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Spokane Velocity

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Spokane Velocity FC
Founded2021
StadiumOne Spokane Stadium
Spokane, Washington
Capacity5,000
OwnerAequus Sports, LLC
(Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux)
Head coachLeigh Veidman
LeagueUSL League One
Websitehttps://www.spokanevelocityfc.com/
colors
Current season

Spokane Velocity FC is an American professional soccer team based in Spokane, Washington, competing in USL League One.

History

In March 2021, United Soccer League announced a proposal to build a 5,000-seat stadium in downtown Spokane to serve as home to a new USL League One club.[1] In May 2021, the Spokane Public School Board voted to approve the $31 million stadium project.[2][3] In December 2021, the Spokane Public Facilities District met with USL and MLS Next Pro officials over which league would place a team at the city-run stadium.[4]

On October 7, 2022, the club announced their new ownership group, Aequus Sports, LLC (led by Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux) as well as that their men's team would start play in USL League One in 2024.[5][6] The club announced a partnership with Capelli Sport on June 21, 2023, making them their exclusive uniform, equipment, and training apparel provider.[7] The official team name, Spokane Velocity FC, and crest were announced at a launch event on July 21, 2023.[8] On November 15, 2023, Charleston Battery assistant coach Leigh Veidman was named Spokane Velocity's first-ever head coach.[9]

The team's inaugural match was a 3–1 loss to Greenville Triumph SC played on March 9, 2024, at Paladin Stadium in South Carolina. Josh Dolling scored the first goal in Velocity FC history—a penalty kick taken in the 13th minute.[10] The Velocity's first-ever home match, at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16, was a 2–1 victory against the Richmond Kickers in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,086.[11] The team entered the 2024 U.S. Open Cup and won their first cup match against Ballard FC, the defending USL League Two champions, on March 20 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.[12]

Club identity

The team's name and crest were unveiled on July 21, 2023. Both reference the Spokane River, which runs through Downtown Spokane and passes near One Spokane Stadium. The crest features four vertical blue bars that represent the river's waterfalls, while the "Velocity" wordmark above is shaped similar to a simplified version of the Monroe Street Bridge.[8][13] The Velocity's official colors are named basalt,https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Kit_body.svg/38px-Kit_body.svg.png impact [[ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Kit_body.svgKit_body.svg.png]]blue,https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Kit_body.svg/38px-Kit_body.svg.png and river rapid white.[14]

Sponsorship

Seasons Shirt manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2024–present[15] United States Capelli Sport Front: QR Code rotating sponsor
Back: Brick West Brewing Company
Sleeve: Gallagher

Club culture

The team's largest supporters' group is the 509 Syndicate, which organizes a march to the match through Riverfront Park to One Spokane Stadium.[16][17]

Affiliated women's teams

Main article: Spokane Zephyr FC

In June 2021, Spokane was named as one of the founding cities of the USL W League, a women's league that began play in 2022.[18] The team is set to join W League for the 2024 season, along with the completion of One Spokane Stadium.[19]

Spokane's ownership announced in October 2022 that they wanted to bring professional women's soccer to the city.[19] A women's team representing Spokane in the USL Super League was announced in May 2023. It will be owned by the USL Spokane ownership group and begin play in August 2024, sharing their home stadium with the men's team and W League team.[20]

The team name was announced in November 2023, as Spokane Zephyr FC.[21]

Players and staff

Staff

As of February 7, 2024
Front Office Staff[22]
President, USL Spokane Katie Harnetiaux[23]
Vice President, Spokane Velocity FC Phil Harrison
Director of Operations and Player Administration Emma Hayes
Technical Staff[24]
Head coach Leigh Veidman
Assistant coach Renato Bustamante[25]
Goalkeeping coach Vito Higgins
Director of Performance Josh McAllister
VP of Soccer Operations Dustin Clever
Sporting Department Consultant Gareth Smith

Current roster

As of June 21, 2024[26]

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 Mexico MEX Carlos Merancio
2 DF Spain ESP Javier Martín Gil
3 DF United States USA Elijah Amadin
5 DF United States USA Marcelo Lage
6 MF Peru PER Collin Fernandez
7 MF United States USA Michael Rojas
8 MF United States USA Morgan Hackworth
9 FW England ENG Josh Dolling
10 MF United States USA Luis Gil
11 MF United States USA Pierre Reedy
12 DF United States USA Camron Miller
14 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Ariel Mbumba
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF England ENG Kimarni Smith
18 DF United States USA Derek Waldeck
19 MF England ENG Jack Denton
21 DF United States USA Ahmed Longmire
22 DF Madagascar MAD Romain Métanire
23 MF United States USA Grayson Dupont
24 MF United States USA Azriel González
30 MF United States USA Masango Akale
31 GK United States USA Brooks Thompson (on loan from Hartford Athletic)
77 MF Jamaica JAM Andre Lewis
— DF The Gambia GAM Ismaila Jome

Team records

Head coaches

  • Includes USL Regular Season, USL Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
Coach Nationality Start End Games Wins Losses Draws Win %
Leigh Veidman[27]  England November 15, 2023 present 14 6 5 3 042.86

References

  1. ^ USLSoccer.com Staff (March 2, 2021). "USL, Downtown Spokane Partnership Announce New Proposal for Downtown Stadium". USLSoccer.com.
  2. ^ "Spokane Public Schools board votes to build new stadium downtown". KREM. May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  3. ^ USLLeagueOne.com Staff (May 5, 2021). "New Downtown Spokane Stadium Development Approved by Public School Board". USL League One. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  4. ^ Allen, Jim (December 13, 2021). "MLS or USL? Decision on professional soccer is up to the Spokane Public Facilities District". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Robertson, Erin (October 7, 2022). "United Soccer League announces addition of men's team to Spokane club". KXLY-TV. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "New USL Spokane Ownership Introduced to Community". USL League One. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "USL Spokane". Capelli Sport. June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Allen, Jim (July 21, 2023). "Spokane's United Soccer League team debuts 'Velocity FC' name, logo". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Reed, Justin (November 15, 2023). "Leigh Veidman announced as first Spokane Velocity FC head coach". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Myers, Ethan (March 9, 2024). "Spokane Velocity start fast, but lose inaugural match 3–1 to Greenville Triumph". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Reed, Justin (March 16, 2024). "'The atmosphere was phenomenal': Spokane Velocity start party early during 2–1 home-opening win over Richmond". The Spokesman-Review.
  12. ^ Evans, Jayda (March 20, 2024). "Ballard FC falls to Spokane Velocity in U.S. Open Cup after late controversy". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Spokane Velocity (July 21, 2023). "Our Crest". Spokane Velocity. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Craven, Brock (December 19, 2023). "Spokane Velocity FC releases first look of inaugural jerseys!". SWX Right Now. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "Spokane Velocity FC Announces Kit Sponsors" (Press release). Spokane Velocity FC. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Hyun, Nathan (March 17, 2024). "Thousands of fans bring the energy to Spokane Velocity's first home game". KREM 2. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  17. ^ "Know Before You Go". Spokane Velocity FC. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  18. ^ "United Soccer League Announces Addition of a W League Team in Spokane". USL Spokane. June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "New USL Spokane Ownership Introduced to Community". USL W League. October 7, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  20. ^ Allen, Jim (May 16, 2023). "Spokane gets top-tier USL women's soccer team". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "New Women's Spokane Soccer team name revealed". KREM. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  22. ^ "Meet the Staff: Front Office Team". January 10, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  23. ^ "Katie Harnetiaux Joins USL Spokane as President". Spokane Velocity Football Club. October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  24. ^ "Meet the Technical Team". February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  25. ^ "Spokane Velocity FC Hires Assistant Coach, Renato Bustamante". February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  26. ^ "Velocity FC Signs 29-year-old Ish Jome". USL Spokane. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  27. ^ "Spokane Velocity FC Hires Leigh Veidman as Club's First Head Coach". USL Spokane. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
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