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Jacksonville Armada FC

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For the developmental team, see Jacksonville Armada U-23.

Jacksonville Armada FC
JacksonvilleArmadaFC
Full nameJacksonville Armada
Football Club
Nickname(s)Boys in Blue
Founded2013
GroundBaseball Grounds of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Capacity11,000
OwnerMark Frisch
Head CoachMark Lowry
LeagueNorth American Soccer League
2016Spring: 10th
Fall: 11th
Combined: 11th
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Jacksonville Armada FC are a professional soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They play in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American soccer pyramid, which they joined for the 2015 season. The Armada play their home games at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville in Downtown Jacksonville.[1]

History

In May 2013, Jacksonville businessman Mark Frisch and former Major League Soccer player Darío Sala formed Sunshine Soccer Group with the intention of bringing professional soccer to Jacksonville. The effort was bolstered by several successful soccer matches held at EverBank Field, including two national team games that set records for international friendlies. The North American Soccer League invited the group to present a bid for a 2015 expansion team at their July 25, 2013 board meeting. The bid was accepted, and the NASL announced that Jacksonville and Oklahoma City FC would receive franchises for the 2015 season.[2][3][3][4]

The organization has announced that Sala will serve as general manager,[5] and former NFL Europe and Jacksonville Jaguars executive Steve Livingstone will serve as President.[6] On February 18, 2014, the team announced its name would be Jacksonville Armada FC, and that its colors would be navy blue, royal blue, gold, and white.[7] On June 11, 2014, the team announced it had hired former Argentine player José Luis Villarreal as its first head coach.[8]

The team began playing in the 2015 NASL Spring season.[3] After a few pre-season games in February and March, the club played its first league game, at home, on April 4, 2015, defeating FC Edmonton 3–1. On September 21, 2015, the club announced the dismissal of head coach Guillermo Hoyos, general manager Dario Sala and assistant coaches Edison Ibarra, Sebastian Fabres and Rafael Perez Nino. The Armada stood 11th and last in the North American Soccer League. The decision came just three months after the team had extended Hoyos' contract through the end of 2019. "Following an in-depth analysis of the team and operations, I am confident that a new direction is needed to turn around our team," Armada owner Mark Frisch said in a statement. Director of player development Eric Dade took over through the end of the 2015 NASL season.

On November 24, 2015, the Armada announced U.S. Soccer legend Tony Meola as the team's new head coach.[9] After nine-months in the job, Meola was fired on August 7, 2016, with Mark Lowry taking over as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2016 Fall Season.[10]

League and cup history

Season NASL Overall U.S. Open Cup Top goalscorer Managers Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
2015 Spring 6th 10 3 3 4 15 18 12 11th Third Round Guinea Alhassane Keita 7 Argentina José Luis Villarreal
Argentina Guillermo Ángel Hoyos
United States Eric Dade 		Nike Winn-Dixie
Fall 11th 20 5 4 11 18 31 19
2016 Spring 10th 10 1 4 5 5 11 7 11th Fourth Round Cameroon Charles Eloundou
Guinea Alhassane Keita 		6 United States Tony Meola
England Mark Lowry
Fall 11th 22 5 8 9 25 35 23

Stadium

On July 11, 2014, the Armada announced they would play their home games at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville in Downtown Jacksonville for at least three seasons. They hope to later construct their own expandable soccer-specific stadium.[11][12]

The team has also played games in EverBank Field, including their first exhibition game vs the Philadelphia Union, which set a modern-era NASL record for preseason attendance (13,934).[13] It was also the site for their first regular season game, which was a 3–1 victory over FC Edmonton. That game set the modern era NASL record for regular season attendance (16,164).[14]

Club culture

The Coastal Cup was established in 2010 and was originally contested between the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Tampa Bay Rowdies, but with Jacksonville's entry into the league, the competition has become triangular.[15] The league has announced that beginning in the 2016 season a new Miami FC team will join the NASL.[16] This addition would make the Coastal Cup a four team affair.

The team is cheered on by Section 904,[17] the first supporters' group. Section 904 is known for their singing, drumming, and blue-and-yellow smoke; can be seen behind the goal at every home match.[18]

Players and staff

Current roster

As of June 20, 2016

No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Miguel Gallardo  Mexico
2 DF Tyler Ruthven  United States
4 DF Mechack Jérôme  Haiti
6 MF Nicklas Maripuu  Sweden
7 DF Bryan Burke  United States
9 FW Alexander Andersson  Sweden
10 FW Al Keita  Guinea
11 FW Jemal Johnson  England
12 MF Junior Sandoval  Honduras
13 DF Matt Bahner  United States
14 MF Pascal Millien  Haiti
17 MF Nicolás Perea  Colombia
18 MF Jason Plumhoff  Germany
19 MF Kevan George  Trinidad and Tobago
20 MF Danny Barrow  Wales
23 GK Sean Lewis  United States
24 FW Chaim Roserie  Canada
27 FW Derek Gebhard  United States
99 FW Charles Eloundou  Cameroon

Developmental team

Main article: Jacksonville Armada U-23

In 2016, the Armada announced that they had formed an under 23 team to play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as part of their development system. The team, Jacksonville United U-23, replaced Jacksonville United FC in the NPSL. The Armada retained Jacksonville United coach Pat Cannon.[19]

Individual records

Top goalscorers

As of Match played 30 October 2016
Name Years NASL U.S. Open Cup Total
1 Guinea Alhassane Keita 2015–present 13 (43) 01 0(2) 14 (45)
2 Haiti Pascal Millien 2015–2016 7 (37) 00 0(2) 7 (39)
2 United States Jemal Johnson 2015–present 7 (52) 00 0(1) 7 (53)
4 Cameroon Charles Eloundou 2016–present 6 (29) 00 0(2) 6 (31)
5 United States Zach Steinberger 2016 4 (20) 00 0(0) 4 (20)
6 Colombia Jaime Castrillón 2015 3 (27) 00 0(1) 3 (28)
6 Jamaica Akeil Barrett 2015 3 (23) 00 0(1) 3 (24)
6 United States Matt Bahner 2015–present 3 (46) 00 0(1) 3 (47)
9 Argentina Marcos Flores 2015 2 (22) 00 0(0) 2 (22)
9 Argentina Bochy Hoyos 2015 2 (19) 00 0(0) 2 (19)
9 Argentina Lucas Scaglia 2015–2016 2 (41) 00 0(2) 2 (43)
9 Honduras Junior Sandoval 2016 2 (16) 00 0(2) 2 (18)
9 United States Alex Dixon 2016 2 (15) 00 0(1) 2 (16)

Most appearances

As of Match played 30 October 2016
Name Years NASL U.S. Open Cup Total
1 United States Jemal Johnson 2015–present 52 (7) 01 0(0) 53 (7)
2 Mexico Miguel Gallardo 2015–present 44 (0) 03 0(0) 47 (0)
2 United States Matt Bahner 2015–present 46 (3) 01 0(0) 47 (3)
4 Guinea Alhassane Keita 2015–present 43 (13) 02 0(1) 45 (14)
5 Argentina Lucas Scaglia 2015–2016 41 (2) 02 0(0) 43 (2)
6 Haiti Pascal Millien 2015–2016 37 (7) 02 0(0) 39 (7)
7 United States Tyler Ruthven 2016–present 31 (1) 02 0(0) 33 (1)
8 Haiti Mechack Jérôme 2015–present 31 (2) 01 0(0) 32 (2)
9 Guam Shawn Nicklaw 2015–2016 29 (0) 02 0(0) 31 (0)
10 Colombia Jaime Castrillón 2015 27 (3) 01 0(0) 28 (3)

Managerial records

As of Match played 30 October 2016
Name Nat. From To P W D L GS GA %W Honours Notes
José Luis Villarreal  Argentina June 13, 2015 11 3 3 5 15 21 027.27
Guillermo Ángel Hoyos  Argentina June 14, 2015 September 21, 2015 13 3 2 8 10 20 023.08
Eric Dade  United States September 21, 2015 November 24, 2015[9] 7 2 2 3 8 11 028.57
Tony Meola  United States November 24, 2015[9] August 7, 2016[10] 20 3 6 11 14 29 015.00
Mark Lowry  England August 7, 2016[10] 14 4 6 4 18 18 028.57

See also

References

  1. ^ "Community First secures title sponsor of Armada soccer pitch". www.bizjournals.com. Jacksonville Business Journal. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  2. ^ Freeman, Clayton (July 25, 2013). "Jacksonville awarded NASL team to begin play in 2015". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "NASL Board of Governors Unanimously Approves Expansion To Jacksonville And Oklahoma City". North American Soccer League. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  4. ^ "Pro soccer coming to Jacksonville". Action News Jax. July 25, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  5. ^ Matt Soergel (September 9, 2013). "Jacksonville's new pro soccer team has big plans, much work to do". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  6. ^ Pepper, Cole (October 8, 2013). "Jaguars Steve Livingstone To Head New Jax Pro Soccer Team". news.wjct.org. WJCT. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  7. ^ Soergel, Matt (February 18, 2014). "Jacksonville soccer team to be called the Jacksonville Armada FC". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved February 19, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Villarreal named first head coach of Armada FC". Financial News & Daily Record. June 11, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "LEGENDARY U.S. SOCCER HALL OF FAME GOALKEEPER TONY MEOLA HIRED AS ARMADA FC HEAD COACH AND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR".
  10. ^ a b c "ARMADA FC PARTS WAYS WITH HEAD COACH/TECHNICAL DIRECTOR TONY MEOLA, ASSISTANT COACH JIM ROONEY". armadafc.com. Jacksonville Armada FC. August 7, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "ARMADA FC 2015 SEASON TICKETS GO ON SALE STARTING AT JUST $10 PER MATCH". Jacksonville Armada FC. July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  12. ^ "Soccer fans! Jacksonville Armada FC to play Baseball Grounds". The Florida Times-Union. July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  13. ^ "Armada FC sets preseason attendance record in 3–1 win over Union". Jacksonville Armada FC. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  14. ^ "FT | Armada FC 3, Eddies 1". North American Soccer League. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  15. ^ "Rowdies NASL: NASL Releases 2015 Fall Season Schedule". rowdiessoccer.com. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  16. ^ "MIAMI FC BECOMES 12TH NASL CLUB". NASL.com. May 20, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  17. ^ "Section 904 Home".
  18. ^ "Section 904 Backs 'Boys in Blue' to Milestone Victory".
  19. ^ "Armada FC announce launch of U-23 team". www.news4jax.com. WJXT. February 10, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
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