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Vermont Green FC

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Vermont Green FC
Full nameVermont Green Football Club
Founded2021
StadiumVirtue Field
Capacity2,500
ManagerAdam Pfeifer
LeagueUSL League Two
20243rd, Northeast Division
Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
Websitehttps://vermontgreenfc.com/

Vermont Green Football Club is an American soccer team based in Burlington, Vermont that began play in USL League Two in the 2022 season.[1][2][3] The club mission is centered on environmental justice with the goal of becoming a net zero soccer club.[4] They are also a member of One Percent for the Planet, donating 1% of the club's annual revenues to approved environmental partners.[5] VGFC's environmental mission has drawn coverage from BBC Sport, The Guardian, and the Men in Blazers podcast.[6][7][8]

History

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Prior to the Green, the Burlington, Vermont area was home to USL League Two club, Vermont Voltage, which played from 1997 until 2014.

The club was officially announced as USL League Two's newest team on October 12, 2021.[9][10] One of the club's co-founders is Matthew Wolff, a graphic designer known for his work on association football logos and jerseys. Wolff designed Vermont Green FC's logo, which was unveiled in February 2022.[11]

The club played its first match on May 16, 2022, defeating Boston City FC 4–0. Norwegian Eythor Bjorgolfsson scored their first goal on a penalty late in the first half.[12] On May 28, 2022, Vermont Green FC won in their home opener, in front of a crowd of 1,001 people. Portuguese midfielder Rodrigo Vaza scored his first goal for the club and the first home VGFC goal in history.[13] On July 17, 2022, the Green defeated Western Mass Pioneers 1–0 in front of a capacity crowd of 2,500 to clinch a playoff spot in their first season of play.[14] After upsetting hosts Lionsbridge FC in the opening round, VGFC were eliminated by eventual national runner up Long Island Roughriders.[15]

Interest in Vermont Green continued to grow in the leadup to their second season. In the spring of 2023, it was announced they had sold out of season tickets for the upcoming season with a total 1,250 sold. Five of the team's seven home league matches were sellouts. On the field, the Green won ten matches and finish 3rd in USL League Two's Northeast Division. The Green were eliminated from USL League Two playoff contention after a 1–1 draw at Pathfinder FC in their penultimate match, ultimately finishing two points behind Western Mass Pioneers for the final playoff spot.[16] In addition to their league schedule, the team also played friendlies against CS Mont-Royal Outremont of Ligue1 Quebec, Kingston Stockade of the National Premier Soccer League, and local side Juba Star FC.[17] After the season, the Green were recognized as the 2023 USL League Two Organization of the Year, chosen from the league’s 122 clubs across the US and Canada.[18]

On December 11, 2023, it was announced that Vermont Green qualified for the U.S. Open Cup for the first time.[19] Vermont Green won the first round match against USL League One team Lexington SC 4-3.[20] In round two, VGFC hosted again. Despite leading early on a goal by Israeli forward Yaniv Bazini, they were eventually defeated 2-1 by MLS Next Pro side Carolina Core FC in front of sellout crowd.[21]

In 2024, it was announced that the club would begin an annual match against the reigning champion of the Canadian Ligue1 Québec, to be known as the Maple Cup.[22] In May, the club announced they would form a women's team.[23] Coached by former NWSL and United States women’s national soccer team star Sam Mewis, they hosted a friendly match against Ligue1 Québec side FC Laval on June 22, 2024 as a preview to the Maple Cup, winning the match on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation.[24]

On July 13, 2024, Vermont Green clinched its second ever postseason birth after coming from behind in the second half to beat Western Mass Pioneers 3-1 in an away game. They finished the regular season with a 9-2-2 record, good enough for 3rd place in the Northeast Division.

Stadium

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Virtue Field during a Vermont Green FC match in 2022

The club plays their home matches at Virtue Field on the campus of the University of Vermont.[25][26] The club's founders have stated that their ultimate goal is to build their own dedicated stadium at some point in the future. [27]

Players

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As of July 2, 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Canada CAN Nathan Simeon
3 DF United States USA Lucas Windschauer
4 MF Australia AUS Sam Layton
5 MF Senegal SEN Moussa Ndiaye
6 MF Canada CAN Daniel Pacella
7 FW United States USA Xavi O'Neil
8 FW Hungary HUN Jacob Labovitz
10 MF Ghana GHA Ernest Bawa
11 MF Venezuela VEN Carlos Zambrano
12 MF Costa Rica CRC Gerardo Castillo
13 GK Spain ESP Lute Lillo
15 MF Costa Rica CRC Andrey 'Gato' Salmeron
16 MF United States USA Jackson Castro
17 MF United States USA Ryan Combe
18 FW Israel ISR Yaniv Bazini
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF United States USA Zachary Zengue
20 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Pearse O'Brien
21 MF United States USA Theo Drennan
22 MF Portugal POR Rodrigo Vaza
24 DF Portugal POR Bernardo Prego
26 MF Libya LBY Ayoub Lajhar
27 DF United States USA Reid Fisher
29 DF Germany GER Sebastian Gebhart
30 GK United States USA Jaheim Wickham
32 MF United States USA Aidan Farwell
34 MF Ghana GHA Mohammed Ibrahim
44 DF United States USA Gabe Threadgold
55 DF Norway NOR Sjur Drechsler
64 MF Ivory Coast CIV Yann Toualy
70 MF Somalia SOM Siad Haji
77 DF Germany GER Nick Lockermann

Technical staff

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  • United States Adam Pfeifer – Sporting Director & Manager
  • England Chris Taylor – Assistant Manager
  • Northern Ireland Lee Williamson – Assistant Coach
  • United States Brad Agoos - Assistant Coach
  • United States Kate Harney – Athletic Trainer
  • United States Sam Mewis – Women's team coach

Notable former players

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Year by year

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Year Level League Reg. season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Average attendance
2022 4 USL 2 3rd, Northeast Conference Semifinals Not eligible 1,405
2023 4 USL 2 3rd, Northeast Did not qualify Did not qualify 2,234
2024 4 USL 2 3rd, Northeast Conference Semifinals 2nd round 2,431

References

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  1. ^ "Vermont Green Football Club (USL 2)". protagonistsoccer.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "Vermont Green's fan club helped propel the soccer team to first-year successes". vtdigger.org. August 2022. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  3. ^ "'More than a soccer club': Vermont Green Football Club looks to create socially conscious community". vtdigger.org. June 5, 2022. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  4. ^ "The Vermont Green FC Environmental Justice Mission". Vermont Green Football Club. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Vermont Green FC Environmental Justice Mission". Vermont Green Football Club. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  6. ^ "The new US club doing things differently". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Root, Tik (June 30, 2023). "Vermont Green FC: the fourth-tier US soccer team out to save the world". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "Men in Blazers 06/01/23: Live in Vermont – Men in Blazers". Men in Blazers. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "Vermont Green FC, new men's soccer team will compete in USL League Two". Local 22/44 News. October 12, 2021. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  10. ^ Staff, USLLeagueTwo com (October 12, 2021). "Vermont Green FC to Join USL League Two Ahead of the 2022 Season". USL League Two. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  11. ^ Wolff, Matthew (February 17, 2022). "A Letter From Designer & Club Co-Founder Matthew Wolff". Vermont Green FC. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "Vermont Green FC Win 4–0 in League Debut". May 16, 2022. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  13. ^ "Vermont Green FC Earn Win In Historic Home Opener". Vermont Green Football Club. May 29, 2022. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  14. ^ "Green community helps drive playoff push". July 18, 2022. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  15. ^ "USL League Two Playoffs are here". USL League 2 Playoffs. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "Standings | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  17. ^ "2023 Schedule". Vermont Green Football Club. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  18. ^ "Vermont Green FC named 2023 USL League Two Organization of the Year". December 2023. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Full Slate of 32 Open Division Underdogs Set for 2024 Open Cup | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "2024 US Open Cup Round 1: Vermont Green upset Lexington as tournament debuts in Green Mountain State". thecup.us. March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "Vermont Green F.C. Run in U.S. Open Cup stopped by Carolina Core". April 4, 2024.
  22. ^ Mahmoudi, Nelson (April 20, 2024). "Vermont Green To Host League1 Quebec Champion In New 'Maple Cup'". Northern Tribune.
  23. ^ "Vermont Green FC Announce Inaugural Women's Exhibition Match, Explore Launch of Permanent Women's Team". Vermont Green FC. May 7, 2024.
  24. ^ Dugan, Michael (June 22, 2024). "Vermont Green wins inaugural women's match in penalties". WCAX-TV.
  25. ^ "About". Vermont Green Football Club. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  26. ^ Sports, Banner. "Vermont Green Football to bring amature [sic] soccer to Burlington". Bennington Banner. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  27. ^ "Burlington's Semipro Soccer Team, Vermont Green FC, is Winning on and off the Field".
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