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Erie Commodores FC

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Erie Commodores FC
Full nameErie Commodores Football Club
Nickname(s)Erie Commodores, Commodores, ECFC
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009)
StadiumSaxon Stadium
Erie, Pennsylvania
OwnerJohn Melody
Head CoachRich Wall
LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
United Women's Soccer
Websitehttp://eriecommodores.com/
Current season

Erie Commodores FC is an American soccer team based in Erie, Pennsylvania, competing in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team plays its home games at Saxon Stadium, located on the campus of Mercyhurst University. In 2021, the Commodores expanded by adding a pro-am women's team that competes in United Women's Soccer.[1]

The "Commodores" name is a tribute to Oliver Hazard Perry, a U.S. Navy commodore who operated out of Erie's Presque Isle Bay during the Battle of Lake Erie, a flashpoint in the War of 1812. Perry's ship, the USS Niagara, famously flew a flag with the phrase "Don't Give up the Ship" during the battle, both of which are symbolized in the Commodores' logo. The Erie Maritime Museum now preserves the Niagara at Presque Isle Bay.

History

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In 2009, local soccer coach Pedro Argáez founded Erie Admirals SC, building on an existing youth soccer program. John Melody, a former player at Mercyhurst University in Erie, initially served as Argáez's head coach before taking full ownership of the team. On April 24, 2015, Melody rebranded the club as Erie Commodores FC.[2] Melody later appointed Micky Blythe, another Mercyhurst alumnus, as head coach for one season. Afterward, Neil Brown, a UEFA A License holder, helped lead the Commodores in their 2015 NPSL campaign.[3]

Player development

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Several former Commodores players have advanced to professional soccer, including Adam Clement, who joined Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as Jeremy Deighton, Greg Blum, and Neil Shaffer with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the United Soccer League. Others, like Dan Howell, Billy Colton, Sam Dorf, and Danny Deakin, pursued opportunities in international leagues, with Deakin being drafted by Orlando City SC of MLS.[4]

Rust-belt rivalries

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The Commodores developed notable rivalries, including with fellow Rust Belt Conference team Cleveland SC from Cleveland, Ohio. They previously had a rivalry with Detroit City FC of Detroit, Michigan until they moved to the National Independent Soccer Association. In 2020, Erie competed in the NPSL Members Cup alongside Cleveland SC, FC Buffalo, and the Pittsburgh Hotspurs. The club also participated in the Erie County Derby against FC Buffalo, a regional NPSL rivalry between Erie County, Pennsylvania and Erie County, New York, which ended when Buffalo joined USL League Two in 2023.

The Brewers Cup

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In 2024, the Commodores reignited their rivalry with FC Buffalo through the Erie County Brewers Cup, sponsored by Erie-based John Russell Brewing Company and Buffalo-based Big Ditch Brewing Company. The Brewers Cup features a two-game series, with one game in each city, and the two breweries collaborated to release "Lake Erie Life," a tropical summer India pale ale.[5]

Current roster

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As of May 17, 2022

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA Chris Ralph
2 DF United States USA Antonio De La Torre
3 DF England ENG Faheem Khan
4 DF United States USA Chad Eldridge
5 DF Argentina ARG Bautista Corti
6 DF Wales WAL Sam Richards
7 MF England ENG Danny Stevens
8 MF England ENG Tom Barry
9 FW United States USA Max Wilkins
10 MF England ENG Dylan Sumner
11 MF Brazil BRA Renan Diniz
12 MF Brazil BRA Gabriel Peres
14 FW England ENG Tinashe Katsande
15 MF England ENG Ryan Beckinsale
16 FW United States USA Thomas Binkowski
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF Canada CAN Owen Jowett
19 MF United States USA Steve Yeonas
20 DF United States USA Ryan Lieser
21 FW Australia AUS Joe Knox
22 DF England ENG Andy Bennett
23 DF England ENG Gavin Morgan
24 MF England ENG Toby Gower
25 FW United States USA Jack Foht
26 FW United States USA Shawn Rapal
27 DF United States USA Peter Wagner
28 GK United States USA Jonathan Gomes
29 GK United States USA Mitchell Wolff
30 MF Morocco MAR Anass Hadran
31 GK Germany GER Friedrich Petrelli

Year-by-year

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Year Tier League Regular Season Record Playoffs
2009 4 NPSL 1st of 6, Eastern Keystone 9 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie National Final
2010 4 NPSL 2nd of 7, Northeast-Keystone 10 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties did not qualify
2011 4 NPSL 1st of 8, Northeast-Keystone 10 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie National Semifinals
2012 4 NPSL 1st of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes 6 wins, 1 loss, 5 ties Division Final
2013 4 NPSL 3rd of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes 6 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties National Semifinals
2014 4 NPSL 2nd of 4, Midwest-Great Lakes East 6 wins, 6 losses, 2 ties did not qualify
2015 4 NPSL 7th of 13, Midwest 5 wins, 7 losses, 0 ties did not qualify
2016 4 NPSL 5th of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes East 2 wins, 4 losses, 4 ties did not qualify
2017 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest-East 6 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties Regional first round
2018 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest-East 8 wins, 1 loss, 3 ties Regional first round
2019 4 NPSL 3rd of 6, Midwest-East 4 wins, 2 losses, 4 ties did not qualify
2020 4 NPSL Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic N/A Not played
2021 4 NPSL 4th of 6, Midwest-Rust Belt 1 win, 5 losses, 4 ties did not qualify
2022 4 NPSL 4th of 5, Midwest-Rust Belt 3 wins, 7 losses, 2 ties did not qualify
2023 4 NPSL 5th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes 5 wins, 6 losses, 1 tie did not qualify
2024 4 NPSL 6th of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes 3 wins, 4 losses, 3 ties did not qualify

Honors

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National:

  • NPSL National runners-up: 2009
  • NPSL National semifinalist, 3rd Place winner: 2011

Region/Historic Equivalent:

  • NPSL Midwest Region Champions: 2013
  • NPSL Northeast Division Champions: 2011
  • NPSL Eastern Division champions: 2009

Conference/Historic Equivalent:

  • NPSL Midwest Region-East Conference champions: 2017, 2018
  • NPSL Midwest-Great Lakes Conference champions: 2012
  • NPSL Northeast Division-Keystone Conference champions: 2011
  • NPSL Eastern Keystone Division champions: 2009

Rivalry:

  • Erie County Derby Champions (vs FC Buffalo): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022

Staff

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Owner

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  • Republic of Ireland John Melody (2010–present)
  • Mexico Pedro Argáez (2009–2010)

Head coach

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  • United States Rich Wall (2023–present)[6]
  • Republic of Ireland John Melody (2009–2013, 2016–present)[7]
  • United States Dan Howell (2015)
  • England Micky Blythe (2014)

Assistant coach

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  • Wales Neil Brown (2011–2014)
  • England Micky Blythe (2009–2013)

Stadia

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References

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  1. ^ UWS League Two launches Lake Erie Conference
  2. ^ "Erie's NPSL Team Rebrands as Erie Commodores FC". International Soccer Network. Archived from the original on 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
  3. ^ About the Erie Commodores Football Club
  4. ^ "Orlando City Selects Midfielder Danny Deakin in Third Round of 2017 MLS SuperDraft | Orlando City".
  5. ^ "Erie County Brewers Cup 2024". Erie Commodores FC. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  6. ^ ""Rich Wall/Head Coach"". Erie Commodores FC.
  7. ^ "Melody steps down as Admirals coach". Erie Times-News.
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