Celtic FC America
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| The Houston Hurricanes FC crest, with the team's name across a green shield with a Hurricane devouring a soccer ball and four-leaf clovers. | |||
| Full name | Houston Hurricanes FC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Hurricanes, The Canes, The Hoops | ||
| Founded | 24 December 2012[1] | ||
| Ground | Lutheran South Academy[2] Houston, Texas | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 | ||
| Owner | Brendan Keyes | ||
| Head Coach | Brendan Keyes[3] | ||
| League | Texas Premier Soccer League | ||
| 2014/15 | 1st | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
|
| |||
Houston Hurricanes FC is an American soccer club based in Houston, Texas which debuted in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2013 and left the NPSL after the 2013 season. Hurricanes FC was established in December 2012 as an NPSL relocated team, when the league announced that team owner Brendan Keyes was moving his Galveston franchise to Houston.[1]
The Houston Hurricanes took the place of the Galveston Pirates in the NPSL’s South Region-South Central Conference.[1] Keyes, a former player of the defunct Houston Hurricanes, received the blessing of former Hurricanes owner Joey Serralta to rebrand the club.[1]
The Hurricanes' regular kit colors are green and white horizontally striped shirts with white shorts and socks which derive from the iconic Celtic F.C. uniform.[citation needed] The club's crest was designed by Vectorious Creative Media, a graphic design firm from nearby Porter, Texas.[citation needed]
History
National Premier Soccer League (NPSL)
On December 24, 2012, the National Premier Soccer League released an announcement on its website that Galveston Pirate SC team owner Brendan Keyes would relocate and rebrand his franchise for the 2013 NPSL season.[citation needed] The Pirates, who won the South Central Conference crown as an expansion team in 2012, will continue to play in local leagues and tournaments in Texas, while the new Houston Hurricanes will take the place of the Galveston team in the NPSL.[citation needed]
"The Houston Hurricanes were always my first choice and dream name. I was with the Hurricanes back in my playing days. I worked as a trainer with the team, doing tryouts, and helping out the team in any way I could. So it was always my dream to have the Houston Hurricanes in the NPSL."
Brendan Keyes, Team Owner[1]
Keyes played for the USL Houston Hurricanes and his boyhood idol Bobby Lennox played for the NASL's Hurricane club, two factors that played into Keyes resurrecting the Hurricane brand. The move received the blessing of NPSL Chairman Andy Zorovich and former Hurricane owner Joey Serralta.[citation needed]
On the same day of the announcement of their founding, the club also revealed their first player signing, which was 19-year-old Mercer University player Justin Ross. The Hurricanes then held tryouts in order to fill the rest of their roster before their NPSL debut in May 2013. The Hurricanes finished the 2013 NPSL season in last place in the South Central Conference.[4]
On November 11, 2013, owner Brendan Keyes announced that the club would not be participating in the NPSL the following season.[5]
In September 2013 six clubs (Houston Leones FC, Houston Hurricanes FC, Houston Regals SCA, Houston Dutch Lions, Galveston Pirate SC, and BCS Bearkatz FC) participated in the Texas Premier Soccer League inaugural season.[citation needed]
In season 2014, the Hurricanes and Pirates remained the only sides to stay on board for the second season. They were joined by Austin Real Cuauhtemoc, Twin Cities FC (Eagle Pass), Texas Timberz FC (Diboll) and Ranchero King FC (Houston).[citation needed]
The TPSL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer, an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) with the league being operated and managed solely by Brendan Keyes. Each team is owned and operated individually and are responsible for maintaining the league's minimum standards and for raising its own operating revenue.[citation needed]
Year on Year
| Year | League | Position | Playoffs | US Open Cup | Texas Cup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | NPSL | 4th | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | |
| 2013/2014 | TPSL | 5th | DNQ | DNQ | Runner-up[6] | |
| 2014/2015 | TPSL | 1st | Runner up | DNQ | 5th |
Coaching and playing staff
Coaching Staff
| Position | Name | Nationality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Brendan Keyes | 
| |
| Assistant Coach | Gary Doherty |
|
Playing Squad
{-} Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of Jan 9, 2013.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Former Pro Brings Hurricanes Back to Houston". NPSL. December 24, 2012.
- ^ "Houston Hurricanes sign deal with Lutheran South Academy to play games there for next five years". Houston Hurricanes FC. January 17, 2013.
- ^ "Hurricanes Keyes takes over from Reis". Houston Hurricanes FC. January 7, 2013.
- ^ "NPSL Standings". Retrieved November 28, 2013.
- ^ "Hurricanes leaving NPSL". Retrieved November 28, 2013.
- ^ "Texas State Cup 2013". Retrieved November 12, 2014.
External links
- Official website
- Official Facebook Page
- Official Twitter Page