Charleston Battery
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| Full name | Charleston Battery | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Battery | ||
| Founded | 1993 | ||
| Stadium | Blackbaud Stadium Charleston, South Carolina (Capacity: 5,113) |
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| Owner |  Tony Bakker |
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| Head Coach |  Michael Anhaeuser |
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| League | USL Pro | ||
| 2011 | Regular Season: 6th, American Division: 4th, Playoffs: Quarter-finals |
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| Website | Club home page | ||
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 Current season |
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Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division.
Charleston is one of the more successful minor-league soccer teams in the United States, having previously won the USISL Pro League in 1996, the USL A-League in 2003, and the final season of the USL Second Division in 2010.[1]
The team has played its home games at the soccer-specific Blackbaud Stadium since 1999. The team's colors are yellow, black and red. Their current head coach is Michael Anhaeuser.
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[edit] History
The Battery were formed in 1993 as a member of the PDSL, and joined the A-League (later the USL First Division) in 1997. The Battery won the PDSL championship in 1996, defeating the Charlotte Eagles 3-2 and the A-League championship in 2003, defeating the Minnesota Thunder 3-0 to win the title. In 2010, after voluntarily going down to USL Second Division Charleston finished first in the regular season with a record of 11-4-5 and 38 points. Charleston defeated the Richmond Kickers 2-1 to claim the championship, the third in the history of the club.
In 2008, the Battery qualified for the U.S. Open Final match for the first time, playing against Major League Soccer team D.C. United.[2] In the final the Battery conceded an early goal but bounced back with a quick-fire equalizer through an Ian Fuller goal, assisted by Chris Williams. Later in the half Lazo Alavanja hit the post but at half time the scores were tied at 1-1. At the start of the second half Charleston conceded early again, but in the final seconds of extra time Marco Reda put the ball in the back of the net for Charleston, only to have his goal controversially disallowed as offside. DC United would go on to win the match 2-1.
The Battery started the 2009 USL-1 season impressively, recording 7 wins, 6 ties and not a single loss. Late in the season, the Battery lost goalkeeper and captain Dusty Hudock to injury, but were still able to make it to the USL-1 finals, losing to the Montreal Impact 4-2 on aggregate goals.
The Battery began 2010 play in the USL Second Division on April 17, 2010 with a 3-2 win at rival Charlotte Eagles. Charleston lead the league standings for the entire season, finished with 38 points, and won (and hosted) the championship game. Lamar Neagle was named the USL-2 league MVP and lead the league in scoring with 13 league goals.[3] Battery Manager Mike Anhaeuser was named the leagues manager of the year, his second time receiving that honor.[3] The Battery finished the 2010 season unbeaten at home.
[edit] Colors and badge
Charleston's traditional colors are yellow, black and red. The club badge is a classic shield in yellow and black featuring a pair of crossed artillery cannons (alluding to the city of Charleston's part in the American Civil War and American Revolution) above a depiction of a traditional-style soccer ball.
[edit] Stadium
- Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, South Carolina (1999–present)
Blackbaud Stadium opened in 1999. The first privately funded soccer-specific stadium built in the United States, it seats 5,100 people.[4] The stadium is modeled on lower level English soccer stadiums and features an on-site pub called "The Three Lions."
[edit] Club culture
The Battery's official supporters' group is called the Regiment. The Battery's most passionate fans stand in section E10. The Battery competes for the Coffee Pot Cup every time it faces their rival team DC United of Major League Soccer, a trophy established by the two sides' supporters. DC United currently hold the Coffee Pot Cup. The 2008 US Open Cup final remains the highest profile match between the two clubs to date.
[edit] Broadcasting
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This section requires expansion. |
[edit] Players and staff
[edit] Current roster
As of November 28, 2011.[5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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[edit] Staff
Andrew Bell - President- Michael Anhaeuser - Head Coach and General Manager
Stephen Armstrong - Assistant Coach
[edit] Notable former players
- See also: All-time Charleston Battery roster
[edit] Head coaches
- Tim Hankinson (1993–1994)
Nuno Piteira (1995–1999)
Alan Dicks (1999–2001)- Chris Ramsey (2001-)
- Michael Anhaeuser (2004–present)
[edit] Achievements
- USL A-League
- Winners (2): 1996*, 2003
- Atlantic Division Champions (2): 1995*, 2000
- Southeast Division Champions (2): 2002, 2003
- USL Pro
- Division Semifinals (1): 2011
- US Open Cup
- Runner Up (1): 2008
- Semifinals (2): 1999, 2004
- Quarterfinals (3): 2007, 2009, 2010
- Southern Derby
- Winner (4): 2003, 2005^, 2009, 2010, 2011
as co-champions^
[edit] Record
[edit] Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 2 | USISL | 5th, Atlantic | Play-in Game | Did not enter | |
| 1994 | 2 | USISL | 2nd, Atlantic | Semifinals | Did not enter | |
| 1995 | 2 | USISL Pro League | 1st, Atlantic | Divisional Semifinals | Did not qualify | |
| 1996 | 4 | USISL Pro League | 2nd, South Atlantic | Champions | Did not qualify | |
| 1997 | 2 | USISL A-League | 4th, Atlantic | Division Finals | Did not qualify | |
| 1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 4th, Atlantic | Conference Quarterfinals | Did not qualify | |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Atlantic | Conference Quarterfinals | Semifinals | |
| 2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Atlantic | Conference Semifinals | 2nd Round | |
| 2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 2nd, Central | 1st Round | 3rd Round | |
| 2002 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | 3rd Round | |
| 2003 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Southeast | Champions | Did not qualify | |
| 2004 | 2 | USL A-League | 8th Eastern | Did not qualify | Semifinals | |
| 2005 | 2 | USL First Division | 9th | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | |
| 2006 | 2 | USL First Division | 3rd | Semifinals | 4th Round | |
| 2007 | 2 | USL First Division | 10th | Did not qualify | Quarterfinals | |
| 2008 | 2 | USL First Division | 5th | 1st Round | Runner Up | |
| 2009 | 2 | USL First Division | 4th | 1st round | Quarterfinals | |
| 2010 | 3 | USL Second Division | 1st | Champions | Quarterfinals | 3,641 |
| 2011 | 3 | USL Pro | 4th, American | Division Semifinals | 2nd Round | 3,568 |
[edit] Record vs. International and MLS teams
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Record: 7-9-0
Carolina Challenge Cup Record: 2-13-5
Exhibition Record: 3-5-0
[edit] See also
- Battery Park
- Carolina Challenge Cup
- [1] Battery stuffs Sounders, Charleston Post and Courier Article
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Long Island Rough Riders |
USISL Pro League (USL-2) Winner 1996 |
Succeeded by Albuquerque Geckos |
| Preceded by Milwaukee Rampage |
USL A-League (USL-1) Winner 2003 |
Succeeded by Montreal Impact |
| Preceded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
Southern Derby Winner 2003 |
Succeeded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
| Preceded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
Southern Derby Winner Co-winners with Atlanta Silverbacks 2005 |
Succeeded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
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