AFC Cleveland explained

Clubname:AFC Cleveland
Fullname:AFC Cleveland
Nickname:Royals
Ground:Stan Skoczen Stadium, Independence, OH
Capacity:2,200[1]
American:true
Website:https://www.afccleveland.com/

AFC Cleveland was an American semi-professional soccer club based in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, Ohio. Founded in 2011 and playing its first season in 2012, the team spent six years in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League.[2] After being expelled from the NPSL at the end of the 2017 season,[3] AFC Cleveland folded and was replaced by Cleveland SC, who began play in the NPSL in 2018.[4]

History

Following the folding of the Cleveland Internationals in 2010, the city of Cleveland was without a soccer team.[5] On November 11, 2011, AFC Cleveland announced that they would join the National Premier Soccer League.[6]

AFC stands for A Fans' Club, signifying that the organization is for the fans and created by the fans, and was inspired by the English club AFC Wimbledon.[7]

Stadium

PeriodStadiumLocation
2012Byers FieldParma, Ohio
2013Krenzler FieldCleveland, Ohio
2014DiSanto Field
2015Rocky River HS StadiumRocky River, Ohio
2016–2017Stan Skoczen StadiumIndependence, Ohio

Kit supplier and sponsorship

From 2012 to 2013, the kit sponsor of the club was Admiral Sportswear.[8] Beginning with the 2014 season, Givova took over as the kit sponsor.[9]

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2012–2013Admiral SportswearAdmiralSoccer.com
2014–2015GivovaRocky River Urgent Care
2016–2017JomaNovaCare

Club culture

Supporters

6th City Syndicate is the supporters' group for Cleveland soccer.[10]

Rivalries

Players and staff

Notable former players

This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the NPSL, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.

Head coach history

NameNationalityTenure
Andy Hoggarth2012–2014
Aaron McGuiness2014
Carter Poe2015–2017
Mike Sesar2017

Honors

National
CompetitionsTitlesSeasons
National Premier Soccer League12016
Midwest Region (Playoffs)12016
Great Lakes Conference (Playoffs)22012, 2016
Great Lakes Conference (Regular Season)12016
Minor Trophies

Year-by-year

SeasonDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffsU.S. Open Cup
20124NPSL3rd, Midwest-Great LakesRegional FinalsDid not qualify
20134NPSL4th, Midwest-Great LakesConference Semi-FinalsDeclined Entry[15]
20144NPSL3rd, Midwest-Great Lakes East Did not qualifyDid not qualify
20154NPSL2nd, Midwest Conference Regional FinalsDid not qualify
20164NPSL1st, Midwest-Great Lakes EastChampions2nd Round
20174NPSL4th Midwest - EastDid not qualify2nd Round

Notes and References

  1. Web site: STAN SKOCZEN STADIUM AT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL. AFCCleveland.com. 5 January 2018.
  2. News: Cleveland join revamped Midwestern NPSL. TheSoccerRoom.com. 27 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120422181557/http://thesoccerroom.com/?p=32498. 22 April 2012.
  3. NPSLSoccer. 940667494355931136. 12 December 2017. NEWS: The #NPSL today announced the termination of the memberships of AFC Cleveland (@AFCCleveland) and Sports Club Corinthians USA (@SCorinthiansUSA) in line with the NPSL Bylaws for teams not in good financial standing with the league..
  4. Web site: New Cleveland semipro soccer team is off to a hot start. CrainsCleveland.com. 28 June 2018.
  5. Web site: History of Soccer in Cleveland. Homepages.Sover.net. 28 June 2018. ...folding after a last-place finish. Cleveland fans were again left pining, and things looked rather bleak as the first decade of the 21st century ended. Outside of the local amateur leagues, the only soccer in the city was provided by the amateur USL-PDL's Internationals....
  6. Web site: HISTORY – AFC Cleveland. AFCCleveland.com. 28 June 2018.
  7. News: Sandrick. Bob. New soccer club calls Parma home. The Plain Dealer. Advance Publications. February 10, 2021. June 3, 2012.
  8. Web site: AFC Cleveland Begins with Admiral. AFCCleveland.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714193022/http://www.afccleveland.com/news/afc_begins_with_admiral.html. 14 July 2014 .
  9. Web site: https://givova-sport.com/novosti/o-futbole-v-amerike-v-odnom-video.html. ru:О футболе в Америке в одном видео. Givova-Sport.com. 28 June 2018. ru. About football in America in one video.
  10. Web site: 6th City Syndicate. 6CSCleveland.com. 28 June 2018. June 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074242/https://6cscleveland.com/. dead.
  11. Web site: The Rust Belt Derby. SoccerNewsDay.com. 26 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120508203519/http://www.soccernewsday.com/USA/A/134/The-Rust-Belt-Derby. May 8, 2012. dead.
  12. Web site: The Battle for Ohio Begins with a Bang. ISNSoccer.com. 28 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180629102240/http://isnsoccer.com/news/2013/05/19/the-battle-for-ohio-begins-with-a-bang/. June 29, 2018. dead.
  13. Web site: Dynamo realigns with NPSL Midwest East. DaytonDailyNews.com. 28 June 2018.
  14. Web site: BATTLE FOR OHIO: THE I-71 CUP. AFCCleveland.com. 28 June 2018.
  15. Web site: Great Lakes Division teams decline 2013 US Open Cup berths as NPSL entries finalized. TheCup.us. April 9, 2013 . 7 May 2013.

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