Akron City FC – Welcome to year 2 in the Polymer City!
Let’s look at the happenings for ACFC as they prepare for the 2023 NPSL season.
Akron City FC – Year 1
Last season was Akron’s first in the NPSL’s Rust Belt Conference, where they finished with a 2-6-4 record. But though their results were not what they had hoped for, they had great success in the community.
19 sponsors joined the club as ACFC created a strong foundation for their inaugural season. This year they hope to make the playoffs in the newly created Great Lakes Conference. There are old rivals and new faces in the former Rust Belt Conference. More on that later.
New coach: Andy Hoggarth
Photo courtesy of theonlinerocket.com
Hoggarth is the new head coach for the club. He currently is the head coach for Walsh University and has experience in the league as a former coach for AFC Cleveland, now Cleveland SC.
Nick Turchan, owner of Akron City, was pleased with the hire.
“We are very fortunate to have someone of Andy’s pedigree leading the team this year. As we continue to build a professional environment for our players during the summer season, Andy checked all of the boxes we were looking for in a head coach. He is also extremely committed to our vision of building a team and organization the Akron community can be proud of.”
Andy is excited to be the new boss. “The ownership, organization, and fan base are first class, and I am proud to have been chosen as their next head coach.”
Hoggarth learned the sport overseas in England. His experience in the US has been as a long-time college coach with many schools. The club will definitely benefit from his leadership.
Assistant coach Jay Steep is returning! He stepped into the head coaching role when former coach Kia Zolgharnain was medically unable to continue.
Kits:
The powder blue coloring with Hoppin’ Frog Brewery’s iconic frog on the front is great. Just above that will be the ACFC tire logo.
The uniforms are on point! Notice the references to The 330 and the founding year of the city on the back. Thought maybe the ACFC tire logo would be outlined in black or red…to stand out against the blue, but it’s still fantastic!
There is a black version, too.
For Our City! Presenting The Akron City FC 2023 Game Kits!
Thanks to Jason Fisher who for the 2nd year has come up with a design that is absolute 🔥
Order exclusively at our Un1tus team store by 4/9 to ensure delivery before home opener!
Direct Link – https://t.co/P2eZDGDKbC pic.twitter.com/cDqMOplYzD
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) March 25, 2023
Roster:
The club held tryouts on Sunday and here are some of the players already signed. There are some first year players and vets from last year.
University of Akron products
New:
Josef Paulus
Dyson Clapier
Will Jackson
Returnees:
Ryan Kolonick
Samuel George
Jaden Wright
Cam Victor
Tryout photos:
Open tryouts are underway at Green Street Stadium!
Year 2 begins NOW! @NPSLSoccer pic.twitter.com/5Q9jI90kPc
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) April 2, 2023
Slow-Mo saves 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Xtg4yRWmDZ
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) April 2, 2023
Sponsors:
This year’s sponsors include many of the same fine organizations from last year and a few new ones, too. If we missed one, let us know!
The Sports Alliance of Greater Akron
UN1TUS
Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
Red Point Digital
Lyndall Insurance
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
TKM Print Solutions
Rays Pub
The University of Akron
Darko Inc.
Phillips Automotive
St. Vincent-St. Mary HS
Circle K
TL Worldwide Transportation
Sgt. Clean Car Wash-NEW
Ohio Euro Motorcars
As schedules get produced, the games will be added to the website.
Have you tried the Blackberry Turbo Shandy? Wow! It’s currently garnered a 4.1 out of 5 stars rating on Untappd. Check with the brewery for possible new beers this summer!
Home field
All games will still be played at the St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Green Street Stadium/John Cistone Field.
Photo by Charles Murray.
As for now, the club is excited for the new year. And they are definitely not settling for just being ok. They want to win, and win NOW.
Hope to see you all this summer!
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