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Fort Wayne FC

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Fort Wayne FC
Full nameFort Wayne Football Club
FoundedSeptember 9, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-09-09)
StadiumBishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Capacity3,500
Owners
List
  • DaMarcus Beasley
    Mark Music—Majority Owner and Managing Partner
    John Bellio
    Drew Little
    Tom Lapsley
    Michael Khorshid
Sporting directorMike Avery
CoachMike Avery
LeagueUSL League Two
20231st, Valley Division
Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals
Websitehttps://www.fortwaynefc.com

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 Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium on the campus of the University of Saint Francis.[1][2]

History

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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][16]

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

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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

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Year Division League Regular Season (W–L–T) Playoffs Open Cup
2021 4 USL2 8th, Great Lakes (1–8–5) did not qualify Ineligible
2022 4 USL2 3rd, Valley (9–3–2) did not qualify Ineligible
2023 4 USL2 1st, Valley (10–0–2) Conference Quarterfinals did not qualify
4 USL2 Conference Semifinals

Honors

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League

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Staff

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Operations

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United States Laurie Perolio-Bullinger, Director, Operations

United States DaMarcus Beasley, Director, Football Operations

Technical Staff

United States Mike Avery, head coach, sporting director

England Keelan Barker, assistant coach

United States Jeff Richey, goalkeeper coach

United States Rene Sanchez, Team Administrator

References

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