Summary
Ballard FC is an American soccer club based in Seattle, Washington, competing in the Northwest Division of USL League Two. They began play in the 2022 season and won their first league championship in 2023. The team's home venue for the 2024 season is Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center.
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| Nickname(s) | The Bridges | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | December 1, 2021 | |||
| Stadium | Memorial Stadium Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |||
| Capacity | 10,000 | |||
| Owners | Lamar Neagle Chris Kaimmer Sam Zisette | |||
| Head coach | James Riley | |||
| League | USL League Two | |||
| 2023 | 1st, Northwest Division Playoffs: USL League Two Champions | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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History edit
The club was founded in 2021 and is owned by former Seattle Sounders FC player Lamar Neagle, Chris Kaimmer, and Sam Zisette. It is based in the Ballard neighborhood and would play home matches at the Interbay Soccer Field.[1][2] The club's largest supporters' group is The Bridge Keepers.[3]
Ballard FC made their league debut on May 21, 2022, defeating Lane United FC 6–1 in front of 1,200 spectators.[3] The team finished second in the USL2 Northwest Division behind Oregon's Capital FC and qualified for the league playoffs. They advanced to the Western Conference Final in Des Moines, Iowa, where Ballard FC lost 2–1 to the eventual league champions Ventura County Fusion.[4][5] Captain and defender Lesia Thetsane was a finalist for the USL2 Player of the Year Award and was one of 14 players to return for the club's second season in 2023.[6]
Head coach Jason Farrell left the club in July 2023 after they had clinched a playoff berth and was replaced by Ethan O'Neill on an interim basis.[7] Ballard FC secured their first Northwest Division title and hosted several playoff matches at Interbay Stadium.[8] The club advanced to the USL League Two Championship, which they would host at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Washington, against Lionsbridge FC on August 5, 2023. Ballard FC won their first championship 2–1 with a goal in stoppage time scored by Cameron Martin in front of a sellout crowd of 3,416.[9][10] The club are the second from Washington to win the league's championship, after Kitsap Pumas in 2011, and earned qualification to the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.[11]
On March 20, 2024, Ballard FC played their first U.S. Open Cup match at Memorial Stadium, their temporary home during year-long renovations to Interbay Soccer Field. The team lost 1–0 to Spokane Velocity FC, a new USL League One team based in the state.[12]
Stadium edit
During their first two seasons, Ballard FC played their home matches at Interbay Soccer Field, a 1,500-seat stadium in the Interbay neighborhood south of Ballard. The stadium was built in 1997 and is also used by the Seattle Pacific Falcons collegiate soccer teams.[1] The team plans to temporarily move to Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center in 2024 while renovations at Interbay Soccer Field are made to comply with accessibility requirements.[13]
Club identity edit
The club crest, designed by a Ballard-based agency, was released alongside the founding announcement in December 2022.[14][15] The crest depicts the Ballard Bridge over a sunset.
As a primary, Ballard FC wears cream colored jerseys with red accents, and collaborates with local artists for third jerseys each year.
The inaugural 2022–2023 home jersey included a sublimated wave pattern from the Seattle flag.[16]
        2022 Home
|
   2023– Home
|
 2022–23 Away
|
   2024– Away
|
 2022 Third
|
   2024– Third
|
Players and staff edit
Technical staff edit
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  James Riley
|
| Assistant coach |  Amadou Sanyang
|
| Assistant coach | David "Bingy" Lara
|
| Goalkeeper Coach | Ben Willis
|
Roster edit
| Position | Name | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Cole Weaver
|
0 |
| Goalkeeper | Lars Helleren
|
1 |
| Defender | Evan Aune
|
2 |
| Midfielder |  Mako Makoanyane
|
3 |
| Defender | Leo Burney
|
4 |
| Defender | Angelo Calfo
|
5 |
| Defender | Lesia Thetsane
|
6 |
| Midfielder | Johnny Ramirez
|
7 |
| Midfielder |  Taketo Onodera
|
8 |
| Forward | Alex Mejia
|
9 |
| Midfielder | Joey Van Horn
|
10 |
| Midfielder | Cale Spence
|
11 |
| Midfielder | Charlie Gaffney
|
12 |
| Forward | Tyler Bjork
|
13 |
| Midfielder | Francisco Magaña
|
14 |
| Defender | Christian Engmann
|
15 |
| Midfielder | Bailey Letherman
|
16 |
| Midfielder | Joe Dale
|
17 |
| Defender | Lucas King
|
18 |
| Midfielder | Cameron Martin
|
19 |
| Defender | Zane Baumgardt
|
20 |
| Midfielder | Peter Kingston
|
21 |
| Forward | Declan McGlynn
|
22 |
| Forward | Kevin Galiano
|
23 |
| Defender | Theo Steinmetz
|
24 |
| Defender | Nik Reierson
|
25 |
| Midfielder | James Morris
|
27 |
| Goalkeeper | Akili Kasim
|
28 |
| Forward | Demitrius Kigeya
|
29 |
| Goalkeeper | Johan Garibay
|
30 |
Year-by-year edit
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | USL League Two | 2nd, Northwest | Conference Finals | Did not enter |
| 2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Northwest | Champions | Did not qualify |
Honors edit
League edit
- USL League Two Playoffs
- Champions (1): 2023
- USL League Two Western Conference
- Champions (1): 2023
- USL League Two Northwest Division
- Champions (1): 2023
Player edit
| Year | Player | Country | Pos | Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ian Mejia | USA
|
FW | All-Western Conference Team |
| Lesia Thetsane | LES
|
DF | ||
| 2023 | Lesia Thetsane | LES
|
DF | Team of the Year |
| Stas Korzeniowski | USA
|
FW | Northwest Division Player of the Year |
References edit
- ^ a b Evans, Jayda (December 1, 2021). "Seattle is getting a minor-league soccer team. Here's how Ballard FC went from vision to reality". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "About – Ballard FC". Ballard FC. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Evans, Jayda (May 21, 2022). "Ballard FC kicks off its existence with passionate fan base already installed and an easy win". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Van Belle, Greg (September 21, 2022). "Ballard FC: An Inaugural Season to Remember". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (July 28, 2022). "Ballard FC look to continue 'surreal' run in USL2 playoffs". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (May 20, 2023). "Ballard FC looking to build on success of first season in Year 2: 'We set the bar really high'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Head Coach Jason Farrell Taking Next Step in Career, Leaving Ballard FC". Ballard FC. July 3, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Walker, Meghan (July 18, 2023). "Ballard FC to host U.S. League Two playoffs in Interbay Stadium this weekend". MyBallard. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Paul (August 5, 2023). "Ballrad FC wins USL League Two title". Soccer America. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ "Lionsbridge FC falls in national championship game on stoppage-time goal near Seattle". The Virginian-Pilot. August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (August 5, 2023). "Ballard FC prevails in a thrilling USL League Two final". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (March 20, 2024). "Ballard FC falls to Spokane Velocity in U.S. Open Cup after late controversy". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Van Belle, Greg (October 10, 2023). "Ballard FC will play 2024 season at Memorial Stadium". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "BALLARD FC LAUNCHES INTO USL LEAGUE TWO". Ballard FC. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- ^ "Ballard FC". Flying Eye Design - A Seattle Graphic Designer -. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- ^ "Ballard FC Inaugural Home Jersey Revealed, Available for Pre-Sale". Ballard FC. Retrieved 2024-04-14.