Charlotte Independenceis an Americansoccerteam based inCharlotte, North Carolinathat plays in theUSL League One,the third tier of theAmerican soccer pyramid.
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| Nickname(s) | The Jacks | ||
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| Founded | September 17, 2014 | ||
| Stadium | American Legion Memorial Stadium Charlotte,North Carolina | ||
| Capacity | 10,500 | ||
| Owner | Queen City Soccer Club, LLC | ||
| President | Jim McPhilliamy | ||
| Head coach | Mike Jeffries | ||
| League | USL League One | ||
| 2024 | 6th of 12 Playoffs: Quarterfunals | ||
| Website | charlotteindependence | ||
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The Independence currently play their home games atAmerican Legion Memorial Stadiumin theElizabethneighborhood ofCharlotte, North Carolina.Previously, the Independence have played atRamblewood Soccer ComplexandSportsplex at Matthews.
The team's colors are navy, blue, and parchment. The independence wear blue kits at home, and grey on the road.
History
editThe Charlotte Independence were founded in 2014. They acquired the USL Pro franchise rights for Charlotte from theCharlotte Eagles,who moved into the amateurPremier Development League(PDL).[1][2][3]
The Independence took their name fromMecklenburg Declaration of Independence.Their crest features the year 1775 (the year in which it was purported to have been signed) and a horse-mounted Captain James Jack, who is said to have carried the Declaration toPhiladelphia.[4]Supporters were asked to choose one of twelve designs; all 12 featured the year and Jack. The team is nicknamed "The Jacks," in Jack's honor.
FormerDallas Burnhead coachMike Jeffrieswas hired as the Independence head coach on December 5, 2014.[5]
The Independence lost their first game to theCharleston Battery3–2 on March 28, 2015, atTransamerica Field.Jack Thompsonscored the team's first ever goal in the 13th minute.[6]
After recording their best season in 2021, finishing second in the Atlantic Division, the club decided to drop down to the third tierUSL League Onefor 2022, with the goal of better serving its youth players, as well as the fact that a new expansion franchise in the cityCharlotte FCwas joiningMajor League Soccerthat season, with whom several Independence players had signed.[7][8]The Independence signed an affiliation agreement with Charlotte FC for the 2022 season only on April 5. Charlotte FC will loan a minimum of three players.[9]The Independence made the USL League One playoffs in the club's first season in the league in 2022. Charlotte finished with 42 points and one of the best attacks in the league with 48 goals, the third-highest in USL League One.
Stadium
editIn 2016, the club began working with Mecklenburg County on a refurbishment ofAmerican Legion Memorial Stadium.The club subsequently signed a 10-year lease with the county for Memorial Stadium to become its new home, beginning in 2021.[10]The Independence played the first match at the newly renovated stadium on Wednesday, July 7, 2021.
American Legion Memorial Stadium holds 10,500 people and is considered to be one of the best soccer-specific stadiums in the country. The stadium is located in the heart of the Elizabeth neighborhood in Charlotte with an updated concourse, a view of the Charlotte city skyline, and a World War I memorial at the entrance.
American Legion Memorial Stadium has hosted various different events throughout its history, including Presidential addresses, professional wrestling matches, professional and high school football, and Charlotte's first ever professional soccer team, the Carolina Lightnin', during the American Soccer League Championship in 1981 in front of 20,163 fans.
Previously, the Independence played matches in the greater Charlotte region at the Sportsplex in Matthews in Matthews, North Carolina, Ramblewood Soccer Complex, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Transamerica Field and Winthrop University's Eagle Field.
Sponsorship
edit| Seasons | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–2016 | Adidas | OrthoCarolina |
| 2017–2023 | Novant Health | |
| 2023–present | Capelli Sport |
Record
editYear-by-year
edit| Year | Division | League | Win | Loss | Tie | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Avg. attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 | USL | 10 | 8 | 10 | 7th, Eastern | did not qualify | 5th Round | 1,800 |
| 2016 | 3 | USL | 14 | 8 | 8 | 5th, Eastern | Conference Quarterfinals | 3rd Round | 1,375 |
| 2017 | 2 | USL | 13 | 10 | 9 | 5th, Eastern | Conference Quarterfinals | 3rd Round | 1,615 |
| 2018 | 2 | USL | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11th, Eastern | did not qualify | 2nd Round | 1,659 |
| 2019 | 2 | USLC | 9 | 14 | 11 | 13th, Eastern | did not qualify | 2nd Round | 1,750 |
| 2020 | 2 | USLC | 8 | 4 | 4 | 6th, Eastern 1st, Group G |
Conference Quarterfinals | Cancelled | N/A |
| 2021 | 2 | USLC | 18 | 9 | 5 | 2nd, Atlantic Division | Conference Semifinals | Cancelled | 1,892 |
| 2022 | 3 | USL1 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 6th | Quarterfinals | 2nd Round | 2,346 |
| 2023 | 3 | USL1 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 4th | Runners-up | 3rd Round | 1,708 |
| 2024 | 3 | USL1 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6th | Quarterfinals | Round of 32 | 1,077 |
Players and staff
editCurrent roster
edit- As of August 15, 2024[11]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- ^USL Academy Contract
Front office
edit- Jim McPhilliamy –CEO & Managing Partner
- Tim Schuldt – President & COO
- Mike Jeffries–General Manager
- Isaiah (Tito) Villanueva – Director of Operations
- Alex Kantor - Executive Director of Corporate Partnerships
- Ashley Osiecki – Vice President of Marketing and Communications
- Ulises Vega – Creative Director
- Drew Hubbard - Senior manager of Marketing and Broadcasting
- Eric Brown – Team Operations Manager and Director of Game Day Operations
- Edwin Valentin - The Boss Man
- Paulo Nogueira - Inaugural Account Executive
- Jake Kling - Northwest Chicago Native
Coaching staff
edit- Mike Jeffries–Head Coach
- Bradley Johnson –Assistant Coach
- Jay Lockheart –Assistant Coach
- Lindsay Jones –Athletic Trainer
Head coaches
edit- Includes USL Regular Season, USL Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
| Coach | Nationality | Start | End | Games | Win | Loss | Draw | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Jeffries |  United States
|
December 5, 2014 | December 6, 2018 | 135 | 52 | 44 | 39 | 38.52 |
| Jim McGuinness |  Ireland
|
December 7, 2018 | June 12, 2019 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 6.67 |
| Mike Jeffries[12] | United States
|
June 12, 2019 | present | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 42.11 |
Mike Jeffrieshas been the Independence's head coach for all but 15 games of the team's existence. His first stint was from 2014 to 2018 as head coach. Coach Jeffries was promoted to general manager in 2018. In 2019, he resumed his duties as head coach while remaining the general manager.
Club culture
editA self-described independent, grassroots supporters group, "The Mecklenburg Reserves," was formed in July 2021. The Mecklenburg Reserves occupy section 114 alongside the Independence Ultras. The Ultras and Reserves help create the supporters section atmosphere with Blue Furia, an independent predominantly Hispanic supporters group, and La Femme Footie, a group that works to promote women's soccer and women's involvement in the sport.
The Independence competed for theSouthern Derbyagainst their rival, theCharleston Batterywhile Charlotte was in USL Championship. The derby took place over each team's final home game, and is decided on a points system. If the two games end in a tie, it is then awarded to the team who leads in aggregate goals. The independence won their first Southern Derby in 2021.
The club's original independent supporters' group, "Jack's Militia", was founded in 2012 to promote soccer in Charlotte. When the Charlotte Independence were announced, Jack's Militia became the new team's official supporters group.
The team's games are broadcast onESPN+.
Achievements
edit- USL League One
- Runner Up: 2023
- Quarterfinals: 2022
- USL Championship
- Conference Quarterfinals: 2016, 2017,2020
- Southern Derby
- Winner: 2021
Affiliations
editIn April 2019, Carolina Rapids Soccer Club,Discoveries Soccer Club,and Lake Norman Soccer Club merged to create theCharlotte Independence Soccer Club,making it one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the country. The club provides programs for Youth and Adult Recreation, TopSoccer, Boys and Girls Competitive, Boys and GirlsECNL,BoysU.S. Soccer Development Academy,USL2andWPSL,for its 12,000 members. The youth affiliation with the pro club designates itself as one of the few youth soccer clubs in the area, region and nation to offer a direct pro pathway for its players. CISC operates as 4 Regional locations throughout the Carolinas, North, South, East and West. Serving North Carolina communities such as Belmont, Cabarrus, Cornelius, Davidson, Denver, Gastonia, Huntersville, Matthews, Mooresville, North Meck, South Charlotte, Statesville, and Steele Creek, as well as Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York County in South Carolina.[13]
References
edit- ^"Queen City Soccer Club to replace Charlotte Eagles in USL PRO in 2015".Ben Bromley.Black and Red United. January 24, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 14,2014.
- ^David Scott (September 16, 2014)."Charlotte's USL franchise to change hands Wednesday".Charlotte Observer.Archived fromthe originalon September 17, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 17,2014.
- ^"USL PRO Welcomes Independence".United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 17, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon September 17, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 17,2014.
- ^"Charlotte now has soccer Independence".David Scott.Charlotte Observer. September 17, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 18,2014.
- ^"Independence Name Jeffries As Coach".United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 5, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon December 10, 2014.RetrievedDecember 5,2014.
- ^"Charlotte Left To Rue First Half Errors".Charlotte Independence. March 27, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon March 30, 2015.RetrievedMarch 28,2015.
- ^Andrejev, Alex (December 2, 2021)."As Charlotte prepares for MLS, Independence moves to lower USL division".The Charlotte Observer.
- ^"Charlotte Independence to Compete in USL League One Starting in 2022".USL League One.December 2, 2022.
- ^"Charlotte Independence and Charlotte FC Announce Club Affiliation Agreement".charlotteindependence.April 5, 2022.RetrievedApril 5,2022.
- ^Mecklenburg commissioners OK $32M stadium upgrades package
- ^"2021 Roster".Charlotte Independence.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
- ^"Charlotte Independence Part Ways With Head Coach".Charlotte Independence. Archived fromthe originalon July 27, 2020.RetrievedJune 12,2019.
- ^"Charlotte youth soccer clubs merge under single roof".thecharlottepost.RetrievedFebruary 21,2020.
External links
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