Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
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Full name | Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer Club | |||
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Nickname(s) | The Hounds[1] | |||
Founded | March 11, 1998[2][3] | |||
Stadium |
Highmark Stadium Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[4] | |||
Capacity | 5,000[4] | |||
Owner | Terry "Tuffy" Shallenberger[5] | |||
Head Coach | Bob Lilley | |||
League | United Soccer League[6] | |||
2017 |
13th, Eastern Conference Playoffs: DNQ | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1998[7] and beginning play in 1999,[8] the club plays in the Eastern Conference of the United Soccer League, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.[9] Since 2013, the Riverhounds have played their home games at the 5,000-seat Highmark Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium located in Station Square.[10] Their current head coach is Bob Lilley.[11] Saint Lucian international David Flavius currently holds the club records for most appearances and goals which he set over his eight seasons with the Riverhounds between 1999 and 2006.[12] In June 2017, the Riverhounds entered into a developmental partnership with the Ocean City Nor'easters of the Premier Development League, running through the 2018 season.[13]
In 2013, the Riverhounds organization announced its intentions to join Major League Soccer by 2023. Highmark Stadium initially seated 3,500 spectators, though the stadium is designed to be capable of being expanded to 18,500.[14][15]
History
Colors and badge
Originally, the Riverhounds' colors were predominantly red with smaller amounts of black and white. The original logo was designed by Pittsburgh-based BD&E. The firm made a strategic decision to not make the club's colors black and gold. The choice meant the Hounds would not align with the region's established professional sports identity, but would allow the soccer fans' jerseys to stand out in a Pittsburgh crowd.[16] The club adopted new colors, predominantly blue with white and black added, before the start of the 2008 season to honor their academy and training partnership with Everton. The use of blue was also an allusion to the blue collar populace of Pittsburgh.[17][18] Beginning in 2014, the Riverhounds began wearing black and gold uniforms more regularly, aligning the club with the colors representative of Pittsburgh's other professional sports teams. Blue and black kits continued to be worn as an alternate third version.[19]
On February 16, 2018, the Riverhounds unveiled a new crest as part of its rebranding.[20] The new crest incorporates traditional Pittsburgh sports colors with important symbols of the city such as bridges and rivers. The crest was designed by Oregon-based graphic designer Brian Gundell.[21]
Stadium
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has played at Highmark Stadium, a 5,000 seat soccer-specific stadium in Station Square, since 2013. The stadium is owned and operated by the Riverhounds organization.[22]
- Highmark Stadium as seen from Mount Washington
- Highmark Stadium main stand
- Highmark Stadium
Supporters
In November 2007, the first supporters group of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds was formed, The Steel Army. The Steel Army held their first meeting at Piper's Pub in Pittsburgh's South Side. The group started as 5–10 local people interested in supporting the reorganized Riverhounds Soccer Club and to support the efforts of growing the sport of soccer in Western Pennsylvania as well.[23]
Members are not only from Pittsburgh but also from states as close as Ohio to states as far away as Oregon and Florida. Membership in the Steel Army is now even international with members joining the group from Sunderland and Surrey in the U.K., as well as Bray, in the Republic of Ireland, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil who will be following the Riverhounds from abroad.[23]
The section of Highmark Stadium where the Steel Army stands and supports the Riverhounds is located at the South Gate end of the stadium. The terrace there holds 1,000 supporters. On August 1, 2015, the supporters' section was renamed the Paul Child Stand in honor of Pittsburgh soccer legend Paul Child.[24] The Steel Army has a fierce rivalry with fellow United Soccer League clubs Penn FC (Sons of Susquehanna) and the Rochester Rhinos (Oak Street Brigade).[23][25]
- Steel Army during first match at Highmark Stadium
- Steel Army in 2013
- Steel Army during friendly with Wigan Athletic
- Rob Vincent tifo during 2015 US Open Cup
First team roster
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of June 30, 2018.[26]
Honors
- USL Pro Soccer League
- Atlantic Division champions (1): 2004
Record
Year | Division | League | Record (W–L–D) | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Avg. Attendance | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999[27] | USL A-League | 4th, Northeast | Quarterfinals | Not eligible | ||||||
2000[27] | USL A-League | 7th, Atlantic | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | ||||||
2001[27] | USL A-League | 3rd, Northern | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | ||||||
2002[27] | USL A-League | 4th, Northeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | ||||||
2003[27] | USL A-League | 3rd, Northeast | Did not qualify | 3rd Round | ||||||
2004[27] | USL Pro Soccer League | 1st, Atlantic | Semifinals | Did not qualify | ||||||
2005[27] | USL Second Division | 7th | Did not qualify | 1st Round | ||||||
2006[27] | USL Second Division | 3rd | Semifinals | 1st Round | ||||||
2007 | On Hiatus[31][27] | |||||||||
2008[27] | USL Second Division | 8th | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | ||||||
2009[27] | USL Second Division | 8th | Did not qualify | 1st Round | ||||||
2010[27] | USL Second Division | 3rd | Semifinals | 2nd Round | ||||||
2011[27] | USL Pro | 10th | Quarterfinals | 2nd Round | ||||||
2012[27] | USL Pro | 10th | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | ||||||
2013[27] | USL Pro | 7th | Quarterfinals | 2nd Round | ||||||
2014[27] | USL Pro | 11th | Did not qualify | 4th Round | ||||||
2015[27] | USL | 5th, Eastern | Conference 1st Round | 4th Round | ||||||
2016[27] | USL | 13th, Eastern | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | ||||||
2017[27] | USL | 13th, Eastern | Did not qualify | 2nd Round |
Current coaching staff
- As of February 17th, 2018.[34]
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head coach | |
Assistant coach | |
Assistant coach | |
Assistant coach | |
Goalkeeping coach | |
Strength & conditioning coach |
See also
References
- ↑ "Hounds Look To Bounce Back vs. Wilmington". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ↑ "awarded a Professional A-League Soccer Franchise". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on May 29, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Cup Clash Brings D.C.'s Kasper Home To Face Hounds". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- 1 2 "Stadium". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ↑ "NEW OWNER ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD TO 2014 SEASON". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ "USL Profile". United Soccer League. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ↑ Dulac, Gerry. "Outdoor pro soccer team coming in 1999". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ↑ "Club Overview". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ↑ "2015 Standings". USL. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ↑ "Highmark Stadium". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ↑ "Coaching Staff". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ↑ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds-Stats". Soccerstats.us. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ↑ "Nor'easters form exciting developmental partnership with Pittsburgh Riverhounds of USL". Ocean City Nor'easters. June 14, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ↑ Kilpatrick, David (November 29, 2012). "A New Stadium in Pittsburgh". New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
- ↑ "A Perfect Pitch to Lure MLS". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ↑ Lindeman, Teresa. "Riverhounds scratch, claw for recognition". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ↑ Zeise, Paul (July 13, 2007). "Riverhounds kick up ante". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
- ↑ McLeod, Scott (August 10, 2007). "Blues Partner Riverhounds". EvertonFC.com. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
- ↑ "OFF-SEASON SPECULATION: 2015 KITS". Steel Army. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Riverhounds SC Unleashes New Era". United Soccer League. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ↑ "Riverhounds SC Unleashed New Era for Club". Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ↑ Camerato, Tim. "Pittsburgh Riverhounds Find Permanent Home with New Stadium". wesa.fm. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Steel Army". Steel Army. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ↑ Krysinky, John. "VINCENT HAT TRICK HELPS HOUNDS END THREE-GAME SKID". Pittsburgh Soccer Report. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ↑ Dykhoff, Johan. "Intervju med Dan Yost, styrelsemedlem i Pittsburgh Riverhounds-supporterklubben Steel Army" (in Swedish). www.svenskafans.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ↑ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds roster". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Pittsburgh Riverhounds Media Guide". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- 1 2 Poole, Eric. "Leashed 'Hounds-Riverhounds Look To Better Performance On And Off Field". Pittsburgh Sports Report. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- 1 2 3 "USL Attendance Archive". USLFans.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Attendance Project: Div. III". kenn.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ↑ "USL Second Division 2008: Pittsburgh back, Real Maryland joins". Soccer America. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ↑ "2014 Team Stats". USL. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ↑ "2017 USL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ↑ "Technical Staff". Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Retrieved 17 February 2018.