Chattanooga FC

History

Chattanooga FC was co-founded in 2009 by Tim Kelly, Krue Brock, and Sheldon Grizzle to play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid and considered roughly equal to the USL Premier Development League.

After finishing 3rd in their first season, Chattanooga FC's run in 2010 included winning the conference and it got them to the NPSL finals. The season ended with a loss in the 2010 NPSL Championship game to the Sacramento Gold by a score of 3-1.

After a disappointing 3rd-place finish to the 2011 season and missing the playoffs, Chattanooga FC came back stronger than ever in 2012, taking 1st place in the newly created South Southeast Conference West, and defeating the reigning NPSL champion Jacksonville United FC 4-1 in Jacksonville to clinch it. Because of a collapse of the South-South Central Conference structure, a one-game playoff to determine the South Conference Champion was held with the Georgia Revolution, the victors of the South Southeast Conference East in Conyers, GA. Chattanooga won the game 1-0 on Luis Trude's 72nd-minute goal to advance to the 2012 NPSL National Finals in San Diego, CA.

After defeating the Bay Area Ambassadors 3-2, and advancing to the NPSL Championship game, Chattanooga lost again in the title game 0-1 to FC Sonic on a header in the 78th minute. This was the 2nd NPSL Championship game that Chattanooga FC lost.

2013 Season

Chattanooga FC's 2013 season started with the expansion of the South Region into 4 division, with Chattanooga placed in the Southeast Division of the South Conference with 5 other teams. Chattanooga again prevailed at the top of the division, but because of one loss, had to go on the road for the Regional Playoffs.

Chattanooga traveled to Tulsa, OK to face the undefeated and top seeded Tulsa Athletics who won the South Central Division. After a 0-0 draw, the match went to penalty kicks. Keeper Greggaa Hartley converted an incredible 3 saves in 3 chances, and Chattanooga made all 3 of their chances to advance to the Regional Final in Richmond, VA. Chattanooga FC lost the Regional Final 1-0 to eventual NPSL champions RVA Football Club.

For the 2013 season, 4 Chattanooga FC members were selected to the 2013 All-NPSL Team - more than any other team. Those players were: GK Greggaa Hartley DF Andrew Stewart DF Nicholas Chase, and MF Fynn Glover. MF Thibault Charmey was also included in the NPSL Supporter's XI along with Hartley, Stewart, and Glover.

2014 Season

2014 started with former Chattanooga FC player Mark Sherrod being drafted by the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer in the second-round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.

For the season, Chattanooga FC launched a Women's Soccer Team in the WPSL for the first time. In their inaugural season, the women's team finished 5-3-2, for 3rd in the Southeast.

Chattanooga FC's regular season started off slow, but ended with 5 straight wins to close the season on top of the division once again by goal difference over the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves. For 2014, the playoff format changed to a playoff to determine the Southeast Champions. The playoff was hosted by Chattanooga as the regular season champions. Chattanooga defeated Nashville FC 6-1 and then the New Orleans Jesters 4-0 to advance to the Regional Playoffs.

Although given the lowest seed in the Regional Playoffs, Chattanooga also played host to the Regional Playoffs. Chattanooga went on to defeat top seeded Miami United F.C. 2-0 and the Tulsa Athletics once again 2-0 in a rematch of 2013's Regional Match. Chattanooga would next host the Sacramento Gold in a rematch of the 2010 NPSL Championship game. They would end up rallying from an early 0-1 deficit to win 4-1, advancing to the finals for the third time in the club's existence. Chattanooga FC lost to the New York Red Bulls U-23 3-1.

Forward Luke Winter and keeper Gregory Hartley were named to the All-NPSL squad, with Hartley also taking home honors with the NPSL Golden Glove award. Head Coach Bill Elliot was also awarded the Alexander Arellano Memorial Trophy for top NPSL Coach.

2015 Season

The 2015 season saw 2014 standout midfielder Niall McCabe sign with Louisville City FC in March.

Chattanooga FC was also selected to host the US Soccer Amateur Championships on May 29–30, also known as the Hank Steinbrecher Trophy, in a competition matching the previous years winners of PDL, NPSL, and USASA Open and Amateur Championships.

In May, CFC opened league play winning the first two matches on the road in Georgia. US Open Cup play started at home against Ocala Stampede in the First Round. After a late goal by Luke Winter to tie the game in regulation, the game went to extra time, with Gregga Hartley saving two penalties, and converting the winning one himself. Hartley was named TheCup.us 's Player of the Round.

The 2nd round of the Cup was away at Wilmington Hammerheads, and went to penalty kicks again after 1-1 in regulation. Chattanooga converted all 5 kicks, and saved one of Wilmington's to advance to host Atlanta Silverbacks once again in 3rd Round. Chattanooga FC took the lead late in the game on a Luke Winter header, but a controversial penalty was called just a minute later. Atlanta equalized and won the game in Extra Time, 2-1 the final.

Just 2 days after the defeat Chattanooga FC hosted the Maryland Bays, the 2014 USASA Open Cup Champions, for the opening game for the Hank Steinbrecher Trophy tournament. Chattanooga won that game 2-0, and the next day defeated the Michigan Bucks, the 2014 PDL season Champions 3-0 to win the trophy, Chattanooga FC's first.

On August 8, 2015, Chattanooga FC and Finley Stadium hosted the NPSL National Championship between CFC and New York Cosmos B. The game drew a U.S. amateur soccer attendance record with 18,227 fans witnessing a thrilling match won by the Cosmos, 3-2 in extra time.

Supporters and attendance

The overall Chattanooga FC fan base is known as the "Chattahooligans," with the unofficial supporter group also going by that name. Over the years, the supporter group has established several traditions, which the club has incorporated into home match proceedings such as a pre-game Chattahooligan march-in and the a cappella leading of the National Anthem.

Chattanooga FC boasts the highest average and single-game attendance in the NPSL. In its inaugural match on May 16, 2009, over 1,600 fans watched Chattanooga FC host Atlanta FC. In their second home match, held on June 7, 2009, over 1,500 watched as CFC notched their first win in club history over Saturn FC. Over 2,100 fans watched as CFC tied eventual divisional champs Rocket City United on June 20, 2009. In their final home game of the season, held July 4, 2009, over 3,000 fans witnessed CFC's victory over Birmingham, Alabama's Pumas FC. The club's average season attendance for league games was approximately 2,100.

In its second season, CFC continued to build upon its remarkably high attendance figures. In the season-beginning league match-up against Pumas FC on June 5, 2010, attendance numbers hit over 3,000. The second league game on June 19, 2010, drew over 2,900 fans to witness CFC host Atlanta FC. On July 4, 2010, an NPSL record crowd of over 3,400 watched CFC take on league newcomer FC Tulsa. CFC beat all NPSL attendance records, for a regular season game, on July 17, 2010 when 5,117 fans watched the CFC roll over Rocket City United, 4 - 0. The club's average attendance for their second season was approximately 4,400 per game (including a 6,317 home attendance count against non-league opponent F.C. Atlas's Under-20 squad.)

In 2014, Chattanooga FC continued its high attendance, drawing more than 3,000 in the final 2 home games of the regular season, as well as US Open Cup attendance of 4,058 against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Hosting the Southeast Division conference tournament, Chattanooga FC games drew 3,101 against Nashville FC and 2,802 against New Orleans Jesters. In hosting the South Region tournament, the game against Miami United F.C. drew 2,011 in heavy rain, and 3,218 against Tulsa Athletics, putting total attendance at over 25,000 for the season.

On July 26, 2014, the team set a league attendance record of 8,878 during their playoff against the Sacramento Gold.

In 2015, Chattanooga opened their home schedule against Ocala Stampede in the 1st round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with just under 2500 in attendance, likely the highest attended match in the round. After 4 home matches, Chattanooga FC had already drawn 10,000 for the season.

In 2015, 18,227 came to the Finley Stadium for the match between Chattanooga FC and New York Cosmos B. It became a US 4th tier record.

Rivalries

For the 2014 Season with now 3 Tennessee clubs in the NPSL, the Chattahooligans, working with Nashville FC's main supporters group developed a rivalry trophy between Chattanooga FC, Nashville FC and Knoxville Force called the "Volunteer Shield". The Volunteer Shield would be presented at the end of the season to the supporters of the club that took the most points in games against one another, with a medalion added to the trophy commemorating the year.

Chattanooga FC has won the Volunteer Shield 3 times in the last 3 years: 2014 inaugural "Volunteer Shield" with a record of 4-1-0 against Nashville and Knoxville, 2015 with the same 4-1-0 record, and 2016 with a 6-0-1 record including against newly added Memphis City FC.

Roster

Source: [1]

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

Roster updated as of June 12, 2016

Notable Former Players

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

Domestic

National Premier Soccer League

United States Adult Soccer Association

Head coaches

Stadia