Peeling Out…Spinning the tires with Akron City FC
This is our new piece on all things rolling with Akron City FC, the NPSL team from Akron, Ohio. Now in their second year, the club hopes to build on their first year experience and make the playoffs.
The Club has been busy building their roster and working with new head coach, Andy Hoggarth. Official training started May 2nd and their first game is slated for May 13th against one of the new additions to the league and division, Steel City FC.
But what is most interesting is the youth and local players that ACFC is bringing into the roster. Players from University of Akron, Walsh College and high schoolers who cut their teeth in NE Ohio and the surrounding area dot the new list of footballers ready to don the sky blue, red and white uniforms.
First game: Saturday, May 13th
🚨Cinco de Mayo Flash Sale🚨
Today only, enter CINCO at checkout and receive 20% off your Akron City FC ticket purchase for any regular season game this year!
All games at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School – https://t.co/PthrDUtBRV pic.twitter.com/H0vaESUA3i
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) May 5, 2023
Schedule:
Finally, our 2023 Regular Season Schedule! 6 regular season home games + 1 TBD friendly (post season warmup 🤞)
Head to- https://t.co/B69VzLos6Q – & get your tickets today! Season/single game options available
New in 2023, our 2-game flex pass option if you can't make all games pic.twitter.com/lPYoqnUhaf
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) April 5, 2023
Tickets:
https://akroncityfc.com/pages/schedule
Roster additions:
Let’s take a quick look at some of the newcomers. The player, their position, recent school and hometown are listed.
Gyuwon Chong MF University of Akron, Kansas City, MO.
ACFC is excited to announce that University of Akron sophomore standout, Gyuwon Chong, will be joining the team for the 2023 Season!
A midfielder from Kansas City, Chong played in and started the first four games for the Zips this fall, recording two assists, before suffering a… pic.twitter.com/cy1r7uo2mp
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) April 17, 2023
Adam Lubell DF Marshall/Georgia Southern, Moreland Hills, OH.
Sam Tojaga MF University of Akron, Erie, PA.
ACFC welcomes University of Akron standout, Sam Tojaga (@sammytojaga7), to our 2023 Roster!
Sam is a native of Erie, PA and attended the Real Salt Lake Academy. As a Freshman in 2018, he appeared in all 24 games, starting 21 and was named to @topdrawersoccer's Top 100 Freshman… pic.twitter.com/2t15NwM7IQ
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) April 19, 2023
Nick Bertolini GK Walsh College, Akron, OH. (Recent Akron St Vincent/St Mary Grad!)
Colin Biros MF Syracuse University, Jackson, OH. Former NCAA Champion!
Steven Samuelson DF John Carroll University, Medina, OH.
Brenden Swann MF John Carroll, North Royalton, OH.
RC Schmeider MF University of Louisville, Aurora, OH.
Nathan Childress MF Wofford College, Marietta, GA.
First new club-Steel City FC
Steel City FC is a rebranding of the old Pittsburgh Hotspurs tied with the youth part of their program, Arsenal FC of Pittsburgh. The Hotspurs were associated with the NPSL recently in the old Rust Belt division. But part of the idea in 2021 was to merge the youth and adult programs to build a stronger foothold for players in the Western PA area to build a future in soccer.
Arsenal FC of Pittsburgh has had much success in their youth teams the past ten years or so. So the combining of the two makes a great deal of sense. Steel City finally had success in the NPSL last year even holding onto first place in the Rust Belt conference over their Cleveland rivals.
Longtime player, Nicky Kolarac, has been with the club since the inception and has been excited to see the progress the club has made. Here’s a great interview with Pittsburgh Sports Live.
Dan Brower returns as coach for the club. He has traveled through the program as Arsenal coach and onwards. According to the website, he will still have his assistants from last year, Peter Mulhern, Mark Duffield (goalkeeper coach), along with Tom Campbell and Daniel Yates.
Roster
There are many returning players from the club last year like striker Bryan Akongo and defender Wiliam Afawubo. Garrett Watson, who made some amazing saves in the playoffs last year against Cleveland SC, returns as does the goal scorer, Tate Mohney.
Mix in some new blood from overseas England and players from Division 1 schools like the University of Dayton and University of Pittsburgh and you have a solid team returning to the league.
New Shield
Pittsburgh soccer fans in Summit and Stark counties? Follow Steel City here on Twitter or Instagram.
New Year New Ideas
ACFC has many exciting programs and new content for their fans! Follow them on social media.
Twitter: Akron City on Twitter
Instagram: Akron City on Instagram
Merch! Gotta have it!
Check out our new collaboration with @RubberCity Clothing!
Get these new designs exclusively at https://t.co/BAO9kopAPf.
Read the full press release announcing the partnership here – https://t.co/O2grFIb3JW
Do you have an idea for a cool ACFC/Akron themed shirt? Submit your… pic.twitter.com/CEnoC0xB29
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) April 27, 2023
Sweetness! Thanks to Rubber City Clothing for these team shirts! They will probably run out quickly, so remember, Mother’s Day coming soon! And graduation! And Father’s Day. Won’t you be the best family member for remembering your loved ones?
Get your tickets ASAP, just like how y’all grabbed the first batch of Hoppin’ Frog Turbo Shandy!
We made a quick pit stop to @hoppinfrog after training this evening, come to find out our fans SOLD OUT the ACFC BlackBerry Turbo Shandy beer on day 1 of its offering! WOW!!!
Don’t miss the restock TOMORROW at Hoppin’ Frog in Akron! pic.twitter.com/bLZILZHZBh
— Akron City FC (@AkronCityFC) May 3, 2023
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