AFC Cleveland was an American semi-professional soccer club based in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, Ohio. Founded in 2011 and playing its first season in 2012, the team spent six years in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League. After being expelled from the NPSL at the end of the 2017 season, AFC Cleveland folded and was replaced by Cleveland SC, who began play in the NPSL in 2018.
History
Following the folding of the Cleveland Internationals in 2010, the city of Cleveland was without a soccer team. On November 11, 2011, AFC Cleveland announced that they would join the National Premier Soccer League.
AFC stands for A Fans' Club, signifying that the organization is for the fans and created by the fans, and was inspired by the English club AFC Wimbledon.
Stadium Period Stadium Location 2012 Byers Field Parma, Ohio 2013 Krenzler FieldCleveland, Ohio 2014 DiSanto Field 2015 Rocky River HS Stadium Rocky River, Ohio 2016–2017 Stan Skoczen Stadium Independence, Ohio
Kit supplier and sponsorship From 2012 to 2013, the kit sponsor of the club was Admiral Sportswear. Beginning with the 2014 season, Givova took over as the kit sponsor.
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor 2012–2013 Admiral Sportswear AdmiralSoccer.com 2014–2015 Givova Rocky River Urgent Care 2016–2017 Joma NovaCare
Club culture Supporters 6th City Syndicate is the supporters' group for Cleveland soccer.
Rivalries Supporters of AFC Cleveland, Detroit City FC, and FC Buffalo formed the Rust Belt Derby, modeled after the Cascadia Cup. The winner of the Derby was based on the head to head record of the Midwestern clubs during regular season NPSL matches. Cleveland won the initial Rust Belt Derby on June 23, 2012, following a 1–1 draw with Detroit. AFC Cleveland also participated in in-state rivalry matches against Zanesville Athletic FC, with whom they contested the Presidential Cup, and Dayton Dynamo. Prior to the Cincinnati Saints relocating to Dayton to become the Dynamo, they and AFC Cleveland played for the I-71 Cup.
Players and staff
Notable former players This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the NPSL, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.
Robby Dambrot Bryan Gallego Riley Grant Alex Ivanov Sergio Manesio Bradley Ruhaak Nate Shultz Kotaro Umeda Matt Walker Shane Wiedt
Head coach history NameNationalityTenure Andy Hoggarth 2012–2014 Aaron McGuiness 2014 Carter Poe 2015–2017 Mike Sesar 2017
Honors NationalCompetitionsTitlesSeasons National Premier Soccer League 1 2016 Midwest Region (Playoffs) 1 2016 Great Lakes Conference (Playoffs) 2 2012, 2016 Great Lakes Conference (Regular Season) 1 2016
Minor Trophies Rust Belt Derby Champions: 2012 Presidential Cup Champions: 2013 I-71 Cup Champions: 2015
Year-by-year Season Division League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup20124NPSL3rd, Midwest-Great LakesRegional FinalsDid not qualify20134NPSL4th, Midwest-Great LakesConference Semi-FinalsDeclined Entry 20144NPSL3rd, Midwest-Great Lakes East Did not qualifyDid not qualify20154NPSL2nd, Midwest Conference Regional FinalsDid not qualify20164NPSL1st, Midwest-Great Lakes EastChampions2nd Round20174NPSL4th Midwest - EastDid not qualify2nd Round
References
External links
(archived)