Philadelphia Lone Star Football Club is an American professional development soccer club based in Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that competes in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. Nicknamed "the Stars", the club was founded as Junior Lone Star Football Club in 2001, but changed its name to Philadelphia Lone Star F.C. in 2018.
History Philadelphia Lone Star F.C. was established in 2001 under the name of Junior Lone Star Football Club by a group of Liberian American immigrant soccer players. The club was named Junior Lone Star FC, after the Liberian national football team, because most of the team's players were from Liberia at that time.
In 2001, the club had a single team with 11 players but the club has grown over the years with the addition of three teams with over 70 players. In 2012, the First Team will be participating in the National Premier Soccer League; the Reserve Team (U-23) will be participating in the US Club Soccer National Adult League; and the Junior Team (U-19/20) will be participating in the USL Super-20 League.
Junior Lone Star FC won its first major championship in 2008 when the club's U-23 team won the Eastern Pennsylvania State U23 Cup. The club's U23s then represented Eastern Pennsylvania in the 2008 USASA Region I Men's U-23 Cup where they defeated West Chester United SC and FC Delco in the semi-finals and final, respectively. The club's U23s subsequently represented USASA Region I at the 2008 USASA National Men's U-23 Championship where they lost to eventual champions Ela Elite in the semi-finals.
Junior Lone Star FC is affiliated with the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA), the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and the US Club Soccer (USCS).
Colors and badge Philadelphia Lone Star's home colors are white along with a red and navy stripes on the side. Traditional away colors have been either navy or red; however, in recent years several different colors have been used. Philadelphia Lone Star colors are similar to that of the Liberia national football team.
The Stars have previously worn two badges on their shirts, prior to their current badge which was implemented on 5 September 2018 after their name change to Philadelphia Lone Star. The red/white stripes, blue field and white star is a direct reference to the flag of Liberia, while 2001 is in reference to the year the club was founded.
The first, introduced at the club founding in 2001, consisted of a circular badge was based on designs which had been used on official club documentation since the mid-1960s. It consisted of a circular badge which used the same shield as the current badge, inside a circle bearing the name of the club. In late 2011, this was replaced by a circular crest divided into half by the club's name: Junior Lone Star FC. The upper portion of the crest had red and white stripes while the lower portion had a shining white star and the year 2001 within a blue field.
On 5 September 2018, the club rebranded to Philadelphia Lone Star and after members consultation, a new design of the badge was voted for. The shape of the crest is a pointed shield, a symbol of strength and togetherness which has been a staple of the Lone Star ethos and message since its formation. The 13 vertical stripes of red alternating with white symbolize the 13 original players who formed the first squad of the club in 2001.
The Liberty Bell is synonymous with the City of Philadelphia, a city that openly welcomed the club members from West Africa. The name of the Bell also resonates with Liberia National Motto: "The Love of LIBERTY Brought Us Here." There are also two different shades of blue around and within the crest. The left color is taken from the flag of Philadelphia and the right color is taken from the flag of Liberia.
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors Period Kit supplier Shirt sponsor 2001–2011 various None 2012 SarsonNone 2013–2016 adidasNone 2017 Errea Piayon Lasannah 2018–present Icarus FC Cypher
Year-by-year
NPSL Year Regular season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Notes 2012 5th, Keystone Conference did not qualify Ineligible 2013 4th, Keystone Conference did not qualify did not qualify 2014 3rd, Keystone Conference did not qualify did not qualify 2015On Hiatus 2016 3rd, Keystone Conference Ineligible did not qualify 2017 6th, Keystone Conference did not qualify did not qualify 2018 2nd, Keystone Conference Conference Semifinal did not qualify Lost to West Chester United SC in Conference Semifinal 2019 4th, Keystone Conference Conference Final First Round Lost to FC Motown in Conference Final 2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
USL League Two Year Regular season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Notes 2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 4th, Mid Atlantic did not qualify did not qualify 2022 5th, Mid Atlantic did not qualify did not qualify 2023 5th, Mid Atlantic did not qualify did not qualify 2024 5th, Mid Atlantic did not qualify did not qualify 2025Did not field national team 2026 8th, Mid Atlantic did not qualify did not qualify
UPSL As Philadelphia Lone Star II Year Regular season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Notes Spring 2018 2nd, American Division Division Final Ineligible Lost to Rochester Super 9 Pro SC in Division Final Fall 2018did not compete Spring 2019 3rd, Northeast Conference did not qualify did not enter Fall 2019 4th, Empire Division Division Final did not enter Lost to Mass United FC in Division Final Spring 2020Season delayed due to COVID-19
WPSL Year Regular season Playoffs Notes 2019 2nd, Colonial Division Conference Final Lost to Torch FC in Conference Final 2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19
Honors U.S. Open Cup 2017, First Round (Qualified as an amateur side through local qualifying) 2019, First Round (Qualified as a member of the NPSL through 2018 season results) 2020 (Qualified as a member of the NPSL through 2019 season results)
Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association State Open Cup Champions: 2016, 2018 State Amateur Cup Champions: 2016, 2018
Northeast Elite Soccer League Regular Season Champions: 2018
Philadelphia Sierra Soccer League Champions: 2011
Source
Stadiums Stadium at Monsignor Bonner High School's Turf Stadium; Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania (2013) Stadium at Northeast High School's Charles Martin Memorial Stadium; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2012)
References
External links