Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Roots Sports Club is an American sports club based in Oakland, California who began play as a men's professional soccer team. The club was formed in 2018 by a group of Oakland natives and began play in the National Independent Soccer Association in the fall of 2019.
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Full name | Oakland Roots Sports Club | ||
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Founded | 2018 | ||
Ground | Laney College | ||
Capacity | 5,500 | ||
Chairman | Steven Aldrich | ||
Head coach | Jordan Ferrell | ||
League | National Independent Soccer Association | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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History
The club was formed in July 2018 when it was announced the club would be known as Oakland Roots Sports Club.[1] The club originally was slated to play in the NPSL Founders Cup, but the club ultimately withdrew and instead joined the National Independent Soccer Association a division 3 sanctioned United States Soccer Federation Professional League.[2][3]
Oakland Roots began by signing 3 Oakland raised players in the Spring of 2019 in Devante Dubose, Julio Cervantes and Yohannes Harish.[4][5] This was followed by the signing of a few higher profile players as the club built out its inaugural rosters. Those players included former MLS and Liga MX player Benji Joya, former Honduran World Cup veteran Victor Bernardez and former 1st round MLS Draft Pick Jack McInerney.[6][7][8]
The Club announced its first ever head coach on May 9, 2019 when they signed Bay Area native, former MLS Player and Colorado Rapids Technical Director Paul Bravo.[9]
2019
The club opened up the inaugural 2019–20 NISA season as the league’s first ever game, at home in front of a sold out crowd of more than 4,500. Jack McInerney would score a first half perfect hat trick in a match that would eventually end up in a 3-3 draw.[10]
Oakland Roots played 8 games in their inaugural season 6 in NISA and 2 friendlies vs Mexican opposition, FC Juarez and Club Atlético Zacatepec. The club picked up their first ever win at home vs Ascenso MX Club, Atlético Zacatepec by a score of 2-0.[11]
Oakland Roots sold out all 4 home games of the 2019 fall season averaging 4,927 fans including a record 5,723 in their final home game of 2019 a 1-1 draw vs Los Angeles Force.[12]
On October 31, 2019 Oakland Roots and Paul Bravo mutually agreed to part ways.[13] On December 3, 2019 Oakland Roots announced Jordan Ferrell as the club's new Head Coach.[14]
2020
The Roots opened their second season at home once again in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,603. The match against Chattanooga FC would end in a 1-1 draw when Jack McInerney scored in the 93rd minute of the match after the Roots were forced to play down a man from a first-half Red Card.[15] The Roots followed this up by winning their first-ever NISA League match the following weekend vs Michigan Stars FC 2-1.[16]
On April 27, 2020, following a stoppage of play and subsequent extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NISA announced the cancellation of the 2020 Spring season.[17][18]
Year-by-year
Season | League | Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | Pts. | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Top goalscorer | Manager | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | League | ||||||||||||||
2019–20 | NISA | Fall - West Coast[lower-alpha 1] | 4th | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 3 | Did not qualify | Second Round | ![]() |
8 | ![]() Paul Bravo |
Spring[lower-alpha 2] | 1st | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | Cancelled | ![]() Jordan Ferrell | |||||
- The Fall 2019 NISA season had eight teams split into two separate conferences, East Coast and West Coast
- Spring season cancelled before completion
Stadium
Roots home matches are played at Laney College Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium located near Lake Merritt where East and West Oakland meet. For Roots games the pitch is widened using a modular turf system. The Stadium has room for 3,500 seated and up to 5,500+ with standing room.[19]
Average attendance
Year | Reg. Season |
---|---|
2019 Fall | 4,927 |
2020 Spring | 5,193 |
Club culture
The Oakland Roots have been featured regularly in pop culture in their short history. Oakland Roots merchandise has been featured in two G-Eazy Video’s “West Coast” and "Bang".[20][21] The Roots Origins shirt then appeared in Zion I "Flame Go" Video a few months later.[22] As well Oakland Basketball legend Damian Lillard wore Oakland Roots merchandise before an NBA game in the 2019 playoffs.[23] Roots merchandise additionally was featured in FourFourTwo magazine in the April and August additions of 2019.[24] The Club was also treated to a special performance by Oakland Hip Hop Legend Mistah F.A.B before their final home game of 2019.[25] Oakland Roots were featured on Men in Blazers on November 25, 2019 when Roger Bennett wore the Roots Jersey on the show.[26] Then that night Kevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors wore a Roots t-shirt on the bench during a regular season NBA game.[27] Roots merch featured in Kehlani's video "All me" on February 13, 2020.[28] Underground rappers Murs and The Grouch performed prior to the team's March 7, 2020 match against Michigan Stars FC.[29]
The club works closely with the Oakland Community and points to this as the reason they exist.[30] The Clubs two Mottos are “Oakland First, Always” and “Know Your Roots” [31]
Supporters
The Supporters Group is known as the “Roots Radicals” in reference to a song by 90’s East Bay Punk Rock band Rancid.[32]
Project 51O
Oakland Roots added a reserve team on December 9, 2019 to be called "Project 51O". The reserve team will compete in the National Premier Soccer League.[33]
Players and staff
Current roster
- As of March 5, 2020[34]
Technical staff
- Jordan Ferrell, Head Coach
- Dario Pot, Assistant Coach
- Kris Hall, Goalkeeping Coach
- Yuta Tanaka, Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Giuseppe DePalo, General Manager
- Eric Yamamoto, VP of Soccer
Individual records
Managerial records
- As of match played 7 March 2020
Name | Nat. | From | To | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | %W | Honours | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paul Bravo | ![]() |
9 May 2019[35] | 31 October 2019[36] | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 0.00 | ||
Jordan Ferrell | ![]() |
3 December 2019[37] | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 50.00 | |||
References
- "Bay Area Soccer Roundup: 'Oakland Roots' announced, USL East Bay heads to Concord, Street Soccer USA Cup in SF, Quakes play 2 this week". blog.sfgate.com. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- "NPSL FOUNDERS CUP MEMBERS ANNOUNCE DATES FOR 2019 EVENT". National Premier Soccer League. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- "Oakland Roots Statement: League and Membership". Oakland Roots SC. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (19 February 2019). "Oakland sticks to its Roots with first signing, Devante Dubose". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (18 March 2019). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots announce players, Quakes lose, UPSL, NPSL results". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (25 April 2019). ""I am ready for this." Former U.S. U-20 captain Benji Joya joins Oakland Roots". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "Oakland Roots Sign World Cup Veteran Víctor Bernárdez". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (24 July 2019). "Ex-MLS star Jack McInerney joins Oakland Roots". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Woitalla, Mike. "Paul Bravo takes Oakland Roots' helm to complete Bay Area homecoming". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (1 September 2019). "Oakland Roots tie first ever game 3-3". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (14 October 2019). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots win first ever game, College, UPSL roundup". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (20 October 2019). "Oakland Roots earn draw in front of another sell out crowd". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "Oakland Roots and Paul Bravo Mutually Agree to Part Ways". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "Jordan Ferrell Named Head Coach for Oakland Roots S.C." Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (1 March 2020). "Late strike earns Oakland Roots point in season opener". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (8 March 2020). "Oakland Roots win first NISA league match". SF Gate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "NISA OFFICIAL UPDATE". nisaofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (27 April 2020). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots, SF City and SF Glens seasons canceled". SFGate.
- https://blog.sfgate.com/soccer/2019/10/20/oakland-roots-earn-draw-in-front-of-another-sell-out-crowd/. Missing or empty
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- https://www.facebook.com/oaklandroots/videos/632547380930494/?v=632547380930494
- https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/oakland-roots-draw-big-crowds-show-town-pride/Content?oid=27545466. Missing or empty
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(help) - "2020 Squad". Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- "Oakland Roots Sign Bay Area Soccer Legend Paul Bravo as First Head Coach". www.oaklandrootssc.com. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- "Oakland Roots and Paul Bravo Mutually Agree to Part Ways" – Oakland Roots SC, December 30, 2019
- "Jordan Ferrell Named Head Coach for Oakland Roots S.C." www.oaklandrootssc.com. Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 30 December 2019.