FC Buffalo
Full nameFC Buffalo
Nickname(s)Blitzers, Wolves, Buffalonians
Founded2009 (2009)
StadiumWilliamsville South High School
Buffalo, New York
OwnerNick Mendola
Head CoachDan Panaro[1]
LeagueUSL League Two
20236th, Valley Division
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

FC Buffalo is an American soccer club based in Buffalo, New York, United States, with teams in men's and women's soccer.

Founded in 2009, the men's team plays in the USL League Two, a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Midwest Division. In 2021, club owner Nicholas Mendola announced the launch of a women's soccer team, which started play in United Women's Soccer in May and went on to win consecutive division titles.

The team plays its home games at Williamsville South High School. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.

FC Buffalo participates in the Erie County Derby against Erie Commodores FC, a regional NPSL rivalry featuring two clubs in different states but counties of the same name. FC Buffalo also participates in the Western New York Derby against Rochester Lancers and the I-90 Derby against Syracuse FC.

History

Founding and inaugural season

FC Buffalo joined the NPSL as an expansion franchise in 2009 and took part in its first competitive season in 2010. While not a continuation of either franchise, FC Buffalo follows in the footsteps of two other recent Buffalo-based teams that competed in the NPSL: Queen City FC and Buffalo City FC. The team is owned by a group of five Buffalonians: Joshua Batten, Scott Frauenhofer, Donny Kutzbach, Nick Mendola and Ray Siminski.

The club had a contest for fans to submit a nickname and after much debate and thousands of votes cast, "Blitzers" was chosen. The vote was aided by Buffalo native and CNN broadcaster Wolf Blitzer airing an interview with owners Nick Mendola and Scott Frauenhofer discussing the contest.

ESPN correspondent Vincent Thomas commented: "Although the 'Blitzers' nickname has ended up being a pretty deft marketing move, it's more legit than a ploy. The term blitz comes from the German word for lightning, which is all over the team's logo and the city's municipal flag. And, of course, there's a mutual fondness between Blitzer and his hometown."[2]

The Blitzers finished their opening campaign with six wins, two draws and four losses. They were the only team to defeat the Keystone Conference champion FC Sonic.

Subsequent seasons

On Dec 8, 2010, the Blitzers announced they had parted ways with head coach Jim Hesch. Ten days later, they announced via their web site that they had inked Daniel Krzyzanowicz to coach the club into the future. Krzyzanowicz helmed a Medaille College program that has made the NCAA tournament five times and reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2010.

The 2011 season was up-and-down, with the Blitzers winning five, drawing one and losing six. During the season the Blitzers took on the Bedlington Terriers F.C. in a friendly match at All High Stadium in the inaugural Bedlington Cup. Due to the connection of Robert E. Rich Jr. to Buffalo, NY and Bedlington, England. The friendly was arranged and the Terriers traveled to Buffalo for the match. The Blitzers won 5–1 in front of a sell out crowd.[3] The match was filmed and later made into a BBC documentary called Mr Rich and The Terriers[4]

The team's mascot Wolf Blitzer was unveiled at the Winter Wolves fund raiser. 2012 Season tickets were sold at the event. The unique feature of the 2012 season ticket is that it consists of a special season ticket holder's scarf that will function as admission to the season's home matches.[5][6]

FC Buffalo saw its first player drafted into Major League Soccer on January 17, 2012 when midfielder Krystian Witkowski was claimed in the second round of the supplemental draft by the Philadelphia Union.[7] The team then saw a player drafted into Major League Soccer for the second-consecutive year, as second-leading scorer Mike Reidy was selected 71st overall in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft by Sporting KC.

On November 20, 2012, FC Buffalo signed its third head coach, Brendan Murphy. The Buffalo native was a national champion as a player at St. Lawrence University.[8] He led the team to a playoff spot in his first season, where they lost 5-2 to rivals Erie.

MLS called again in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, when Liam Callahan went 24th overall to the Colorado Rapids and Russell Cicerone was selected by the Portland Timbers with the 76th pick. Weeks later, head coach Brendan Murphy was hired as goalkeeping coach by the Rochester Rhinos, and FC Buffalo hired University at Buffalo alum and Grand Island High School coach Frank Butcher as manager, tabbing former players John Grabowski and Casey Derkacz as assistants.

Butcher was the fastest coach to 10 wins in club history, and led the team to Germany for the 2019 preseason. The club played three matches including one against FC St. Pauli II, and also welcomed the Liga MX reserva side Monarcas Morelia and FC St. Pauli's first team for international friendlies.

The club elevated Butcher into an administrative position in 2021, hiring Ryan "Ozzy" Osborne as first team men's coach. Osborne won the Great Lakes Conference with Cleveland SC.

On May 9, 2022, the team announced that they would play their home games for the 2022 season at Dobson Field on the campus of D'Youville University while All-High Stadium is renovated.[9]

Kit

The team take inspiration for their colors, royal blue and yellow gold, from the classic Buffalo Sabres uniforms. The badge features a crest with a soccer ball inside a circle of electric flashes under the team name and founding year. The logo is reminiscent of the municipal flag of Buffalo, NY. In 2015, the team returned to a Nike manufactured shirt and introduced three sets of uniforms. One all blue, one all yellow, and one all white. The kits can be mixed and matched on game day to create multiple unique and colorful looks.

The front jersey sponsor is Rich Products, a multinational food production corporation headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Rich's also owns and sponsors the local Triple-A International League baseball team, the Buffalo Bisons. Més Que, Buffalo's premier downtown soccer bar, and Batavia Downs Gaming & Casino are the two other shirt sponsors.

Kit manufacturers

Shirt sponsors

  • 2010: Papa Jake's Saloon
  • 2011–2016: Rich Products
  • 2017: Lif Dental
  • 2018: Soho Buffalo / Frankie Primo's +39
  • 2019–2021: Hofbrauhaus Buffalo
  • 2022–present: Community Beerworks

Players and staff

Current roster

As of May 3, 2022

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 Bryce Tramuta
2 DF United States USA Colin O'Keefe
3 DF England ENG Joe Linley
6 DF England ENG Jed Smith
7 MF Portugal POR Jordan Araujo
8 MF Northern Ireland NIR Eamon McLaughlin
9 FW Jamaica JAM Nevado Elliott
10 MF Liberia LBR Nuukele Gboe
11 MF Spain ESP Sergio Fernandez-Arango
12 DF United States USA Zach Drayer
14 FW Portugal POR Rodrigo Almeida
18 MF United States USA Max Kwitchoff
20 MF United States USA Derek Bartlo
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF Canada CAN Jordan Acevedo
23 FW Spain ESP Ander Castillo
24 FW United States USA Hunter Walsh
28 DF United States USA Chris Walter
33 GK United States USA Jack Petrie
39 GK United States USA Andreas Queen
99 FW Canada CAN Umechi Akuazaoku
- MF United States USA Justin Bonetto
- DF United States USA Trey Buscaglia
- MF United States USA Sky Charley-Bolyard
- DF United States USA Elijah Garriss
- DF New Zealand NZL Erik Panzer
- MF United States USA Josh Kam
- MF England ENG Rashaad Ogun

Current Standings

Rust Belt Conference

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Cleveland SC (C) 12 8 3 1 33 14 +19 25 Midwest Region Quarterfinals
2 Pittsburgh Hotspurs 12 8 4 0 24 15 +9 24
3 FC Buffalo 12 5 6 1 15 20 −5 16
4 Erie Commodores 12 3 7 2 13 23 −10 11
5 Akron City FC 12 2 6 4 10 23 −13 10
Source: NPSL
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.
(C) Champions

2021 NISA Independent Cup — Great Lakes

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Detroit City FC (C) 3 3 0 0 17 2 +15 9
2 FC Buffalo 3 2 0 1 11 3 +8 6
3 Cleveland SC 3 0 1 2 3 13 −10 1
4 Livonia City FC 3 0 1 2 2 15 −13 1
Source: nisaofficial.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals for; 4) head-to-head
(C) Champions

Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season W-L-D Playoffs Open Cup
2010 4 NPSL 3rd, Keystone 6–4–2 did not qualify did not enter
2011 4 NPSL 5th, Keystone 5–6–1 did not qualify Lost qual. playoff
2012 4 NPSL 5th, Midwest-Great Lakes 1–7–4 did not qualify did not enter
2013 4 NPSL 2nd, Midwest-Great Lakes 8–5–0 Conference Semi-Finals did not qualify
2014 4 NPSL 4th, Midwest-Great Lakes East 5–8–1 did not qualify did not qualify
2015 4 NPSL 5th, Midwest-Great Lakes East 6–2–4 did not qualify did not qualify
2016 4 NPSL 3rd, Midwest-Great Lakes East 5–3–2 did not qualify did not qualify
2017 4 NPSL 5th, Midwest-East 5–4–3 did not qualify did not qualify
2018 4 NPSL 4th, Midwest-East 6–4–2 did not qualify did not enter
2019 4 NPSL 4th, Midwest-East 4–4–2 did not qualify did not enter
2021 4 NPSL 3rd, Midwest-Rust Belt 4–4–2 did not qualify did not enter
2022 4 NPSL 3rd, Midwest-Rust Belt 5-6-2 did not qualify did not enter
2023 4 USL2 6th, Valley 1-7-3 did not qualify did not qualify'
Total 61-64-28 0–1

Tournaments

Year Tournament League Regular Season W-L-D
2020 2020 NISA Independent Cup NISA 3rd 0-0-2
2021 2021 NISA Independent Cup NISA 2nd 2-1-0

Managerial history

Coach Years League W-L-D Playoffs
Jim Hesch 2010 6–4–2 DNQ
Dan Krzyzanowicz 2011–2012 6–13–5 DNQ
Brendan Murphy 2013–2016 24–18–7 0–1
Frank Butcher 2017–2021 19–16–9 DNQ
Ryan "Ozzy" Osborne 2022 1-2-1 DNQ
Dan Panaro 2022- 4-4-0 DNQ
Total 60–55–24

Honors

  • Erie County Derby Champions: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021

International friendly

  • Lord Bedlington Cup
    • Winners (1): 2011

In inaugural competition, defeated Bedlington Terriers F.C. of England's Northern League, 5 – 1 [10]

Rivalries

  • Supporters of FC Buffalo, Detroit City and AFC Cleveland formed the Rust Belt Derby modeled after the Cascadia Cup. The winner of the Derby is based on the head-to-head record of the Midwestern Conference clubs during regular season NPSL matches.[11] Cleveland won the inaugural Rust Belt Derby on June 23, 2012 following a 1–1 draw with Detroit.[12]
  • FC Buffalo claim as their top rival Erie and the sides compete in the EC (Erie County) Derby. To Date FC Buffalo have five wins, eight losses and three ties against Erie and is unbeaten in its last six.[13]

Stadium

Fans

  • FC Buffalo's supporters group is known as "The Situation Room"; named after Wolf Blitzer's CNN news program. Their goal is to create an atmosphere that is the loudest and most inclusive of any fan base in the City of Buffalo.

Affiliated teams

References

  1. ↑ "FC Buffalo hires new manager". May 30, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Buffalo soccer team to be named after Wolf Blitzer". ESPN.
  3. ↑ http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article472847.ece%7CFC Buffalo tops Bedlington in a friendly soccer match
  4. ↑ "Mr Rich and the Terriers". BBC One. BBC. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  5. ↑ http://home.buffalo.com/sports/gallery/fc-buffalos-winters-wolves-at-town-ballroom/%7CFC Buffalo’s Winter’s Wolves at Town Ballroom
  6. ↑ http://www.fcbuffalo.org/uncategorized/2012-scarves-hit-streets-weekend/%7C2012 Season Ticket Scarf NOW Available For Online Order
  7. ↑ Di Veronica, Jeff (January 17, 2012). "Aquinas' Krystian Witkowski drafted by Philly-MLS". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ "MURPHY NAMED HEAD COACH AT FC BUFFALO". National Premier Soccer League. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  9. ↑ "FC Buffalo + CBW + Dobson Field = Winning Combo". fcbuffalo.org. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  10. ↑ http://www.jaredmobarak.com/2011/06/29/photography-bedlington-cup/
  11. ↑ "The Rust Belt Derby by Daniel Casey - SoccerNewsday.com". Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  12. ↑ "The Rust Belt Derby". Soccer News Day. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Seven Minutes from Heaven". FC Buffalo. June 23, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
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