Phoenix FC

Football club

Phoenix FC

Full name| Phoenix Football Club
Nickname(s)| Wolves
Founded| July 2, 2012; 10 years ago (2012-07-02)
Dissolved| March 12, 2014; 8 years ago (2014-03-12)
Stadium| Sun Devil Soccer Stadium
Tempe, Arizona
Capacity| 3,400
Owners| BDR Sports LLC
Head Coach| David Robertson
League| USL Pro

Home colors

Away colors

|

Phoenix FC was an American professional soccer team based in Phoenix. The team was a member of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team's colors were red and white.

## History[edit]

On June 18, 2012, BDR Sports LLC was incorporated in the State of Arizona to bring a professional soccer team to Phoenix.[1] On July 2, 2012, the USL Pro awarded a franchise to the BDR group for the 2013 season.[2] On July 15, the team announced they had hired David Robertson, Director of Boy's Coaching at Sereno Soccer Club, as head coach. He is a former Rangers, Aberdeen and Leeds United player. He also managed Elgin City and Montrose in the Scottish Third Division. The team name ("Phoenix City FC") and colors were announced the same day.[3][4] On August 28, the team selected Umbro as the team's official football uniform and equipment supplier.[5] On September 7, the team renamed itself "Phoenix FC", introduced its logo and selected "Wolves" as their nickname.[6]

On September 27, 2012, former Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie signed a one-year contract with Phoenix FC, becoming their first player signing.[7][8][9]

On December 11, 2012, Phoenix FC and Arizona State University announced a stadium agreement for 2013. Phoenix FC would play home games at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium beginning in April 2013. As part of the deal, the seating capacity was meant to be expanded by more than 4,000 additional seats, taking the total capacity to over 5,000 seats. However, due to the position of stadium lights poles on the east side of the stadium, the capacity was revised to just over 3,400.[10][11][12]

### 2013 Season[edit]

Main article: 2013 Phoenix FC season

Phoenix FC opened their only season with a 2–0 loss to the Los Angeles Blues on March 23, 2013.[13][14] They won their home opener at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on March 30, 2013. They defeated VSI Tampa Bay FC 1–0 on a goal by Netinho before a sold-out, standing room crowd of 4,198.[15][16][17]

The team finished the 2013 season with 5 wins, 14 losses and 7 ties.[18] Donny Toia lead the team in scoring with six goals and was a nominee for USL Pro Rookie of the Year.[19]

### Demise[edit]

USL Pro revoked the Phoenix franchise rights from BDR Sports LLC on November 1, 2013, citing multiple violations of the franchise agreement, such as failing to pay its players on time and submitting misleading and inaccurate financial statements.[20][21][22][23] On December 16, 2013, USL Pro awarded the franchise rights for Phoenix FC to American Soccer Marketing LLC, owned by former interim Team President Tim Donald.[24][25][26] On March 12, 2014, American Soccer Marketing announced that it could not continue operating the team in the USL Pro league. They were replaced with Arizona United SC (now Phoenix Rising FC) the next day.[27]

## Year-by-year[edit]

Year  | Division  | League  | Regular Season (W–L–T)  | Playoffs  | U.S. Open Cup  | Avg. Attendance  | Top goalscorer

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2013 | 3  | USL Pro  | 12th Place (5–14–7)  | did not qualify | First Round | 1,532  |  Donny Toia | 6

## Players[edit]

Main article: All-time Phoenix FC roster

### Roster[edit]

[28]

No.  | Position  | Player  | Nation

|
|
|

0  | GK | Lalo Fernández |  Mexico
1  | GK | Andrew Weber |  United States
2  | MF | Reid Schmitt |  United States
3  | DF | Scott Morrison |  Scotland
4  | DF | Devon Grousis |  United States
5  | DF | Renan Boufleur |  Brazil
6  | MF | Anthony Obodai |  Ghana
7  | MF | David Paul |  United States
8  | MF |  Netinho |  Brazil
9  | MF | Diego Faria |  Brazil
10  | FW | Darren Mackie |  Scotland
11  | DF | Cyprian Hedrick |  Cameroon
13  | GK | Sheldon Parkinson |  Jamaica
14  | FW | Aaron King |  United States
15  | DF | José Ramos |  Mexico
16  | DF | Isaiah Schafer |  United States
17  | DF | Brian Holmes |  United States
18  | MF | Thomas Ramos |  United States
19  | DF | Elliot Weber |  United States
20  | GK | Neal Kitson |  United States
21  | MF | Josh Bento |  United States
22  | MF | Cameron Vickers |  United States
23  | FW | Peabo Doue |  United States
25  | FW | Donny Toia |  United States
26  | GK | Humberto Soriano |  United States
27  | FW | Travis Bowen |  United States
28  | FW | Davy Armstrong (on loan from Colorado Rapids) |  United States
29  | FW | Roberto Valadez |  United States
30  | GK | Sócrates Oliveira Fonseca |  Cape Verde
32  | DF | Robert Clayton Zelin III |  United States
-- | FW | Will Bates (on loan from Seattle Sounders FC) |  United States

## Front Office[edit]

* Tim Donald – President
* Eric Cornwall – Chairman
* Rui Filipe Bento – General Manager
* Shawn Dietrich – Director of Operations
* David Robertson – Head Coach

## Stadiums[edit]

* Sun Devil Soccer Stadium (2013 – 9 games)
* GCU Soccer Stadium (2013 – 1 game)
* Reach 11 Soccer Complex (2013 – 3 games)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Business Entity Search". Arizona Corporation Commission. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
2. ^ "Phoenix to Join USL PRO in 2013". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 2012-07-02. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
3. ^ "USL Pro Valley team names coach, reveals team name". Arizona Republic. 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
4. ^ "New USL PRO Team Owners Met With LFR 1881 Yesterday; Team Name, Team Colors & Head Coach Announced". AzKicksIt.com. 2012-07-16. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
5. ^ Team Facebook Page
6. ^ "Phoenix Announces Name and Logo". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 2012-09-07. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
7. ^ "Phoenix FC officially signs first player, former Scottish Premier League forward, according to sources". Odeen Domingo. Arizona Republic. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
8. ^ "Darren Mackie, Phoenix FC's first signing and former Scottish Premier League striker, answers fans questions sent through Twitter; Phoenix FC tryouts update". Odeen Domingo. Arizona Republic. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
9. ^ "Phoenix FC Signs First Player Former Aberdeen FW Darren Mackie". AZKicksIt.com. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
10. ^ Phoenix FC Scores With Sun Devil Soccer Stadium Deal
11. ^ Phoenix pro soccer team will stake home field at ASU in Tempe
12. ^ "Help Center - the Arizona Republic".
13. ^ "Phoenix FC loses first ever game on Saturday; played much of the match a man down". Arizona Republic. March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
14. ^ "Match Report – Los Angeles Blues vs. Phoenix FC". AZKicksIt. March 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
15. ^ "Netinho scores Phoenix FC's 1st goal in win". Arizona Republic. March 31, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
16. ^ "Phoenix FC gets first win in club history". AZKicksIt. March 30, 2013. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
17. ^ "LA Blues Open USL Pro Season With A Victory". SoccerNation.com. March 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
18. ^ "'With a Whimper': The Story of the 2013 Phoenix FC Wolves". Jason Robertson. recklesschallenge.net. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
19. ^ "USL PRO Awards Finalists Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 4, 2013. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
20. ^ "Phoenix FC terminated from USL PRO". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
21. ^ "USL PRO terminates soccer franchise with Phoenix FC Wolves owners". Indy Week. November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
22. ^ "League pulls franchise from Phoenix FC owners group". Ted Prezelski. Tucson Sentinel. November 2, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
23. ^ "USL PRO Statement". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
24. ^ "USL PRO Awards Phoenix Franchise Rights". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 16, 2013. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
25. ^ "Phoenix FC, USL PRO announce new ownership group". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
26. ^ "Phoenix FC to be back in 2014 under new ownership". Garrett Cleverly. AZKicksIt. December 16, 2013. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
27. ^ "Ownership Change, Rebrand in Phoenix". United Soccer Leagues (USL). March 13, 2014. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
28. ^ Phoenix FC Team Roster Archived 2013-10-20 at the Wayback Machine

* 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|

* Rhode Island FC (2024)
* USL Pro Iowa (2025)
* USL Milwaukee (2025)
* 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
* North Carolina FC
* 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

*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
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