The 2014 Sacramento Republic FC season was the club's inaugural season of existence. The club played in USL Pro, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid. The season began March 29 and concluded on September 6. The Republic won the USL Pro Championship, defeating the Harrisburg City Islanders 2–0.
Background
On December 3, 2012, USL Pro announced that a Sacramento expansion team would join the league for the 2014 season. On July 15, 2013, Predrag "Preki" Radosavljević was announced as head coach of the new franchise. The official name of the team and team shield were decided by fan vote. On July 18, 2013, the franchise officially announced the team name Sacramento Republic FC during the first annual Sacramento Soccer Day.
While the club always had plans to build a permanent stadium for home matches, an agreement was made between the Republic and Sacramento City College which would allow the Republic to use Hughes Stadium as their home pitch until a permanent home could be established. On November 14, 2013, the club announced that they'd reached an agreement with Ovation Food Service and Cal Expo to build an 8,000 seat, soccer-specific stadium on the site of the California State Fair. Later, the club announced a naming deal with local Sacramento company Bonney Plumbing Heating and Air which would formally change the stadium's name to Bonney Field.
The 2014 USL Pro season started March 22, with the Republic playing its first match on March 29 away to LA Galaxy II, ending in a 1–1 draw. Their first home game wasn't until nearly a month later, when they took on Harrisburg City Islanders in a 2–1 loss at Hughes Stadium.
Throughout the course of the 2014 season, the Republic regularly hosted sold-out crowds. At their first home game, the Republic smashed the existing regular season single game attendance record (previously held by Orlando City FC and set on August 11, 2013, with a total of 10,697 in attendance) during their first home match with a total of 20,231 in attendance. The Republic would meet this figure, selling out the stadium, in all but one of their games at Hughes.
Club
Roster As of August 20, 2014.
Technical staff As of July 6, 2014. Position Name Technical director Graham Smith Head coach Preki Assistant coach Rod Underwood Assistant coach Chris Malenab Assistant coach Antonio Sutton Assistant coach/Goalkeepers Simon Sheppard Assistant coach/Goalkeepers Gene DuChateau Team Administrator Jason Corbally
Competitions
Preseason
USL Pro
All times from this point on Pacific Daylight Saving Time (UTC−07:00)
Results summary
Standings
USL Pro Playoffs
U.S. Open Cup
Friendlies
Statistics
Transfers
In
No.Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource 8 Los Angeles Blues 11 FC Tucson 12 FC Hoverla Uzhhorod 5 BSC Old Boys 26 New England Revolution 17 Toronto FC 23 Bay Area Ambassadors 21 Wilmington Hammerheads 18 Ventura County Fusion 9 FC Tucson 3 Ventura County Fusion 25 Los Angeles Blues 4 Port Talbot Town F.C. 10 Shamrock Rovers 7 Philadelphia Union 6 Ventura County Fusion 22 Ventura County Fusion 20 FC Energie Cottbus 19 Chico State Wildcats 13 Houston Dynamo 28 Ventura County Fusion 40 Ventura County Fusion 43 FC Sochaux
Out
No.Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource6DF Jack Lane IlkestonReleased from contractJune 26, 20144DF Chad BondFree agentReleased from contractAugust 16, 20143DF Jack AvesyanFree agentReleased from contractDecember 31, 20146FW Chad BartloméFree agentReleased from contractDecember 31, 201413MF Christian GonzalezFree agentReleased from contractDecember 31, 201420MF Carlos MartinezFree agentReleased from contractDecember 31, 2014
Loan in
No.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromStartEndSource 1GK Jake Gleeson Portland Timbers 2FW Mike Fucito San Jose Earthquakes 14FW Adam Jahn San Jose Earthquakes 16FW Tommy Thompson San Jose Earthquakes 24MF George Fochive Portland Timbers 27DF Alvas Powell Portland Timbers 29MF Jeffrey "J.J." Koval San Jose Earthquakes 32MF Steven Evans Portland Timbers
See also 2014 in American soccer 2014 USL Pro season Sacramento Republic FC
References