Asheville City SC

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Asheville City SC
Full nameAsheville City Soccer Club
FoundedNovember 14, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-11-14)
StadiumGreenwood Field, UNCA campus
Asheville, North Carolina
Capacity3,000
ChairmanJimmy Wheeler
Head CoachScott Wells (Men) & Brooke Bingham (Women)
LeagueUSL League Two
20231st, South Central Division
Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
WebsiteClub website

Asheville City SC is an American amateur soccer team based in Asheville, North Carolina. Founded in 2016, the men's team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The women's team was founded in 2017 and played in the Women's Premier Soccer League until joining the newly-formed USL W League for the 2022 season. The team colors are blue and white.

History[edit]

Asheville City SC was announced as a National Premier Soccer League expansion team on November 14, 2016. On the day of the announcement, the ownership group was announced: Chairman/CFO Jimmy Wheeler, President Ryan Kelley, General Manager Allen Bradley, Director of Revenue Management Jordan Vance, Director of Community Outreach Josh Yoakum, and Director of Communications Andrew Hunter. All members of the ownership group are Western North Carolina natives.[1]

The same day of the announcement City SC announced that Gary Hamel was going to serve as the club's head coach. Hamel served as the head coach of the nearby Mars Hill University's men's soccer program. Hamel additionally served as an assistant coach for the Oregon State Beavers men's soccer program.[2]

Asheville City SC also announced on its foundation date, that the club will play its home matches at Memorial Stadium in Downtown Asheville.[3]

On December 5, 2016 the club announced it would compete in the East division of the Southeast Conference. On May 6, 2017, Asheville City won its first ever match in NPSL play.[4]

On October 16, 2019 the club announced it would join USL League Two.[5]

Colors and badge[edit]

The crest was designed with four elements in minds in order to represent the city of Asheville, North Carolina. The colors in the crest a "blue haze" and white. The blue haze color represents the blue hazy seen in the nearby Smoky Mountains, while the color white is the color of all colors, alluding to the spirit of inclusion of Asheville. The silhouette in the crest is of Asheville City Hall, which serves as a homage to the club's downtown location. The "AC" monogram in the logo is a reference to the sport of soccer's tradition in emblems over the last century. The "AC" stands for 'Asheville City' as well as used to recognize the city's love for the game.[6]

Stadium[edit]

Asheville City plays at Greenwood Field on the UNC-Asheville campus.

Year-by-year[edit]

Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs Open Cup
2017 4 NPSL 3rd, Southeast East Division Conference Quarterfinals Ineligible
2018 4 NPSL 5th, Southeast Conference Conference Semifinals did not qualify
2019 4 NPSL 3rd, Southeast Conference Conference Final did not qualify
2020 4 USL League Two Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 4 USL League Two 4th, Deep South Division did not qualify did not qualify
2022 4 USL League Two 2nd, South Central Division Conference Semifinals did not qualify
2023 4 USL League Two 1st, South Central Division Conference Semifinals did not qualify

2022 Men's Roster[edit]

As of July 6, 2022

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Argentina ARG Ryan Bilichuk
2 DF Australia AUS Malcolm Ward
3 DF United States USA Caden Lawrence
4 DF Central African Republic CAF Bissafi Dotte
5 DF Netherlands NED Dave Neijenhuis
6 DF United States USA Makel Rasheed
7 FW France FRA Kemy Amiche
8 MF Germany GER Oskar Lenz
9 DF United States USA Lucas Gonzalez
10 MF France FRA Quentin Huerman
11 FW Australia AUS Finn Ballard McBride
12 MF Senegal SEN Bachir Ndiaye
14 DF United States USA Steven James
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 FW Germany GER Luca Erhardt
16 MF United States USA Asa Blake
17 MF United States USA Clay Obara
18 DF United States USA Josiah Blanton
19 DF United States USA Lorenz Hoover
20 MF United States USA Mason Cookus
21 FW Spain ESP Daniel Cerezo
22 MF United States USA Aidan O'Brien
23 MF United States USA Ryan Baer
24 GK United States USA Sean Green
25 GK United States USA Will Watson
26 MF Japan JPN Kyoji Hata
27 MF Japan JPN Hayuki Yamazaki
28 DF United States USA Jason Gun

2023 Women's Roster[edit]

Asheville City SC
Full nameAsheville City Soccer Club
FoundedNovember 2, 2017; 6 years ago (2017-11-02)[7]
StadiumGreenwood Field, UNCA Campus
Asheville, North Carolina
Capacity3,000
ChairmanJimmy Wheeler
Head CoachAndy McNab
LeagueUSL W League
20192nd, Conference Carolinas South
Playoffs: Conference Finals
WebsiteClub website
As of October 12, 2023[8]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
0 GK United States USA Lexi Dooley
1 GK United States USA Sophie Hefner
2 DF Australia AUS Jasmine Barry
3 MF United States USA Estella Gajarsky-Prado
4 MF United States USA Barrett Eidson
5 DF United States USA Anna Doane
7 DF United States USA Sage Branch
8 MF United States USA Azalea Mihailovich
10 FW United States USA Taylor Gardner
11 DF Germany GER Sina Anger
13 MF United States USA Addie Cooper
14 MF United States USA Daysha Chaney
15 DF Germany GER Julia Hüsch
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF United States USA Ashley Macfarlane
17 DF United States USA Shae Hassig
18 MF United States USA Lizzie Ball
19 FW United States USA Kendall Powell
20 DF United States USA Emilee Nooney
21 MF United States USA Ava Bjorkman-Tracy
22 DF United States USA Jordan Schaetzly
23 MF United States USA Kaiya Boyd
24 MF United States USA Kylie Kroese
25 FW United States USA Karlee Benz
27 MF Japan JPN Nao Kawasaki
28 MF United States USA Lillian Morrison
32 GK United States USA Gracie Murray

Former players[edit]

Rivalries[edit]

Asheville City competes with Chattanooga FC for the "Blue Ridge Derby". Asheville City also competes in the "Carolina Clasico" with Greenville FC.

Staff[edit]

Position Staff
Chairman/CFO United States Jimmy Wheeler
President United States Ryan Kelley
General Manager United States Tim Bleckiki
Director of Revenue Management United States Jordan Vance
Director of Community Outreach United States Allen Bradley
Director of Communications United States Kristy Kepley-Steward
Head Coach United Kingdom Scott Wells
Assistant Coach United Kingdom Joe Barber
Assistant Coach United Kingdom Matthew McArthur
Assistant Coach United States Guy Campbell

Last updated: July 6, 2017
Source: Asheville City SC

References[edit]

  1. ^ National Premier Soccer League Communications (November 14, 2016). "Asheville City Soccer Club joins the NPSL". NPSL.com. Archived from the original (Web) on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  2. ^ "Men's Soccer Coaching Staff - Gary Hamel". Mars Hill Lions. MHU Athletics. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  3. ^ Scavuzzo, Dianne. "NPSL Welcomes Asheville City SC as Latest Expansion Club". Goal Nation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  4. ^ "NPSL Game Report". NPSL. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  5. ^ "USL League Two Welcomes Asheville City SC". USL League Two. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "About - The Crest". Asheville City Soccer Club. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  7. ^ Three Bulldogs Join Inaugural Asheville City Soccer Club for 2018 Season. uncabulldogs.com. Retrieved Feb 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "2023 Women's Soccer Roster - UNC Asheville Athletics". Ashville City SC. Retrieved 12 October 2023.