Monterey Bay FC
 | |
| Full name | Monterey Bay Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Union[1] |
| Founded | February 1, 2021 |
| Stadium | Cardinale Stadium Seaside, California |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Owner | Ray Beshoff |
| President | Mike DiGiulio |
| Head Coach | Frank Yallop |
| League | USL Championship |
| Website | Club website |
Monterey Bay Football Club is a American professional soccer team based in Monterey County, California. The club was established on February 21, 2021,[2] and is a member of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer league system. It will begin play during the 2022 USL Championship season as a member of the league's Western Conference.[3]
History
Former Monterey Bay teams
The Monterey Bay had its first professional team in 1993 when Santa Cruz Surf joined the USISL.[4] The team would only last through the 1994 season, but professional soccer's absence would not last long as the Monterey Bay Jaguars were established for the 1995 season.[5] The following season the Jaguars would change the location in their name to "California" and have their most successful season, defeating the Richmond Kickers 2-1 to win the USISL Select League Championship.[6] The Jaguars would continue to play in USL affiliated leagues until their folding after the 1999 USL D3 Pro League season.
National club soccer would not return to the Monterey Bay until 2004, when the Salinas Valley Samba joined the Men's Premier Soccer League for its second season.[7] The 2007 NPSL season would see two Monterey Bay teams playing in the same league, with the Santa Cruz County Breakers established. However this would not last long, as the Breakers would fold their NPSL club in 2008.[8] The Samba themselves would fold the following year, with the 2009 season being their last. In 2018, a decade after the initial Breakers team folded, the club reestablished their first-team side and joined the USL PDL under the name Santa Cruz Breakers FC.[9]
From Fresno to the Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay F.C. is a continuation of the USL Championship's former Fresno FC franchise. The team, owned by Ray Beshoff, ceased operations after the 2019 season because he was unable to secure construction of a soccer-specific stadium. Beshoff retained the franchise rights and started a search for another place in California to relocate.[10] On February 1, 2021, Monterey Bay F.C. joined the USL Championship. The club's Sporting Director is two-time MLS Coach of the Year, Frank Yallop. Yallop had previously served as General Manager of Fresno FC.[11][12] In April 2021, former San Jose Earthquakes captain, Ramiro Corrales, joined the team staff as a technical advisor.[13] Corrales, a native of Salinas, began and ended his playing career in the Monterey Bay Area. His career began with the Monterey Bay Jaguars in 1995 before joining the San Jose Clash (later renamed "Earthquakes") in 1996. He last served as a player-coach with Santa Cruz Breakers during the 2018 USL PDL season.[14] General manager Frank Yallop was also named Head Coach on April 22, 2021, with Ramiro Corrales named as Assistant Coach.[15]
The club signed their first player, Walmer Martinez, on December 22, 2021. Born in Santa Cruz, Martinez returned to play professionally at the same campus he had played collegiately with CSUMB.[16]
Stadium
Monterey Bay F.C. will play their games at what was Freeman Stadium on the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay. The stadium will be renovated with private funds and will hold 6,000 fans.[17] Ground breaking for the stadium renovations took place on September 16, 2021. The team entered into a multi-year partnership with the Cardinale Automotive Group for the stadium naming rights. The venue will be renamed Cardinale Stadium.[18]
Colors and badge
Monterey Bay Football Club's official colors are Crisp Blue, Kelp Blue and White.[1]
Sponsorship
| Seasons | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2022–present |  Puma[19]
|
Montage Health[20] |
Players
Current roster
- As of April 1, 2022
| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Dallas Jaye |  Guam
|
| 2 | DF | Hugh Roberts | United States
|
| 3 | DF | Morey Doner |  Canada
|
| 6 | MF | James Murphy | United States
|
| 7 | MF | Adrian Rebollar | United States
|
| 8 | MF | Simon Dawkins |  Jamaica
|
| 9 | FW | Seku Conneh |  Liberia
|
| 10 | FW | Christian Volesky | United States
|
| 11 | FW | Walmer Martinez |  El Salvador
|
| 12 | DF | Grant Robinson | United States
|
| 13 | MF | Mobi Fehr | United States
|
| 15 | FW | Chris Cortez | United States
|
| 17 | MF | Arun Basuljevic | United States
|
| 18 | GK | Rafael Díaz |  Dominican Republic
|
| 19 | MF | Robbie Crawford |  Scotland
|
| 22 | FW | Jesse Maldonado | United States
|
| 23 | MF | Sam Gleadle |  England
|
| 30 | DF | Kai Greene | United States
|
| 31 | FW | Chase Boone | United States
|
| 77 | MF | Jiro Barriga Toyama |  Panama
|
| 99 | DF | Sam Strong | United States
|
- ^ USL Academy player
Technical staff
- As of April 22, 2021
| Technical staff | |
|---|---|
| Sporting director / Head coach | Frank Yallop |
| Technical advisor / Assistant coach | Ramiro Corrales |
References
- ^ a b Ferrante, Christina (July 16, 2021). "Monterey Bay F.C. Reveals Official Crest and Colors". montereybayfc.com. Monterey Bay Football Club. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ USLChampionship com Staff (2021-02-01). "USL Championship Welcomes Monterey Bay Football Club". USL Championship. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
- ^ USLChampionship com Staff (2021-12-21). "USL Championship Announces 2022 Competition Format". USL Championship. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
- ^ "The Year in American Soccer, 1993". soccerhistoryusa.org. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
- ^ "The Year in American Soccer, 1995". soccerhistoryusa.org. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
- ^ "The Year in American Soccer, 1996". soccerhistoryusa.org. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
- ^ "MPSL News". 2003-12-03. Archived from the original on 3 December 2003. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
- ^ "Midfield Press » Santa Cruz Breakers Add PDL First Team With an Eye Towards More". 2018-02-01. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
- ^ Staff, USLPDL com (2018-01-31). "Santa Cruz Breakers FC Join PDL as Southwest Member". USL League Two. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
- ^ "Fresno FC Club Statement". Fresno FC. December 19, 2019.
- ^ Devine, John (February 1, 2021). "Pro soccer: USL to put pro franchise in Monterey". montereyherald.com.
- ^ "USL Championship Welcomes Monterey Bay Football Club". USLChampionship.com Staff. February 1, 2021.
- ^ "MONTEREY BAY FC ADDS FORMER MLS AND U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER RAMIRO CORRALES TO TECHNICAL STAFF". USL Championship. April 12, 2021.
- ^ "Santa Cruz Breakers FC Join PDL as Southwest Member". Archived from the original on 2018-02-16.
- ^ "MONTEREY BAY FC ANNOUNCES FRANK YALLOP WILL SERVE AS HEAD COACH". Monterey Bay Football Club. April 22, 2021.
- ^ USLChampionship com Staff (2021-12-22). "Monterey Bay F.C. Announces Walmer Martinez as First Signing in Club's History". USL Championship. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
- ^ "Monterey Bay FC plan includes major stadium renovation". Kevin Reichard. Soccer Stadium Digest. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Monterey Bay FC Breaks Ground on Cardinale Stadium on the CSUMB Campus". montereybayfc.com. Monterey Bay Football Club. September 16, 2021.
- ^ Ferrante, Christina (May 6, 2021). "Monterey Bay FC Announces PUMA as Official Sports Apparel Partner". montereybayfc.com. Monterey Bay Football Club. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
- ^ Ferrante, Christina (June 17, 2021). "Montage Health Announced as the Official Kit Partner for Monterey Bay FC". montereybayfc.com. Monterey Bay Football Club. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
