Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Full namePittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer Club
Nickname(s)The Hounds[1]
Founded1999 (1999)[2][3]
StadiumHighmark Stadium
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[4]
Capacity5,000[4]
OwnerTuffy Shallenberger[5]
Head coachBob Lilley
LeagueUSL Championship[6]
20231st, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals
WebsiteClub website

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded and beginning play in 1999,[7][8] the club plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, 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;[14] but have never submitted a formal bid during any of the league's rounds of expansion.[15] Highmark Stadium initially seated 3,500 spectators, though the stadium is designed to be capable of being expanded to 18,500.[16][17]

History

Colors and badge

Originally, the Riverhounds' colors were predominantly red with smaller amounts of black and white. Pittsburgh-based BD&E designed the original logo. The firm made a strategic decision not to 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.[18] 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.[19][20] 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.[21]

On February 16, 2018, the Riverhounds unveiled a new crest as part of its rebranding.[22] 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.[23]

Sponsorship

Very early Riverhounds kit by Umbro (left) and 2013/2014 secondary kit by Nike (right)
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
1999–2000 Umbro —
2001–2004 Adidas
2005–2006 Select Toyota
2008–2010 ACES, Inc.
2011–2012 Umbro #1 Cochran
2013–2014 Nike[24]
2015–2017 AHN
2018–2021 Adidas[25]
2022–present AHN (home)
84 Lumber[26] (away)

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.[29]

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 in supporting the efforts of growing the sport of soccer in Western Pennsylvania as well.[30]

Members are from Pittsburgh and nearby states like Ohio and distant states such as Oregon and Florida. Membership in the Steel Army is also international. Members have joined from Portsmouth, Sunderland, Surrey and Derbyshire in the U.K., Bray in the Republic of Ireland, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.[30]

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.[31] The Steel Army had fierce rivalries with United Soccer League clubs Penn FC (Sons of Susquehanna) and the Rochester Rhinos (Oak Street Brigade) before both clubs moved to USL League One.[30][32]

Players and staff

Current roster

As of December 13, 2023[33]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 MF United States USA Danny Griffin
3 DF United States USA Patrick Hogan
4 DF Colombia COL Dani Rovira
7 FW United States USA Langston Blackstock
8 MF Republic of the Congo CGO Junior Etou
10 MF Liberia LBR DZ Harmon
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 MF Jamaica JAM Kenardo Forbes
12 DF United States USA Michael DeShields
14 MF United States USA Robbie Mertz
19 FW Uganda UGA Edward Kizza
28 DF Ghana GHA Illal Osumanu
  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract
    2.

Team management

Front Office
Owner Terrance "Tuffy" Shallenberger
President Jeff Garner
Coaching Staff
Head coach Bob Lilley
Assistant coach Rob Vincent
Goalkeeping coach Jon Busch
Riverhounds Development Academy
Academy director Scott Gibson
Academy East director James Meara
Director of goalkeeping Hunter Gilstrap
Director of coaching, East Sterling Flunder
RDA coaches Greg Annan
Nikola Katic
Kevin Kerr
Dave Nicholas
Stephen Okai
RDA East coaches Ryan Bradley
Denny Marzano
Brad Smith

Last updated: October 4, 2019
Source:

Honors

Record

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Riverhounds. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC seasons.

Season League Position Playoffs USOC Continental Average attendance Top goalscorer(s)
Div League Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts PPG Conf. Overall Name Goals
2019[34] 2 USLC 34 19 4 11 58 30 +28 68 2.00 1st 2nd QF R4 DNQ
3,729[35]
 Jamaica Neco Brett 14
2020[34] USLC 16 11 4 1 39 10 +29 34 2.13 3rd 5th R1 NH N/A Ghana Ropapa Mensah 6
2021 USLC 32 17 8 7 52 34 +18 58 1.63 5th 7th R1 NH 3,132 United States Russell Cicerone 16
2022 USLC 34 16 9 9 50 38 +12 57 1.32 5th 7th QF R3 3,934 United States Russell Cicerone 13
2023 USLC 34 19 5 10 50 29 +21 67 1.47 1st 1st QF QF 5,077 Cameroon Albert Dikwa 20 ♦

^ 1. Avg. attendance include statistics from league matches only.
^ 2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league, league playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hounds Look To Bounce Back vs. Wilmington". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ "awarded a Professional A-League Soccer Franchise". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on May 29, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Cup Clash Brings D.C.'s Kasper Home To Face Hounds". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Stadium". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ "New owner already looking ahead to 2014 season". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  6. ↑ "USL Profile". United Soccer League. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ Dulac, Gerry. "Outdoor pro soccer team coming in 1999". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Club Overview". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ "2015 Standings". USL. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Highmark Stadium". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Coaching Staff". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds-Stats". Soccerstats.us. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Nor'easters form exciting developmental partnership with Pittsburgh Riverhounds of USL". Ocean City Nor'easters. June 14, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  14. ↑ Ryan, Megan (July 4, 2015). "Riverhounds still have 'ways to go' before making MLS leap". post-gazette.com. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  15. ↑ Kriger, Rachael (May 1, 2017). "Does the MLS have a chance in Pittsburgh?". caltimes.org. California University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  16. ↑ Kilpatrick, David (November 29, 2012). "A New Stadium in Pittsburgh". New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  17. ↑ "A Perfect Pitch to Lure MLS". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  18. ↑ Lindeman, Teresa. "Riverhounds scratch, claw for recognition". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  19. ↑ Zeise, Paul (July 13, 2007). "Riverhounds kick up ante". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  20. ↑ McLeod, Scott (August 10, 2007). "Blues Partner Riverhounds". EvertonFC.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  21. ↑ "OFF-SEASON SPECULATION: 2015 KITS". Steel Army. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Riverhounds SC Unleashes New Era". United Soccer League. February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Riverhounds SC Unleashed New Era for Club". Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Nike Extends Sponsorship Agreement With Pittsburgh Riverhounds". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Hounds Announce Partnership with Adidas". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Show".
  27. ↑ "RIVERHOUNDS UNVEIL NEW UNIFORMS". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on May 29, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  28. ↑ Van Kirk, Celeste (May 7, 2006). "2006 Photo". Flickr. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  29. ↑ Camerato, Tim (April 12, 2013). "Pittsburgh Riverhounds Find Permanent Home with New Stadium". wesa.fm. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 "Steel Army". Steel Army. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  31. ↑ Krysinky, John. "VINCENT HAT TRICK HELPS HOUNDS END THREE-GAME SKID". Pittsburgh Soccer Report. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  32. ↑ Dykhoff, Johan. "Intervju med Dan Yost, styrelsemedlem i Pittsburgh Riverhounds-supporterklubben Steel Army" (in Swedish). www.svenskafans.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC roster". Riverhounds.com. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  34. 1 2 "Pittsburgh Riverhounds Media Guide". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  35. ↑ "2019 USL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest.
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