Ballard FC
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| Nickname(s) | The Bridges | |||
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| Founded | December 1, 2021 | |||
| Stadium | Memorial Stadium Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |||
| Capacity | 10,000 | |||
| Owners | Lamar Neagle Chris Kaimmer Sam Zisette | |||
| Head coach | James Riley | |||
| League | USL League Two | |||
| 2024 | 1st, Northwest Division Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals | |||
| Website | https://www.goballardfc.com | |||
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Ballard FC is an American soccer club based in Seattle, Washington, competing in the Northwest Division of USL League Two. They began play in the 2022 season and won their first league championship in 2023. The team plays their home matches at Interbay Soccer Field alongside their women's affiliate, Salmon Bay FC. Their temporary home venue for the 2024 season was Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center.
History
[edit]The club was founded in 2021 and is owned by former Seattle Sounders FC player Lamar Neagle, Chris Kaimmer, and Sam Zisette. It is based in the Ballard neighborhood and would play home matches at the Interbay Soccer Field.[1][2] The club's largest supporters' group is The Bridge Keepers.[3]
Ballard FC made their league debut on May 21, 2022, defeating Lane United FC 6–1 in front of 1,200 spectators.[3] The team finished second in the USL2 Northwest Division behind Oregon's Capital FC and qualified for the league playoffs. They advanced to the Western Conference Final in Des Moines, Iowa, where Ballard FC lost 2–1 to the eventual league champions Ventura County Fusion.[4][5] Captain and defender Lesia Thetsane was a finalist for the USL2 Player of the Year Award and was one of 14 players to return for the club's second season in 2023.[6]
Head coach Jason Farrell left the club in July 2023 after they had clinched a playoff berth and was replaced by Ethan O'Neill on an interim basis.[7] Ballard FC secured their first Northwest Division title and hosted several playoff matches at Interbay Stadium.[8] The club advanced to the USL League Two Championship, which they would host at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Washington, against Lionsbridge FC on August 5, 2023. Ballard FC won their first championship 2–1 with a goal in stoppage time scored by Cameron Martin in front of a sellout crowd of 3,416.[9][10] The club are the second from Washington to win the league's championship, after Kitsap Pumas in 2011, and earned qualification to the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.[11]
On March 20, 2024, Ballard FC played their first U.S. Open Cup match at Memorial Stadium, their temporary home during year-long renovations to Interbay Soccer Field. The team lost 1–0 to Spokane Velocity FC, a new USL League One team based in the state.[12]
Stadium
[edit]During their first two seasons, Ballard FC played their home matches at Interbay Soccer Field, a 1,500-seat stadium in the Interbay neighborhood south of Ballard. The stadium was built in 1997 and is also used by the sister team Salmon Bay FC and the Seattle Pacific Falcons collegiate soccer teams.[1] The team temporarily moved to Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center for the 2024 regular season while renovations at Interbay Soccer Field are made to comply with accessibility requirements.[13] Ballard FC returned to Interbay Soccer Field for the 2024 playoffs.[14]
Club identity
[edit]The club crest, designed by a Ballard-based agency, was released alongside the founding announcement in December 2022.[15][16] The crest depicts the Ballard Bridge over a sunset.
As a primary, Ballard FC wears cream colored jerseys with red accents, and collaborates with local artists for third jerseys each year.
The inaugural 2022–2023 home jersey included a sublimated wave pattern from the Seattle flag.[17]
        2022 Home
|
   2023– Home
|
 2022–23 Away
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   2024– Away
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 2022 Third
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   2024– Third
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Players and staff
[edit]Technical staff
[edit]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  James Riley
|
| First assistant coach |  Mutanda Kwesele
|
| Assistant coach | Josh Chasan
|
| Head of goalkeeping | Ben Dragavon
|
| Assistant GK coach | Sean Rash
|
| Head of strength & conditioning | Bo Pearson
|
Roster
[edit]| Position | Name | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper |  Pierluca Carnovale
|
0 |
| Defender | Christian Engmann
|
2 |
| Midfielder | Chris Meyers
|
3 |
| Defender | Leo Burney
|
4 |
| Forward | Austin Brummett
|
5 |
| Midfielder |  Taketo Onodera
|
6 |
| Forward | Charlie Gaffney
|
7 |
| Midfielder | Joe Dale
|
8 |
| Forward | Alex Mejia
|
9 |
| Midfielder | Peter Kingston
|
10 |
| Forward | Richie Aman
|
11 |
| Defender |  Lesia Thetsane
|
12 |
| Goalkeeper | Conrad Lee
|
13 |
| Goalkeeper | Adam Braman
|
13 |
| Midfielder | Cameron Yriondo
|
14 |
| Midfielder | Ray Mendez
|
15 |
| Forward | Elliot Spatz
|
17 |
| Midfielder |  Jibril Rodet
|
18 |
| Midfielder |  Rhys Gourdie
|
19 |
| Defender | Isaac Ketcham
|
20 |
| Defender | Demian Alvarez
|
21 |
| Defender | Bryson Hankins
|
22 |
| Midfielder | Sean Sent
|
23 |
| Defender | Khai Brisco
|
24 |
| Forward | Charlie Holmes
|
25 |
| Midfielder | Rafi Otero
|
26 |
| Midfielder | Cameron Cruz
|
27 |
| Forward | Kojo Dadzie
|
28 |
| Forward |  Daniel Burko
|
29 |
| Goalkeeper | Charlie Lanphier
|
30 |
| Defender | Luke Hammond
|
33 |
Year-by-year
[edit]| Year | Division | League | Regular season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | USL League Two | 2nd, Northwest | Conference Finals | Did not enter |
| 2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Northwest | Champions | Did not qualify |
| 2024 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Northwest | Conference Quarterfinals | 1st Round |
Honors
[edit]League
[edit]- USL League Two Playoffs
- Champions (1): 2023
- USL League Two Western Conference
- Champions (1): 2023
- USL League Two Northwest Division
- Champions (1): 2023, 2024
Player
[edit]| Year | Player | Country | Pos | Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ian Mejia | USA
|
FW | All-Western Conference Team |
| Lesia Thetsane | LES
|
DF | ||
| 2023 | Lesia Thetsane | LES
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DF | Team of the Year |
| Stas Korzeniowski | USA
|
FW | Northwest Division Player of the Year |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Evans, Jayda (December 1, 2021). "Seattle is getting a minor-league soccer team. Here's how Ballard FC went from vision to reality". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "About – Ballard FC". Ballard FC. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Evans, Jayda (May 21, 2022). "Ballard FC kicks off its existence with passionate fan base already installed and an easy win". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Van Belle, Greg (September 21, 2022). "Ballard FC: An Inaugural Season to Remember". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (July 28, 2022). "Ballard FC look to continue 'surreal' run in USL2 playoffs". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (May 20, 2023). "Ballard FC looking to build on success of first season in Year 2: 'We set the bar really high'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Head Coach Jason Farrell Taking Next Step in Career, Leaving Ballard FC". Ballard FC. July 3, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Walker, Meghan (July 18, 2023). "Ballard FC to host U.S. League Two playoffs in Interbay Stadium this weekend". MyBallard. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Paul (August 5, 2023). "Ballrad FC wins USL League Two title". Soccer America. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ "Lionsbridge FC falls in national championship game on stoppage-time goal near Seattle". The Virginian-Pilot. August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (August 5, 2023). "Ballard FC prevails in a thrilling USL League Two final". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (March 20, 2024). "Ballard FC falls to Spokane Velocity in U.S. Open Cup after late controversy". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Van Belle, Greg (October 10, 2023). "Ballard FC will play 2024 season at Memorial Stadium". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "Playoff Preview: Ballard FC Hosting First Two Rounds at Interbay Stadium". Ballard FC. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
- ^ "BALLARD FC LAUNCHES INTO USL LEAGUE TWO". Ballard FC. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- ^ "Ballard FC". Flying Eye Design - A Seattle Graphic Designer -. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- ^ "Ballard FC Inaugural Home Jersey Revealed, Available for Pre-Sale". Ballard FC. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
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