FC Buffalo

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FC Buffalo
FC Buffalo logo.png
Full name FC Buffalo
Nickname(s) Blitzers, Wolves
Founded 2009
Stadium All-High Stadium
Buffalo, New York
Ground Capacity 5,000
Owners Nick Mendola
Scott Frauenhofer
Head Coach Brendan Murphy
League National Premier Soccer League
2015 5th, Midwest Region
Website Club home page
Current season

FC Buffalo is an American soccer team based in Buffalo, New York, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Midwest Division.

The team plays its home games at All-High Stadium. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.

History

Founding and inaugural season

FC Buffalo joined the NPSL as an expansion franchise in 2009 and took part in its first competitive season in 2010. While not a continuation of either franchise, FC Buffalo follows in the footsteps of two other recent Buffalo-based teams that competed in the NPSL: Queen City FC and Buffalo City FC. The team is owned by a group of five Buffalonians: Joshua Batten, Scott Frauenhofer, Donny Kutzbach, Nick Mendola and Ray Siminski.

The club had a contest for fans to submit a nickname and after much debate and thousands of votes cast, "Blitzers" was chosen. The vote was aided by Buffalo native and CNN broadcaster Wolf Blitzer airing an interview with owners Nick Mendola and Scott Frauenhofer discussing the contest.

ESPN correspondent Vincent Thomas commented: "Although the 'Blitzers' nickname has ended up being a pretty deft marketing move, it's more legit than a ploy. The term blitz comes from the German word for lightning, which is all over the team's logo and the city's municipal flag. And, of course, there's a mutual fondness between Blitzer and his hometown."[1]

The Blitzers finished their opening campaign with six wins, two draws and four losses. They were the only team to defeat the Keystone Conference champion FC Sonic.

Subsequent seasons

On Dec 8, 2010, the Blitzers announced they had parted ways with head coach Jim Hesch. Ten days later, they announced via their web site that they had inked Daniel Krzyzanowicz to coach the club into the future. Krzyzanowicz helms a Medaille College program that has made the NCAA tournament five times and reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2010.

The 2011 season was up-and-down, with the Blitzers winning five, drawing one and losing six. During the season the Blitzers took on the Bedlington Terriers F.C. in a friendly match at All High Stadium in the inaugural Bedlington Cup. Due to the connection of Robert E. Rich, Jr. to Buffalo, NY and Bedlington, England. The friendly was arranged and the Terriers traveled to Buffalo for the match. The Blitzers won 5–1 in front of a sell out crowd.[2] The match was filmed and later made into a BBC documentary called Mr Rich and The Terriers[3]

The team's mascot Wolf Blitzer was unveiled at the Winter Wolves fund raiser. 2012 Season tickets were sold at the event. The unique feature of the 2012 season ticket is that it consists of a special season ticket holder's scarf that will function as admission to the season's home matches.[4][5]

FC Buffalo saw its first player drafted into Major League Soccer on January 17, 2012 when midfielder Krystian Witkowski was claimed in the second round of the supplemental draft by the Philadelphia Union.[6] He was waived by the team later in the season.

On November 20, 2012, FC Buffalo signed its third head coach, Brendan Murphy. The Buffalo native was a national champion as a player at St. Lawrence University and was an invaluable asset to three collegiate programs as an assistant coach.[7]

The team saw a player drafted into Major League Soccer for the second-consecutive year, as second-leading scorer Mike Reidy was selected 71st overall in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft by Sporting KC.

Kit

The team take inspiration for their colors, royal blue and yellow gold, from the classic Buffalo Sabres uniforms. The badge features a crest with a soccer ball inside a circle of electric flashes under the team name and founding year. The logo is reminiscent of the municipal flag of Buffalo, NY. In 2015, the team returned to a Nike manufactured shirt and introduced three sets of uniforms. One all blue, one all yellow, and one all white. The kits can be mixed and matched on game day to create multiple unique and colorful looks.

The front jersey sponsor is Rich Products, a multinational food production corporation headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Rich's also owns and sponsors the local Triple-A International League baseball team, the Buffalo Bisons. Més Que, Buffalo's premier downtown soccer bar, and Batavia Downs Gaming & Casino are the two other shirt sponsors.

Kit manufacturers

Shirt sponsors

Players and staff

Current roster

As of 26 October 2015 [1]

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

No. Position Player
0 United States GK Andrew Coughlin
1 New Zealand GK Cameron Hogg
2 United States DF Kevin Kappock
3 United States DF Bobby Ross
4 United States MF Dylan MacVane
5 New Zealand DF Fox Slotemaker
6 United States MF Rob Brandell
7 Canada MF Andrew Ferguson
8 United States DF Connor Willings
9 United States FW Ngwese Ebangwese
10 Sweden MF Erik Dahl
11 United States MF Jabari Danzy
14 Canada DF Matthew Ferguson
No. Position Player
15 United States MF Ian Mort
16 United States MF Anthony Rozzano
17 Canada FW Brett Larocque
18 United States MF Brian Knapp
21 United States MF Jeff Thomas
23 United States DF Kendell McFayden
24 United States MF Derek Maier
26 United States DF Adam Lauko
28 United States MF Chris Walter
29 United States MF Julian Ekeze
33 United States GK Michael Shatkin
99 United States GK Steven Casey

Staff

Coaching staff
Position Staff
Head Coach United States Brendan Murphy
Assistant Coach United States Bob Roach

Last updated: October 27, 2015
Source: FC Buffalo

Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season W-L-D Playoffs Open Cup
2010 4 NPSL 3rd, Keystone 6–4–2 Did not qualify Did not enter
2011 4 NPSL 5th, Keystone 5–6–1 Did not qualify Did not qualify
2012 4 NPSL 5th, Midwest-Great Lakes 1–7–4 Did not qualify Did not enter
2013 4 NPSL 2nd, Midwest-Great Lakes 8–5–0 Conference Semi-Finals Did not qualify
2014 4 NPSL 4th, Midwest-Great Lakes East 5–8–1 Did not qualify Did not qualify
2015 4 NPSL 5th, Midwest Region 6–2–4 Did not qualify Did not qualify
Total 31–32–12

Honors

International friendly

  • Lord Bedlington Cup
    • Winners (1): 2011

In inaugural competition, defeated Bedlington Terriers F.C. of England's Northern League, 5 – 1 [8]

Rivalries

  • Supporters of FC Buffalo, Detroit City and AFC Cleveland formed the Rust Belt Derby modeled after the Cascadia Cup. The winner of the Derby is based on the head to head record of the Midwestern Conference clubs during regular season NPSL matches.[9] Cleveland won the inaugural Rust Belt Derby on June 23, 2012 following a 1–1 draw with Detroit.[10]
  • FC Buffalo claim as their top rival Erie and the sides compete in the EC (Erie County) Derby. To Date FC Buffalo have one win, seven losses and two ties against Erie.[11]

Stadia

Fans

  • FC Buffalo's supporters group is known as "The Situation Room"; named after Wolf Blitzer's CNN news program. Their goal is to create an atmosphere that is the loudest and most inclusive of any fan base in the City of Buffalo.

Affiliated Teams

-Bedlington Terriers F.C. -Buffalo Bisons -Jamestown Jammers

References

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  2. http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article472847.ece%7CFC Buffalo tops Bedlington in a friendly soccer match
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  4. http://home.buffalo.com/sports/gallery/fc-buffalos-winters-wolves-at-town-ballroom/%7CFC Buffalo’s Winter’s Wolves at Town Ballroom
  5. http://www.fcbuffalo.org/uncategorized/2012-scarves-hit-streets-weekend/%7C2012 Season Ticket Scarf NOW Available For Online Order
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. http://www.jaredmobarak.com/2011/06/29/photography-bedlington-cup/
  9. http://www.soccernewsday.com/usa/a/134/the-rust-belt-derby
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links