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Fort Wayne FC

Fort Wayne FC
Full nameFort Wayne Football Club
FoundedSeptember 9, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-09-09)
StadiumBishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Capacity3,500
Owners
List
Sporting directorMike Avery
CoachMike Avery
LeagueUSL League Two
Websitehttps://www.fortwaynefc.com

Fort Wayne Football Club is a professional soccer club based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Indiana, United States, founded in 2019. The club currently competes in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. Fort Wayne FC has gained significant attention since its inception, and in 2026 the club is moving to USL League One.

This transition to the third tier of American soccer will coincide with the opening of the club's new soccer-specific stadium, which will have a seating capacity of 9,280,[1] providing a state-of-the-art venue for fans and players alike. The team's move to USL1 is part of a broader vision to elevate soccer in the region, and to establish Fort Wayne FC as a central hub for the sport in the Midwest.

History

Fort Wayne FC was founded by a group of local business people who wanted to provide a stepping stone for young talented soccer players. In 2019, the club applied to and joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as an expansion team for the 2020 season.[2] In a public announcement on September 9, 2019, City of Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry introduced the club to the city and Fort Wayne FC's president Dr. Erik Magner introduced Greg Mauch as the club's general manager.[3][4][5] On December 19, 2019, the club announced Nick Potter and Russ Lawson as the club's assistant coaches.[6]

On January 29, 2020, the club introduced Jeff Richey as the goalkeeper coach.[7] Two weeks later, FWFC announced Mike Avery as the club's head coach.[7][8][9]

On March 26, 2020, the NPSL announced the cancellation of the 2020 summer session due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10][11][12]

On October 28, 2020, USL League Two announced its addition of Fort Wayne FC into their league for the 2021 and 2022 season. It was also announced that Fort Wayne native and former United States men's national soccer team and Major League Soccer (MLS) player DaMarcus Beasley would be a co-owner of the club.[13][14][15]

2021

Fort Wayne FC made its highly anticipated debut in 2021, marking a historic year for the club. On May 9, 2021, the team played their first-ever match, suffering a 3–0 loss to Oakland County FC. Despite the defeat, it was a momentous occasion for the club, as it officially entered the competitive soccer landscape. Just two weeks later, on May 23, 2021, Fort Wayne FC played their first-ever home match in front of a crowd of over 2,700 fans at Shields Field. Although the team lost 2–1 to Toledo Villa FC, forward Noe Garcia scored the club's first goal, making the event unforgettable for fans and players.

The club’s journey to success began shortly after, with their first-ever victory coming on May 23, 2021, in a 1–0 friendly win over Erie Commodores FC. Forward Max Amoako scored the historic goal, marking a significant milestone for the team. On June 11, 2021, Fort Wayne FC achieved another breakthrough, earning their first-ever USL League Two win with a 3–1 victory over Toledo Villa FC in their first away match. Goals from Pep Casas, Joe Kouadio, and Breno Boccoli sealed the victory, adding to the club’s growing momentum.

In late June, on June 25, 2021, the club hosted its first-ever international-friendly match, welcoming Chivas Guadalajara U19 Reservas to Fort Wayne. The event was a proud moment for the club, showcasing its international ambitions. On August 31, 2021, Fort Wayne FC made important changes to its leadership structure, with Head Coach Mike Avery signing a contract extension for 2022 and being appointed as the club's sporting director. Avery worked alongside part-owner DaMarcus Beasley, who played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the club. Finally, on September 22, 2021, the club announced Laurie Perolio-Bullinger would lead Club Operations, while DaMarcus Beasley would continue to guide Football Operations, further solidifying the foundation for Fort Wayne FC's growth in the years to come.

2022

In the 2022 season, Fort Wayne FC played 14 games, finishing with 9 wins, 2 ties, and 3 losses. The club demonstrated strong performances throughout the Valley Division, ultimately securing 3rd place. Despite some tough matches, the team showed resilience and competitiveness, positioning itself as a contender for future seasons. The experience gained in this inaugural season helped lay the foundation for the team’s growth and set the stage for even greater achievements in the following years.

2023

The 2023 season was a defining moment in Fort Wayne FC's young history. With 13 games played, the club finished with 10 wins, 2 ties, and only 1 loss, remaining unbeaten throughout the league and capturing the Valley Division Championship—their first-ever title. It was a historic achievement for the club, a dream realized after years of hard work, dedication, and growth. The joy of winning the division was tempered by a heartbreaking loss in the USL League Two Playoffs Conference Quarterfinals. In a dramatic match against the Flint City Bucks, Fort Wayne FC’s incredible 19-game unbeaten streak came to an end in overtime, with Lennard Fock’s goal in the 116th minute sealing their 3-2 defeat. Despite the loss, goalkeeper Aurie Briscoe’s incredible season earned him the USL League Two Golden Glove, a well-deserved recognition for his heroic performances in goal throughout the campaign.

2024

Fort Wayne FC continued to dominate in the 2024 season, once again finishing as champions of the Valley Division, securing 8 wins, 3 ties, and 3 losses across 14 games. The team’s strong form in the regular season allowed them to maintain their championship status for the second year in a row. In the USL League Two Playoffs, they advanced to the Conference Semifinals after a tense 0-0 draw against Midwest United FC in the Quarterfinals. The match was decided by a penalty kick shootout, where Fort Wayne FC triumphed 5-4 to move on. However, their postseason journey came to an end after a 2-1 loss to the Flint City Bucks, who proved to be a formidable opponent once again. Despite the defeat, the season was another step forward for the club as they continued to build on their success, showing resilience and hunger for the challenges ahead.

On October 14, Scott Sproat[16] was appointed Chief Operations Officer of Fort Wayne FC, bringing over 23 years of experience with the Fort Wayne Komets, where he served as President of Business Operations. Scott oversees operations in sales, marketing, ticketing, partnerships, promotions, and gameday activities, working alongside DaMarcus Beasley. Sproat also holds an ownership stake in the club.

2025

On February 26, 2025, Fort Wayne FC was announced as an expansion team in USL League One, the third division of the United States soccer league system, scheduled to begin play for the 2026 season; which is the same season that their new privately-funded 9,280-seat soccer specific stadium will open.[17]

Colors and badge

Fort Wayne FC’s official colors are Dark Blue (2768 U), Blue (279 U), Light Blue (657 U), White, Black, and Red.

These colors are used throughout the club’s branding and official materials.

Fort Wayne FC's 2021 home kit was white, away kit was blue, and the goalkeeper's kit was red. The three-wave lines on the club's uniform jersey sleeves, shorts and socks represent the three rivers, St. Mary's River, St. Joseph River and Maumee River, of Fort Wayne.[18] Symbols of the flag of Indiana, the flaming torch and its stars, can be found in front of the Fort Wayne FC uniform jersey.[19]

In 2022, Fort Wayne FC signed a multi-year agreement with global sports company, PUMA, as their official apparel partner.

The 2022 PUMA CUP branded home kit featured a bold design that incorporated a wavy design in royal blue and the away featured PUMA's Team Liga 25 red kit.


Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season (W–L–T) Playoffs Open Cup
2021 Great Lakes USL2 8th (1–7–5) did not qualify Ineligible
2022 Valley USL2 3rd (9–3–2) did not qualify Ineligible
2023 Valley USL2 Champions (10–0–2) Conference Quarterfinals did not qualify
2024 Valley USL2 Champions (8–2–2) Conference Semifinals did not qualify

Honors

Staff

Front Office

United States DaMarcus Beasley, Director of Football Operations [20]

United States Scott Sproat, Chief Operations Officer [21]

United States Garrett Martz, Director of Corporate Partnerships [22]

United States Justin Cohn, Director of Communications [23]

United States Patrick Ventura, Director of Ticketing [24]

Coaching Staff

United States Mike Avery, Head Coach

England Keelan Barker, Assistant Coach

United States Jeff Richey, Goalkeeper Coach

United States Eliana Sommer, Sports Performance Coach

United States Tyler Van Camp, Trainer

Support Staff

United States Rene Sanchez, Team Administrator

United States Zach Gladieux, Equipment Manager

References

  1. ^ https://www.fortwaynefc.com/newstadium/
  2. ^ "Fort Wayne FC Joins the NPSL for the 2020 Season". National Premier Soccer League. September 9, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "MAYOR HENRY WELCOMES FORT WAYNE FC; ANNOUNCES NEW SOCCER EXPANSION FOR 2020 SEASON - City of Fort Wayne". www.cityoffortwayne.org. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  4. ^ "Fort Wayne adds pro soccer team". WANE. September 9, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Burbrink, Jacob (September 9, 2019). "Professional soccer team coming to Fort Wayne". WPTA21. Retrieved May 11, 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Fort Wayne FC Welcomes Nick Potter and Russ Lawson as Assistant Coaches". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 11, 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ a b "Goalkeeper Coach: All About Jeff Richey". Fort Wayne FC. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "Ex-Valpo coach to lead local soccer club | Sports | Journal Gazette". www.journalgazette.net. February 15, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  9. ^ Cr, Kayla; all (February 14, 2020). "Fort Wayne FC names head coach, inaugural schedule". Fort Wayne's NBC. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "A Message from Kenneth Farrell, NPSL Chairman of the Board". National Premier Soccer League. March 26, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Soccer club sees season canceled | Professional | Journal Gazette". www.journalgazette.net. March 27, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Fort Wayne FC season canceled amid COVID-19 pandemic". WFFT News. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  13. ^ mlssoccer. "Former MLS and USMNT legend DaMarcus Beasley officially joins Fort Wayne FC ownership | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "Fort Wayne FC To Join USL League Two For 2021 Season". USL League Two. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "Club Joins USL League Two for 2021 With Plans for USL League One in 2023". Fort Wayne FC. October 28, 2020. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  16. ^ https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/2024/10/14/local-sports-industry-exec-scott-sproat-joins-fort-wayne-fc-as-chief-operations-officer/
  17. ^ "Fort Wayne FC moving to pro ranks in 2026". Fort Wayne FC. February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  18. ^ "Fort Wayne FC Crest Explained". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  19. ^ "Fort Wayne FC Uniforms Explained". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  20. ^ https://www.fortwaynefc.com/staff/
  21. ^ https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/2024/10/14/local-sports-industry-exec-scott-sproat-joins-fort-wayne-fc-as-chief-operations-officer/
  22. ^ https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/2025/01/22/fort-wayne-fc-hires-director-of-corporate-partnerships-garrett-martz/
  23. ^ https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/2025/01/07/club-adds-two-key-operations-staff/
  24. ^ https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/2025/01/07/club-adds-two-key-operations-staff/
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Wayne_FC