Akron City FC
Full nameAkron City FC
Founded2021 (2021)
StadiumGreen Street Stadium
St. Vincent–St. Mary High School
Akron, Ohio
OwnerNick Turchan, Craig Lyndall, John Phillips, Justin Carson, Aaron Cornell, SCVFA LLC, Mike Turchan, Jason Fisher
Head CoachVacant
LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
WebsiteClub website

Akron City FC is an American soccer club based in Akron, Ohio, United States.

Founded in 2021, the men's team plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national semi-pro league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Conference of the Midwest Region.[1] The team plays its home games at Green Street Stadium on the campus of St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron.[2] The team's colors are sky blue, red and white.

History

Founding and inaugural season

Akron City FC joined the NPSL as an expansion franchise in 2021 and took part in its first competitive season in 2022. On September 16, 2021, Kia Zolgharnain was named as the technical director and was responsible for player acquisition for the new team.[1] Akron City played their first NPSL game on May 14, 2022. In front of 1,051 fans, the team secured a 2–1 victory over Pittsburgh Hotspurs.[3]

The team would not win again until its final game on July 15, 2022 against the Erie Commodores. Kia stepped down as head coach after three games due to medical reasons and assistant coach Jay Stepp assumed head coaching duties for the reaming of the season. Cedric Tschami was elevated to top assistant. Despite the team's final record, four of their losses were by one goal and they played to four draws. One of those draws was against eventual Rust Belt champion and Midwest Region finalist Cleveland SC, avenging their two worst losses of the season. In that game, Akron City FC scored early and held a 1-0 lead for over 70 minutes before conceding the equalizer in the 86th minute.

Despite the results on the field, the 2022 season was a great building block for the future. The team drew over 1,000 fans twice and averaged 625 fans for the season, well above league averages. The team secured 19 sponsorships, proving the business community was on board with the cities newest sports asset.

Kit manufacturers

  • 2022–: UN1TUS
  • 2023–: UN1TUS

Shirt sponsors

  • 2022–: Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Springside Athletic Club, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Circle K
  • 2023–: Sgt. Clean Car Wash, TL Worldwide Transportation, Circle K, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Hoppin' Frog Brewery

Players and staff

Current & Historical Rosters

"2023 Roster"

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 - GK United States USA Cam Victor
2 - D United States USA Chris Philibin
3 - D United States USA Ryan Kolonick
4 - MF United States USA Daniel Baumgartner
5 - D United States USA Steven Samuelson
6 - MF United States USA Sam Tojaga
7 - MF England ENG Samuel George
8 - MF United States USA Josef Paulus
10 - MF South Korea KOR Guywon Chong
11 - D United States USA Will Jackson
12 - MF United States USA Mason Landis
14 - D United States USA Adam Lubell
15 - MF Brazil BRA Luan Tufani
16 - MF United States USA RC Schmeider
17 - FW United States USA Jacob Roberto
18 - FW United States USA Jaden Wright
19 - FW United States USA Dyson Clapier
20 - D United States USA Levi Stephens
21 - MF United States USA Nathan Childress
23 - MF United States USA Colin Biros
24 - FW United States USA Brenden Swann
34 - GK United States USA Thomas Leipold
35 - GK United States USA Nick Bertolini

2022 Inaugural Season Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 - GK United States USA Cam Victor
2 - D England ENG William Portman
3 - D United States USA Ryan Kolonick
6 - MF United States USA Omar Najjar
7 - MF England ENG Samuel George
8 - MF United States USA Conor Lee
10 - MF Croatia CRO Renato Kauzlaric
11 - MF United States USA Jack Jenkins
12 - D Panama PAN Omar Murillo
13 - D Australia AUS Neil Gillies
14 - D Brazil BRA Luan Tufani
15 - MF United States USA Parker Boyce
17 - MF United States USA Jordan Seaman
18 - FW United States USA Jaden Wright
19 - FW Zambia ZAM Chewe Mukuka
20 - MF United States USA Levi Stephens
21 - MF United States USA Josh Davis
22 - MF United States USA Brent Nanchoff

Current & Historical Standings

NPSL Rust Belt Conference- 2022 Season

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Cleveland SC 12 8 3 1 33 14 +19 25 Midwest Region Quarterfinals
2 Pittsburgh Hotspurs 12 8 4 0 24 15 +9 24
3 Akron City FC 12 2 6 4 10 23 13 10
4 FC Buffalo 12 5 6 1 15 20 5 16
5 Erie Commodores 12 3 7 2 13 23 10 11
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head to head; 3) goal differential in head-to-head results; 4) wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) fewest losses; 7) coin toss. If three or more teams are tied on points, a mini-table involving only the tied teams is used, and teams are ranked in the mini-table on points. If two teams are tied on points in the mini-table, the two-team rules for classification apply. If three or more teams are tied on points in the mini-table, they are ranked based on 1) wins in conference competition; 2) total goal differential in conference competition; 3) fewest losses in conference competition; 4) coin toss.

Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season W-L-D Playoffs Open Cup
2022 4 NPSL 5th Place 2–6–4 did not qualify did not enter
Total 2–6–4 0–0

Managerial history

Coach Years League W-L-D Playoffs
Kia Zolgharnain/Jay Stepp 2022–2022 2–6–4 0-0-0
Total

Stadium

References

  1. 1 2 "Akron City FC Joins the NPSL for the 2022 Season". akroncityfc.com. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  2. "Akron City FC @ Green Street Stadium at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School". npsl.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  3. "HISTORIC NIGHT FOR NPSL SOCCER IN AKRON, OHIO ENDS WITH A 2-1 WIN FOR AKRON CITY FC". npsl.com. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
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