |
2007 | 3 | USL Second Division | 7th | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
2008 | 3 | USL Second Division | 7th | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
2009 | 3 | USL Second Division | 1st | Semifinals | Quarterfinals |
2010 | on hiatus | ||||
2011 | 3 | USL Pro | 2nd, American Division | Division Semifinals | 3rd Round |
2012 | 3 | USL Pro | 5th | Championship | 3rd Round |
2013 | 3 | USL Pro | 9th | Did not qualify | 3rd Round |
2014 | 3 | USL Pro | 7th | Quarterfinals | 2nd Round |
References
- ^ Hammerheads Return for 2011
- ^ "Toronto FC announce partnership with USL Pro club - Waking The Red". wakingthered.com. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "NYCFC Announce Affiliation with Wilmington Hammerheads". nycfc.com. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ^ "Port City Firm: The Official Wilmington Hammerheads Supporters Group". portcityfirm.com. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "2015 Roster". Wilmington Hammerheads FC. Retrieved January 8, 2015.