Appalachian FC

Appalachian FC
Full nameAppalachian Football Club
FoundedNovember 18, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-11-18)
StadiumASU Soccer Stadium
Boone, North Carolina
Capacity~2,000
Head coachDale Parker
LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
20221st, Southeast Conference. Southeast Conference Champions.
Websitehttp://appalachianfc.com/
Current season

Appalachian Football Club is an American soccer team based in Boone, North Carolina, that currently plays in the National Premier Soccer League, on the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system. The team plays its home games at the ASU Soccer Stadium.

History

On May 26, 2020, Appalachian State discontinued varsity sports including men's soccer due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2] As a result of the men's soccer team being cut, head coach Jason O'Keefe and a soccer executive Michael Hitchcock joined up with a group of local business owners to create the team.[3]

On November 5, 2020, Appalachian FC joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), considered the fourth tier of the United States soccer pyramid and roughly equal to USL League Two.[4] Appalachian FC played their first game on May 1, 2021, ending in a 1–1 draw with Metro Louisville FC.[5] Appalachian FC finished the 2021 season third in their conference and advanced to the Southeast Conference playoffs. They finished the season with a 2–1 loss to Georgia Storm in the semifinals on July 14, 2021.

In just their second season, Appalachian FC finished the 2022 regular season as the #1 seed in the Southeast Conference playoffs. Appalachian FC would ride that momentum through the playoffs, winning the Southeast Conference championship 6-2 against North Alabama Soccer Coalition on July 16, 2022.[6] Appalachian FC would go on to win their 2022 NPSL East Region semifinal matchup 2-1 against the Alexandria Reds before falling to Keystone Conference and eventual National Champion, FC Motown 3-0.[7] Head Coach, Dale Parker, would earn NPSL Coach of the Year honors as a result of the team's 2022 campaign.[8]

As a result of their success in 2022, Appalachian FC earned a berth into the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. On March 22, 2023, Appalachian FC would make club history earning their first U.S. Open Cup victory against NC Fusion U-23s. The contest would remain tied through stoppage and extra time before ultimately being decided by penalty kicks.[9] Appalachian FC's U.S. Open Cup run would end in the second round at the hands of USL League One side, Charlotte Independence.[10]

Colors and crest

The club colors are black and gold. The club crest was designed by award-winning designer Christopher Payne, who has developed brand identities for several football clubs in the United States and the United Kingdom including Lexington SC, Flower City Union, Monterey Bay FC, and Eastleigh Football Club.[11] The crest draws inspiration from the cryptozoological mythology and folklore of Sasquatch sightings in North Carolina and across the Appalachian Mountains.[12]

Year-by-year

Year League Record Regular season Conference Playoffs NPSL Regional Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
2021 NPSL 4–2–4 3rd, Southeast Conference Conference Semifinal Did not qualify Ineligible
2022 6–1–3 1st, Southeast Conference Southeast Conference Champions Regional Final Did not qualify
2023 5-3-2 2nd, Southeast Conference Conference Semifinal Did not qualify Second Round

References

  1. ^ "App State Athletics Announces Program Changes". App State Athletics. May 26, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  2. ^ By, Steve Behr (May 29, 2020). "App State joins list of schools cutting sports teams". Watauga Democrat. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "How a semi-pro soccer team with a Sasquatch logo arose from a college program shuttered by COVID-19". sports.yahoo.com. December 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "Appalachian FC Joins the NPSL for the 2021 Season". National Premier Soccer League. November 18, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Schedule and Results". Appalachian FC. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  6. ^ McCormack, Patrick (July 17, 2022). "Appalachian FC routs NASC 6-2 to win NPSL Southeast Conference title". Watauga Democrat. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  7. ^ "2022 Playoffs". National Premier Soccer League. June 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  8. ^ "Dale Parker of Appalachian FC Earns the 2022 NPSL Coach of the Season Award". National Premier Soccer League. August 5, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "2023 US Open Cup Round 1: Appalachian FC lose lead, hold off shorthanded NC Fusion U-23s in PKs". thecup.us. March 23, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "2023 US Open Cup Round 2: Charlotte Independence shutout Appalachian FC to snap USOC winless streak". thecup.us. April 6, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "One Pager". Football Brand Designer.
  12. ^ "Designing Appalachian Football Club's logo and brand". Football Brand Designer. November 19, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.