Charlotte Independence

Charlotte Independence
Nickname(s) The Jacks
Founded 2014 (2014)
Stadium Sportsplex at Matthews
Matthews, North Carolina
Capacity 5,000
Owner Queen City Soccer Club, LLC
President Jim McPhilliamy
Head Coach Mike Jeffries
League United Soccer League
2017 5th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals
Website Club website

The Charlotte Independence is an American soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the United Soccer League, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. They are affiliated with the Major League Soccer (MLS) team the Colorado Rapids. They play their home games at the Sportsplex at Matthews in Matthews, North Carolina.

History

The Charlotte Independence were founded in 2014. They acquired the USL Pro franchise rights for Charlotte from the Charlotte Eagles, who moved into the amateur Premier Development League (PDL).[1][2][3]

The Independence take their name from Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Their crest features the year 1775 (the year in which it was alleged to have been signed) and a horse-mounted Captain James Jack.[4] Supporters were asked to choose one of twelve designs; all 12 featured the year and Jack.

Former Dallas Burn head coach Mike Jeffries was hired as the Independence head coach on December 5, 2014.[5]

The Independence lost their first game to Charleston Battery 3-2 on March 28, 2015 at Transamerica Field. Jack Thompson scored the team's first ever goal in the 13th minute.[6]

Stadium

On February 25, 2015, the team announced they would play most of their 2015 season in a temporary soccer stadium being assembled at Ramblewood Soccer Complex, near the I-77/I-485 interchange in the southwest corner of the city. [7] [8] After splitting its first five home games between venues on University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Winthrop University, the Independence won their Ramblewood debut on June 20, 2015. [9] [10]

On February 1, 2017, the team announced they would play in a permanent 2,300 seat soccer stadium at the Sportsplex at Matthews in Matthews, North Carolina. [11]

Year-by-year

Year Division League Win Loss Tie Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. Attendance
2015 3 USL 10 8 10 7th, Eastern DNQ Fifth Round 1,800
2016 3 USL 14 8 8 5th, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Third Round 1,375
2017 2 USL 13 10 9 5th, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Third Round 1,615
2018 2 USL 7 8 11 11th, Eastern DNQ Second Round TBA

Players

Current roster

As of March 23, 2018 [12][13]

No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Brandon Miller  United States
2 Midfielder Conor O'Brien  United States
3 Defender Bilal Duckett  United States
4 Midfielder Jake Areman  United States
5 Defender James Kiffe  United States
6 Midfielder Greg Jordan  United States
7 Midfielder Yann Ekra  France
8 Defender Kay Voser   Switzerland
9 Forward Éamon Zayed  Libya
10 Midfielder Jorge Herrera  Colombia
11 Midfielder Mutaya Mwape  Zambia
12 Goalkeeper Kainoa Likewise  United States
13 Midfielder Kevan George  Trinidad and Tobago
14 Defender Lee Jung-soo  South Korea
15 Defender Calvin Doum  Cameroon
16 Defender Bertrand Owundi (on loan from Minnesota United)  Cameroon
17 Forward Cordell Cato  Trinidad and Tobago
18 Goalkeeper Ben Beaury  United States
20 Midfielder Ricardo Perez ([A])  Mexico
22 Defender Joel Johnson  Liberia
23 Midfielder Alex Martínez  Uruguay
24 Forward Derek Gebhard (on loan from El Paso)  United States
25 Defender Henry Kalungi  Uganda
26 Forward Gabe Findley ([A])  United States
27 Midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson  Jamaica
29 Forward Caleb Calvert ([A])  United States
31 Defender Sam Vines ([A])  United States
33 Defender Donnie Smith  United States
  1. ^ Signed to first team contract with MLS affiliate Colorado Rapids.
    2.

Staff

Front Office

  • Jim McPhilliamy – President & Managing Partner
  • Michael Behrman – Chief Operating Officer
  • Wade Leaphart – Chief Revenue Officer
  • Tom Engstrom – General Manager

Coaching Staff

  • Mike Jeffries – Head Coach
  • Troy Lesesne – Assistant Coach
  • Joel Tyson – Goalkeepers Coach

Sponsorship

Seasons Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2015–2016 Adidas OrthoCarolina
2017–present Novant Health

References

  1. ↑ "Queen City Soccer Club to replace Charlotte Eagles in USL PRO in 2015". Ben Bromley. Black and Red United. January 24, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ David Scott (September 16, 2014). "Charlotte's USL franchise to change hands Wednesday". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ "USL PRO Welcomes Independence". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 17, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Charlotte now has soccer Independence". David Scott. Charlotte Observer. September 17, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Independence Name Jeffries As Coach". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Charlotte Left To Rue First Half Errors". Charlotte Independence. March 27, 2015. Archived from the original on March 30, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  7. ↑ "2015 Season-Ticket Pricing & Benefits Announced". February 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Renderings depict temporary Charlotte Independence soccer stadium". Charlotte Observer. February 17, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Temporary soccer stadium not yet ready for Charlotte Independence". Charlotte Observer. June 8, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Charlotte Independence rides momentum past Charleston Battery in 2-1 win". Charlotte Observer. June 20, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  11. ↑ "INDEPENDENCE MOVING TO MATTHEWS". February 1, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Independence Announce First Signings". United Soccer Leagues (USL). January 8, 2015. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Team". September 9, 2014.
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