Erie Commodores FC

Erie Commodores FC
Full name Erie Commodores Football Club
Nickname(s) Commodores
Founded 2009 (2009)
Stadium McConnell Family Stadium
Erie, Pennsylvania
Capacity 2,500[1]
Owner John Melody
Head Coach John Melody
League National Premier Soccer League
Website Club website

Erie Commodores FC is an American soccer team based in Erie, Pennsylvania which competes in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a nationwide amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team plays their home matches at McConnell Family Stadium.

The "Commodores" name alludes to Oliver Hazard Perry, a United States Navy commodore who based his operations at Erie's Presque Isle Bay during the Battle of Lake Erie, a flashpoint in the War of 1812. The "Don't Give up the Ship" motto on the crest also derives from Commodore Perry.

History

Pedro Argaez, a local soccer coach, formed Erie Admirals SC in 2009, developing the club from an established youth soccer program by the same name. John Melody, an alumnus of Mercyhurst University in Erie, served Argaez as head coach, later acquiring full ownership while continuing to lead the team. On April 24, 2015, Melody officially re-branded his club as Erie Commodores FC.[2] He also hired fellow Mercyhurst graduate, Micky Blythe, as head coach for one season. Subsequently, Neil Brown, who received an internationally prestigious “A” license from UEFA, helped lead Commodores FC in their 2015 NPSL campaign.[3]

Several players who once played for Commodores FC moved on to the professional soccer ranks: Adam Clement with Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer (MLS); Jeremy Deighton, Greg Blum, and Neil Shaffer with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the United Soccer League; Dan Howell in Iceland; Billy Colton in New Zealand, Sam Dorf in Ireland and Israel, and, most recently, Danny Deakin, who was drafted by Orlando City SC of MLS.[4]

Erie Commodores FC has rivalries with other Great Lakes region NPSL clubs, to include AFC Cleveland (Cleveland, Ohio), FC Buffalo (Buffalo, New York), Fort Pitt Regiment (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), and Detroit City FC (Detroit, Michigan). The club participates in the Erie County Derby against FC Buffalo, a regional NPSL rivalry pitting Erie County, Pennsylvania and Erie County, New York.

Current Roster

As of June 8, 2017[5]
No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Jorge Hernandez  Sweden
2 Defender Ashley Phillips  England
4 Midfielder Luca Campos  United States
5 Defender Guillermo Lazcano  Spain
6 Defender Thaylan Maria Sanches Silva  Brazil
7 Defender Ezana Kahsay  Eritrea
8 Midfielder Reece Daly  England
9 Forward Lewis Osborne  England
10 Forward Leonardo Ferreira da Silva  Brazil
11 Midfielder Arthur Favero  Brazil
12 Midfielder Malcom Isaiah-Shaw  Canada
14 Forward Marshall Garcia  United States
15 Forward Max Aken-Tyers  England
16 Defender Shane Wiedt  United States
17 Defender Jack Cousin  United States
18 Forward Paul Bracken  Ireland
19 Midfielder Austin Solomon  Honduras
21 Defender Sebastian Mentel  Canada
22 Midfielder Michael Hagarty  New Zealand
23 Goalkeeper Jorge Prendes  Spain
27 Goalkeeper Chris Ralph  United States
28 Midfielder Keegan Farver  United States
29 Midfielder Kieran Robbins  England
33 Defender Ricardo Silva  Portugal

Year-by-year

Year Tier League Regular Season Playoffs
2009 4 NPSL 1st of 6, Eastern Keystone Final
2010 4 NPSL 2nd of 7, Northeast-Keystone Did not qualify
2011 4 NPSL 1st of 8, Northeast-Keystone National Semifinals
2012 4 NPSL 1st of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes Division Final
2013 4 NPSL 3rd of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes National Semifinals
2014 4 NPSL 2nd of 4, Midwest-Great Lakes East Did not qualify
2015 4 NPSL 7th of 13, Midwest Did not qualify
2016 4 NPSL 5th of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes East Did not qualify
2017 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest-East Regional first round
2018 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest-East Regional first round

Honors

  • NPSL Midwest Region East Conference champions, 2017, 2018
  • NPSL Great Lakes Division regular season champions, 2012
  • NPSL National semifinalist, 3rd Place winner, 2011
  • NPSL Northeast Region champions, 2011
  • NPSL Keystone Division champions, 2011
  • NPSL National runners-up, 2009
  • NPSL Northeast Region champions, 2009
  • NPSL Keystone Division champions, 2009

Staff

Owner

  • Republic of Ireland John Melody (2010–present)
  • Mexico Pedro Argaez (2009–2010)

Head coach

  • United States Dan Howell (2015)
  • England Micky Blythe (2014)
  • Republic of Ireland John Melody (2009–2013, 2016–present)[6]

Assistant coach

  • Wales Neil Brown (2011–2014)
  • England Micky Blythe (2009–2013)

Stadia

References

  1. ↑ http://www.eriesportscommission.com/venues/collegiate/
  2. ↑ "Erie's NPSL Team Rebrands as Erie Commodores FC". International Soccer Network.
  3. ↑ About the Erie Commodores Football Club
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Roster". Erie Commmodores FC. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Melody steps down as Admirals coach". Erie Times-News.


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