Hartford Athletic

American soccer team

Soccer club

Hartford Athletic

Full name| Hartford Athletic
Founded| July 11, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-07-11)
Stadium| Trinity Health Stadium
Capacity| 5,500
Owner| Hartford Sports Group
Head coach| Omid Namazi
League| USL Championship
2023| 12th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
Website| Club website

Home colors

Away colors

|

Current season

Hartford Athletic is an American professional soccer team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and started play in the USL Championship in 2019.[1][2] It is the only pro soccer team in Connecticut.

## History[edit]

On June 8, 2021, Hartford Athletic announced they will be fielding a women's side to compete in the new USL W League beginning in 2022.[3]

## Stadium[edit]

Trinity Health Stadium in 2021

The club plays on the grounds of Trinity Health Stadium, with a capacity of 5,500.[4] The 1935 stadium was renovated and reopened on July 13, 2019, despite the fact the stadium was not completely finished.[5] Lights were completed and first used for the stadium's first night game on September 14, 2019 (Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City FC).[6]

During the construction of Trinity Health Stadium, Athletic played home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. They played their first home game in front of more than 11,000 supporters.[7]

Hartford's first U.S. Open Cup match in 2019, which was also the first win in club history, was played at Al-Marzook Field in West Hartford.[8]

## Sponsorship[edit]

Season  | Kit manufacturer  | Shirt sponsor

|
|

2019–2021  |  Adidas | Trinity Health of New England[9]
2022–  |  Hummel[10]

## Players and staff[edit]

Hartford Athletic players before a 2021 match

### Roster[edit]

As of December 4, 2023[11]
No.  | Pos.  | Player  | Nation

|
|
|

2  | DF | Modesto Méndez |  Cuba
3  | DF | Kaveh Rad |  United States
5  | DF | Triston Hodge |  Trinidad and Tobago
6  | MF | Beverly Makangila |  DR Congo
8  | MF | Juan Pablo Torres |  United States
9  | FW | Elvis Amoh |  Ghana
10  | MF | Danny Barrera |  United States
13  | GK | Joe Rice |  United States
14  | DF | Ashkanov Apollon |  Haiti
16  | DF | Matt Sheldon |  United States
17  | FW | Kyle Edwards |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
18  | FW | Daniel Bloyou |  Ghana
19  | DF | Luke Merrill |  United States
20  | MF | Jonathan Filipe |  United States
21  | MF | Kembo Kibato |  Canada
22  | DF | Robin Lapert |  France
29  | FW | Antoine Hoppenot |  France
40  | DF | Dren Dobruna ([A]) |  Albania
41  | FW | Ali Taleb ([A]) |  Lebanon
50  | DF | Niall Logue |  Northern Ireland
72  | DF | Edgardo Rito |  Venezuela
77  | MF | Andre Lewis |  Jamaica
99  | GK | Marvyn Dorcin |  France
-- | MF | Jay Chapman |  Canada
-- | DF | Joe Farrell |  United States
-- | GK | Renan Ribeiro |  Brazil
-- | MF | Emmanuel Samadia |  Sierra Leone
-- | MF | Joe Schmidt |  United States
-- | DF | Thomas Vancaeyezeele |  French Guiana

### Players with multiple nationalities[edit]

* Ashkanov Apollon
* Danny Barrera
* Dren Dobruna
* Antoine Hoppenot
* Niall Logue
* Kaveh Rad
* Ali Taleb
* Juan Pablo Torres

### Team management[edit]

Front office

Owners  | Joseph Calafiore
Bruce Mandell
Scott Schooley
Coaching staff
Head coach  | Omid Namazi
Assistant coach  | Dan Gaspar
Goalkeeper coach  | Enzo Pereira
Strength & conditioning coach  | Joe Lucas Santos
Athletic trainer  | Kevin Hoffmann
Technical director  | Ray Reid
Technical advisor  | Paul Buckle

Last updated: January 7, 2021
Source: [1]

### Club captains[edit]

Years  | Name  | Nation

|
|

2019 | Philip Rasmussen |  Denmark
2020–2022 | Danny Barrera |  United States
2023 | Niall Logue |  Northern Ireland

## Club culture[edit]

Supporters at a 2021 match

The supporters for Hartford Athletic are split between five groups based on their geographical location within the state of Connecticut:

* The 19th Regiment – The first supporters group founded in early 2019 shortly after the announcement of the club. Today, it represents supporters based in the Greater Hartford area and Northern Connecticut.
* Mad Hat Massive – Independent supporters group representing members from Fairfield and Litchfield counties, with their home pub hosting the official supporters away days watch parties at TK's American Cafe in Danbury where the Jell-O Shot tradition began. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
* The Boonies – Members of the Mad Hat Massive in the greater Torrington area.
* Elm City Casuals – Independent supporters based out of the Greater New Haven area. They’re independent. They like pizza and riding trains. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
* East Side Rising – Supporters group founded in 2020 to represent Eastern Connecticut, nicknamed "A Family of Fans."
* Raza Brava – Latino-centric supporters group representing the greater Hartford area.

Each group is separately managed but they stand and chant together on the east end of Trinity Health Stadium for home matches.

Starting in the 2022 season, the 19th Regiment, Mad Hat Massive and the Elm City Casuals will unite as one group, called The Bonanza

Among the notable chants used is the "Brass Bonanza," a melody sung by the supporters groups after scoring a goal, which was also used for the former NHL team in the city, the Hartford Whalers, for the same circumstances. The groups also use Bob Marley's classic "Three Little Birds" for the beginning of matches and when the opposing team scores. [12]

## Team records[edit]

### Year-by-year[edit]

As of October 14, 2023
Season  | USL Championship | Play-offs  | U.S. Open Cup | Top Scorer

|
|
|
|

P | W | L | D | GF | GA | Pts | Position | Player  | Goals
2019 | 34  | 8  | 21  | 5  | 49  | 80  | 29  | 17th, Eastern  | Did not qualify  | Third round |  Wojciech Wojcik | 7
2020 | 16  | 11  | 3  | 2  | 31  | 24  | 35  | 1st, Group F  | Conference Quarterfinals | Not played |  Alex Dixon | 6
2021 | 32  | 12  | 15  | 5  | 50  | 50  | 41  | 5th, Atlantic  | Did not qualify  | Not played |  Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. | 10
2022 | 34  | 10  | 18  | 6  | 47  | 57  | 36  | 10th, Eastern  | Did not qualify  | Third round |  Ariel Martínez | 9
2023 | 34  | 4  | 24  | 6  | 40  | 79  | 18  | 12th, Eastern  | Did not qualify  | Third round |  Prince Saydee | 10

### Head coaches[edit]

* Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.

Coach  | Nationality  | Start  | End  | Games  | Win | Loss  | Draw  | Win %

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Jimmy Nielsen |  Denmark | September 5, 2018 | October 27, 2019 | 36 | 9 | 22 | 5 | 025.00
Radhi Jaïdi |  Tunisia | November 8, 2019 | October 19, 2020 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 064.71
Harry Watling |  England | January 13, 2021 | June 25, 2022 | 49 | 16 | 25 | 8 | 032.65
Ray Reid (interim)  |  United States | June 25, 2022 | August 22, 2022 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 030.77
Tab Ramos |  United States | August 22, 2022 | June 26, 2023 | 24 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 025.00
Omid Namazi |  United States | June 26, 2023 | present  | 18 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 011.11

### Average attendance[edit]

Year  | Reg. Season  | Playoffs

|
|

2019  | 5,025  | —
2020  | 1,351  | 2,194
2021  | 4,640  | —
2022  | 5,178  | —
2023  | 4,089  | —

## See also[edit]

* Hartford City FC
* AC Connecticut

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Hartford Joins USL For 2019 Season at Dillon Stadium". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
2. ^ "Pro Soccer Team Announced For Hartford, Set To Begin Play In 2019". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
3. ^ "USL announces return of the W League from 2022 – SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
4. ^ "What's next for Dillon Stadium and Hartford Athletic? A turf field, players and more". Retrieved November 21, 2018.
5. ^ Anthony, Mike. "Mike Anthony: Hartford had it Saturday, and our new soccer team had a lot to do with it". courant.com. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
6. ^ Hartford Athletic (September 14, 2019). "RECAP: Hartford Athletic Falls in First Dillon Stadium Match Under the Lights". Hartford Athletic.
7. ^ "Hartford Athletic Hosts First Home Game". Retrieved May 4, 2019.
8. ^ "Hartford Athletic vs. New York Cosmos – Football Match Summary – May 14, 2019 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
9. ^ Athletic, Hartford (February 27, 2019). "Hartford Athletic Announces Trinity Health of New England as Title Partner". Hartford Athletic | Connecticut's Professional Soccer Team.
10. ^ "Hummel Named Hartford Athletic's Official On-Field Apparel Provider". November 22, 2021.
11. ^ "Player Numbers". Twitter.com. Hartford Athletic. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
12. ^ "Hartford Athletic Supporters Make Their Mark During Inaugural Season". NBC Connecticut. September 9, 2019.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Hartford Athletic

* Founded 2018
* Based in Hartford, Connecticut

The Club|

* Players
* All articles

Stadiums|

* Rentschler Field (2019)
* Trinity Health Stadium (2019–present)

Key personnel|

Owner
Hartford Sports Group
Chairman
Bruce Mandell
Head coach
Tab Ramos

USL Championship

Seasons (2)|

* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Hartford Athletic - current squad

* 2 Méndez
* 3 Rad
* 5 Hodge
* 6 Makangila
* 8 Torres
* 9 Amoh
* 10 Barrera
* 13 Rice
* 14 Apollon
* 16 Sheldon
* 17 Edwards
* 18 Bloyou
* 19 Merrill
* 21 Kibato
* 22 Lapert
* 29 Hoppenot
* 40 Dobruna
* 41 Taleb
* 50 Logue
* 72 Rito
* 77 Lewis
* 99 Dorcin
* Chapman
* Farrell
* Ribeiro
* Samadia
* Schmidt
* Vancaeyezeele

* Head coach: Namazi
* Goalkeeper coach: Pereira

* v
* t
* e

Trinity Health Stadium

Opened in 1935

Current tenants|

* Hartford Athletic
* Hartford City FC
* AC Connecticut
* AC Connecticut Women

Former tenants|

* Connecticut Crushers
* Connecitcut Yankees
* Hartford Bicentennials
* Hartford Charter Oaks
* Hartford Knights
* Hartford S.C.
* New England Nightmare
* UConn Huskies (men's) (women's)

* v
* t
* e

USL Championship

Eastern Conference|

* Birmingham Legion FC
* Charleston Battery
* Detroit City FC
* Hartford Athletic
* Indy Eleven
* Loudoun United FC
* Louisville City FC
* Memphis 901 FC
* Miami FC
* Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* Tampa Bay Rowdies
* FC Tulsa

Western Conference|

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* Monterey Bay FC
* New Mexico United
* Oakland Roots SC
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* Sacramento Republic FC
* San Antonio FC
* San Diego Loyal SC

Future teams|

* North Carolina FC (returning in 2024)
* Rhode Island FC (2024)
* JAXUSL (2025)
* USL Pro Iowa (TBD)
* Milwaukee Pro Soccer (2026)
* USL Arkansas (2026)
* Austin Bold FC (on hiatus)
* OKC Energy FC (on hiatus)

Former teams|

* Antigua Barracuda FC
* Atlanta United 2
* Austin Aztex
* Charlotte Eagles
* Charlotte Independence
* FC Cincinnati
* Dayton Dutch Lions
* Fresno FC
* LA Galaxy II
* FC Montreal
* Nashville SC
* F.C. New York
* New York Red Bulls II
* Orlando City B
* Orlando City SC
* Ottawa Fury FC
* Penn FC
* Philadelphia Union II
* Phoenix FC
* Portland Timbers 2
* Puerto Rico United
* Real Monarchs
* Reno 1868 FC
* Richmond Kickers
* River Plate Puerto Rico
* Rochester Rhinos
* Saint Louis FC
* Sevilla FC Puerto Rico
* Sporting Kansas City II
* Tacoma Defiance
* Toronto FC II
* VSI Tampa Bay FC
* Whitecaps FC 2
* Wilmington Hammerheads FC

Seasons|

* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Miscellaneous|

* Foreign players
* USL Championship Final
* United Soccer League
* USL League One
* USL League Two

* v
* t
* e

Soccer in the United States

* U.S. Soccer Federation
* USASA
* USCS
* State Soccer Associations
* League system
* History
* First game
* Hall of Fame
* Awards
* Clubs
* International competition
* Champions
* Venues (stadiums by capacity
* Soccer-specific stadium)
* Women's soccer in the United States

Men's|

| National teams|

* Senior (results
* players)
* U23
* U20
* U18
* U17
* U15
* Beach soccer
* Futsal
* indoor soccer
* Paralympic

|

Outdoor leagues|

| Professional|

* MLS
* History
* Playoffs
* MLS Cup
* USL Championship
* USL Cup
* USL League One
* NISA
* MLS Next Pro

|

Amateur|

* USL League Two
* NISA Nation
* NPSL
* CSL
* EPSL
* EPLWA
* GCPL
* MWPL
* OVPL
* SFSFL
* UPSL
* USLPA

Defunct|

* AFA (1884–1924)
* American Cup (1885–1924)
* ALPF (1894)
* APSL (2015–2018)
* NAFL (1895–1898)
* AAFA Cup (1912–13)
* ASL (1921–1933)
* ASL (1933–1983)
* NASFL (1946–47)
* USA (1967)
* NPSL (1967)
* NASL (1968–1984)
* USL (1984–85)
* LSSA (1987–1992)
* ASL (1988–89)
* WSA (1989)
* USL 2nd (1990–2010)
* APSL (1990–1996)
* A-League (1996–2004)
* USL 1st (2005–2009)
* D2 Pro (2010)
* PLA (2015–2017)
* NASL (2011–2017)

Indoor leagues|

| Current|

* MASL
* MASL2
* MASL3
* NISL
* PASL
* WISL

|

Defunct|

* NASL (1975–76, 1979–1984)
* MISL (1978–1992)
* NPSL (1984–2001)
* CISL (1993–1997)
* EISL (1997–98)
* WISL (1998–2001)
* MISL (2001–2008)
* AISL (2003–2008)
* XSL (2008–09)
* MISL (2008–2014)

Futsal leagues|

* MLF
* PFL

Club competitions|

* U.S. Open Cup
* National Amateur Cup
* Hank Steinbrecher Cup
* U.S. Open (indoor)

College soccer|

* NCAA Championships (Division I, Division II, Division III)
* Spring Program
* NAIA Championship
* ISFA

Women's|

| National teams|

* Senior (players)
* U23
* U20
* U19
* U18
* U17
* Futsal

|

Outdoor leagues|

| Professional|

* NWSL
* NWSL Challenge Cup
* NWSL Shield
* Playoffs
* USL Super League (beginning play in 2024)

|

Amateur|

* USL W League
* WPSL
* UWS
* OVPL

Indoor leagues|

* NISL
* PASL

Futsal leagues|

* MLF

International competitions|

* SheBelieves Cup
* Tournament of Nations

Club competitions|

* Women's Open
* Women's Amateur

College soccer|

* NCAA Championships (Division I, Division II, Division III)
* NAIA Championship

Defunct leagues|

* W-League (1995–2015)
* WUSA (2001–2003)
* WPS (2009–2011)
* WPSL Elite (2012)

Youth|

| Leagues|

* AYSO
* NFHS
* USYSA
* Super Y League
* MLS Next
* USL Academy

|

Competitions|

* US Youth Soccer National Championships

By city|

* Houston
* Los Angeles
* New York City
* Seattle
* St. Louis

Other topics|

* Most expensive American soccer transfers
* Broadcast rights
* Soccer America

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Connecticut

Baseball|

Hartford Yard Goats
FCBL
New Britain Bees
Norwich Sea Unicorns
NECBL
Bristol Blues
Danbury Westerners
Mystic Schooners

Basketball|

WNBA
Connecticut Sun

Football|

WFA
Connecticut Hawks
Northern Connecticut Nightmare
NEFL
Connecticut Reapers

Gaelic games|

USGAA: Northeast Division
Hartford

Ice hockey|

AHL
Bridgeport Islanders
Hartford Wolf Pack
PHF
Connecticut Whale
FPHL
Danbury Hat Tricks

Soccer|

USLC
Hartford Athletic
USL2
AC Connecticut
NPSL
Hartford City FC
USASA
Newtown Pride FC

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Connecticut Roller Derby
Hartford Area Roller Derby
MRDA
Connecticut Death Quads

Rugby union|

NERFU
Fairfield Yankees RFC
Hartford Wanderers RFC
New Haven Old Black RFC
New London County RFC

Softball|

ASA
Connecticut Brakettes

College athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

Bridgeport Purple Knights (women's gymnastics)
Central Connecticut Blue Devils
Fairfield Stags
Quinnipiac Bobcats
Post Eagles (women's bowling and women's ice hockey)
Sacred Heart Pioneers
Southern Connecticut Owls (women's gymnastics)
UConn Huskies
Yale Bulldogs

|

NCAA
Division II|

Bridgeport Purple Knights
New Haven Chargers
Post Eagles
Southern Connecticut Owls

NCAA
Division III|

Albertus Magnus Falcons
Coast Guard Bears
Connecticut College Camels
Eastern Connecticut Warriors
Hartford Hawks
Mitchell Mariners
Saint Joseph Blue Jays
Trinity Bantams
Wesleyan Cardinals
Western Connecticut Colonials

NJCAA Division III|

Gateway Lions
Lincoln Wildcats
UConn-Avery Point Pointers

* v
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City of Hartford

Topics|

* Economy
* Education
* Public schools
* Culture
* Demographics
* Geography
* History
* Historic places
* Timeline
* Media
* People
* Sister cities
* Skyscrapers

Attractions|

* Armsmear
* Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
* Cathedral of St. Joseph
* Center Church
* Cheney Building
* Connecticut Convention Center
* Connecticut Governor's Residence
* Connecticut Science Center
* Connecticut State Capitol
* Connecticut State Library
* Constitution Plaza
* Dunkin' Park
* Harriet Beecher Stowe House
* Hartford Stage
* Mark Twain House
* Old State House
* Trinity Health Stadium
* Wadsworth Atheneum
* Xfinity Theatre
* XL Center

Government|

* City Council
* City Hall
* Fire Department
* Mayor
* Public Library

Neighborhoods|

* Blue Hills
* Downtown
* Frog Hollow
* Parkville

Public art|

* Corning Fountain
* Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch
* Statue of Christopher Columbus
* Statue of Horace Wells
* Statue of Israel Putnam

Sports|

* Hartford Athletic
* Hartford Wolfpack
* Hartford Yard Goats
* Former
* Hartford Whalers

Transportation|

* CTfastrak
* Hartford Line
* Local bus
* Union Station

* Hartford County
* Greater Hartford
* Hartford–Springfield
* Connecticut
* United States

*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template