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Annapolis Blues FC

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Annapolis Blues FC
Full nameAnnapolis Blues Football Club
FoundedJune 2022; 2 years ago (June 2022)
StadiumNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Annapolis, Maryland
Capacity34,000
OwnersMichael Hitchcock
Kyle Beckerman
Alex Yi
Head coachColin Herriot
LeagueUSL League Two
2023Regional Semifinal
Websitehttps://annapolisblues.com/
Current season

Annapolis Blues FC is an American soccer club. It currently competes in the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the National Premier Soccer League, considered the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system.

The team's home field is the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.

History

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In June 2022, the National Premier Soccer League announced a new expansion team would be placed in Annapolis for the 2023 season.[1] The ownership effort was led by former DC United front office member Michael Hitchcock, former United States men's national soccer team player Kyle Beckerman, and former FC Dallas player Alex Yi.[2] The latter two are Maryland locals while Hitchcock owns multiple NPSL teams including Appalachian FC and 2021 national champion Denton Diablos FC. During the summer the team held an online poll where fans could choose between four potential team names and crests; Annapolis Blues FC, Annapolis Kraken SC, Annapolis Seawolves SC, and Annapolis Yard FC. The name Annapolis Blues FC was announced on August 16 after over 1,200 votes had been cast.[3] It was also announced around this time that the team would play its home games at the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.[4]

The Blues announced Colin Herriot as the team's first head coach on December 13.[5]

The team's first game was a pre-season friendly against Philadelphia Union Development Squad on Wednesday, May 10 at Memorial Stadium. The Community Shield match saw 3,915 fans and raised money to support local charity Rebuilding Together Anne Arundel County.[6] Following three away games to start the season, Annapolis played its first regular season home game on Saturday, June 3 against FC Frederick and set an NPSL attendance record with 8,368 fans.[7][8] The Blues won the match, 4–2. The next home match against Virginia Beach City FC drew 7,665 attendees.[9] The following month they broke the conference championship record again as a crowd of 8,480 watched the Blues defeat the Alexandria Reds in the conference final.[10]

On December 20th, 2024, it was announced that the club would be joining USL League Two for the upcoming 2025 Season. [11]

Attendance

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Home Attendance
Season Regular Season Total Regular Season Average Playoffs Total Playoffs Average Highest Combined Total Combined Average Ref.
2023 38,770 7,754 15,562 7,781 8,480 54,332 7,762 [10][12][13]

Players & staff

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Coaches

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  • Scotland Colin Herriot (2023–) Head Coach
  • United States Lee Tschantret (2023–) Assistant Coach
  • United States Daniel Louisignau (2023–) Assistant Coach

Front office

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  • United States Fred Matthes (2022-) - General Manager
  • United States Steven Hooper (2023-) - Assistant General Manager and Director of Marketing
  • United States Devin Pugh (2024-) - Director of Community Outreach
  • United States Brandon Schwarzman (2024-) - Director of Sales and Ticket Operations

Current squad

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As of June 24, 2023[14][15]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF United States USA Aidan Abril
— GK United States USA Owen Allegro
— FW United States USA Gordon Bernlohr
— FW Japan JPN Toshi Davis
— MF Argentina ARG Matias de Jesus
— DF Brazil BRA Elton De Oliveira Santos
— MF United States USA Luke Dunne
— MF United States USA Luke Eberle
— DF United States USA Liam Giblin
— FW United States USA Eric Gwadz
— MF United States USA Justin Harris
— GK United States USA Griffin Hemmendinger
— MF United States USA Miles Lam
— DF United States USA James Lee
— DF United States USA Brian Lenzer
— MF United States USA Morgan Lussi
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF United States USA Nathan Macek
— MF United States USA Myles Mansfield
— MF South Africa RSA Jade Mesias
— MF United States USA Francis Meyer
— GK Scotland SCO Lucas Muller
— FW United States USA Jacob Murrell
— MF United States USA Leo Palomo
— MF United States USA Evan Rabush
— MF United States USA Jackson Ruckman
— FW United States USA Manuel Ruiz
— FW United States USA Andrew Schug
— GK United States USA Connor Smith
— DF United States USA Laurence Smith
— MF United States USA TJ Walker
— MF United States USA Ethan Wright
— MF United States USA Webb Kosich

References

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  1. ^ "The NPSL is Coming to Annapolis, Maryland in 2023". National Premier Soccer League. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. ^ Wagner, Bill (6 July 2022). "Major League Soccer great Kyle Beckerman helping to bring amateur franchise to Annapolis". Capital Gazette. Retrieved 24 June 2023. (subscription required)
  3. ^ Baumgart, Jacob (18 August 2022). "New Semi-Pro Soccer Team Coming To Annapolis Announces Name, Home Field". Annapolis, MD Patch. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  4. ^ "New Annapolis Professional Soccer Team To Play at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in 2023". Eye On Annapolis. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Colin Herriot Makes Blues History As Clubs First Head Coach". Annapolis Blues FC. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Community Shield Raises Money for Rebuilding Together Before 3,915 Fans". What's Up? Media. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  7. ^ Wagner, Bill (4 June 2023). "Annapolis Blues FC soccer club sets NPSL attendance record in home opener; 8,368 watch 4-2 win over FC Frederick". Capital Gazette. Retrieved 24 June 2023. (subscription required)
  8. ^ "Annapolis Blues FC soccer club sets NPSL attendance record in home opener; 8,368 watch 4-2 win over FC Frederick". Annapolis Blues FC. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  9. ^ Vasudevan, Anish (12 June 2023). "From a record crowd to a signature coffee, Annapolis embraces its new soccer team". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b "CROWD OF 8,480 SEES ANNAPOLIS BLUES DEFEAT ALEXANDRIA REDS IN MID-ATLANTIC CONFERENCE FINAL". NPSL. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Annapolis Blues FC to join USL League Two in 2025". USLLeagueTwo.com Staff. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "Annapolis Blues limited to one goal by Alexandria, suffer first loss in regular-season finale". The Baltimore Sun. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  13. ^ Peterson, Sam (13 July 2023). "Severna Park grad leads Annapolis Blues to first playoff win, 4-1 over Grove United". Capital Gazette. Retrieved 15 July 2023. (subscription required)
  14. ^ "Roster". Annapolis Blues FC. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  15. ^ "ANNAPOLIS BLUES FC". annapolisbluesfc.bonzidev.com. National Premier Soccer League. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
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