Erie Commodores FC

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.

Erie Commodores FC
Full nameErie Commodores Football Club
Nickname(s)Erie Commodores, Commodores, ECFC
Founded2009 (2009)
StadiumMcConnell Family Stadium
Erie, Pennsylvania
Capacity2,500[1]
OwnerJohn Melody, Pedro Argaez
Head CoachDale White
LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
WebsiteClub website

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 July 13, 2019
No. Position Player Nation
2 Defender Ashley Phillips  England
3 Defender Joseph Bell  Scotland
4 Goalkeeper Alexander Brems  Denmark
5 Midfielder Owen Connelly  Scotland
6 Midfielder Srdjan Dujkovic  Germany
7 Forward Matthew Dziadosz  United States
8 Midfielder Curtis Strolley  Australia
9 Forward Palle Finn Jespersen  Germany
10 Midfielder Mako Makoanyane  Lesotho
11 Midfielder Gabriel Peres  Brazil
14 Midfielder Jesus Morinigo  Paraguay
15 Midfielder Evan Beutler  United States
17 Defender Rhys Wallace  Scotland
19 Midfielder Austin Solomon  Honduras
20 Goalkeeper Chris Ralph  United States
21 Defender Andy Bennett  England
22 Defender George Stannard  England
23 Defender Rodrigo Paredes Acosta  Paraguay
24 Forward Kieran Paterson  New Zealand
25 Defender Ivo Mendoza  Paraguay
27 Midfielder Jorge Fitzmaurice Torres  Mexico
29 Forward Mathias Krigbaum  Denmark
30 Forward Youssef Mourchid  France

Year-by-year
Year Tier League Regular Season Record Playoffs
2009 4 NPSL 1st of 6, Eastern Keystone 9 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie National Final
2010 4 NPSL 2nd of 7, Northeast-Keystone 10 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties Did not qualify
2011 4 NPSL 1st of 8, Northeast-Keystone 10 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie National Semifinals
2012 4 NPSL 1st of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes 6 wins, 1 loss, 5 ties Division Final
2013 4 NPSL 3rd of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes 6 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties National Semifinals
2014 4 NPSL 2nd of 4, Midwest-Great Lakes East 6 wins, 6 losses, 2 ties Did not qualify
2015 4 NPSL 7th of 13, Midwest 5 wins, 7 losses, 0 ties Did not qualify
2016 4 NPSL 5th of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes East 2 wins, 4 losses, 4 ties Did not qualify
2017 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest-East 6 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties Regional first round
2018 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest-East 8 wins, 1 loss, 3 ties Regional first round
2019 4 NPSL 3rd of 6, Midwest-East 4 wins, 2 losses, 4 ties Did not qualify

Honors
  • NPSL National runners-up: 2009
  • NPSL National semifinalist, 3rd Place winner: 2011
  • NPSL Northeast Region champions: 2009, 2011
  • NPSL Midwest Region-East Conference champions: 2017 2018
  • NPSL Midwest-Great Lakes Division champions: 2012
  • NPSL Northeast-Keystone Division champions: 2011
  • NPSL Eastern Keystone Division champions: 2009
  • Erie County Derby Champions (vs FC Buffalo): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018

Staff

Owner
  • John Melody (2010–present)
  • Pedro Argaez (2009–2010)

Head coach
  • Dan Howell (2015)
  • Micky Blythe (2014)
  • John Melody (2009–2013, 2016–present)[5]

Assistant coach
  • Neil Brown (2011–2014)
  • 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. Archived from the original on 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
  3. About the Erie Commodores Football Club
  5. "Melody steps down as Admirals coach". Erie Times-News.
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