Huntsville City FC
| Full name | Huntsville City Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Boys in Blue | ||
| Founded | July 12, 2022 | ||
| Stadium | Joe W. Davis Stadium Huntsville, Alabama | ||
| Capacity | 6,000 | ||
| Owner | Nashville SC | ||
| Head coach | Chris O'Neal | ||
| League | MLS Next Pro | ||
| 2024 | 14th, Eastern Conference Playoffs: DNQ | ||
| Website | mlsnextpro.com/huntsvillecityfc | ||
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Huntsville City FC is an American professional soccer team based in Huntsville, Alabama. It is the reserve team of Nashville SC and plays in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of American soccer. The team plays its games at Joe Davis Stadium, a former minor league baseball stadium.
History
On July 12, 2022, Nashville SC announced that it would start an MLS Next Pro team based in Huntsville, Alabama.[1] On August 4, 2022, Huntsville was named as one of seven MLS-affiliated clubs that would field teams in the MLS Next Pro league beginning in the 2023 season.[2] The team name and logo was announced on November 9, 2022. Huntsville City will be the only MLS reserve side that plays outside its parent team's home market.[3]
On December 19, 2022, midfielder Isaiah Johnston from York United was announced as the club's first official signing. Transfer details were not disclosed.[4]
On May 19, 2023, Huntsville City FC played their first ever home at Joe Davis Stadium. They defeated Crown Legacy FC in front of a sold-out crowd.
On April 10, Huntsville announced the sacking of Head Coach Jack Collison and the appointment of former Scottish international Christophe Berra in his place.[5] On July 8, the club announced Berra would be leaving the team after the club's match against New England Revolution II on July 10 in which the team would go onto win 2-1.[6]
On August 5, the club announced the appointment of former Inter Miami U17 manager, Chris O'Neal. This hiring would make O'Neal the second full-time Head Coach in club history.[7]
Colors and badge
The club's colors are dark blue and white, with light blue and yellow accents on the crest.
The club's crest features a checkerboard pattern and a shooting star around the club's initials, both alluding to the importance of the space industry in Huntsville's history.[8]
Players and staff
Roster
- As of January 23, 2025
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | USA | Erik Lauta |
| 2 | DF | USA | Blake Bowen |
| 4 | MF | GHA | Patrick Amarh |
| 5 | DF | USA | Wyatt Meyer ([A]) |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Pep Casas |
| 7 | MF | IRL | Ethan O'Brien |
| 8 | MF | PAN | Moisés Véliz |
| 8 | MF | USA | Jonathan Hernández ([B]) |
| 9 | FW | USA | Gio Miglietti |
| 10 | MF | FRA | Christian Koffi |
| 11 | FW | TRI | Real Gill |
| 12 | DF | USA | Tyshawn Rose |
| 13 | GK | DOM | Xavier Valdez ([A]) |
| 13 | MF | USA | Bryce Boneau |
| 14 | FW | USA | Alioune Ka |
| 15 | MF | USA | Damien Barker John (on loan from Real Monarchs) |
| 16 | FW | CAY | Gunnar Studenhofft |
| 17 | FW | USA | Malik Henry-Scott (on loan from Lexington SC) |
| 18 | MF | USA | Matthew Corcoran ([A]) |
| 19 | DF | CAN | Jordan Knight |
| 20 | DF | USA | Kevin Carmichael |
| 21 | DF | FRA | Kessy Coulibaly |
| 24 | MF | HON | Bryan Acosta ([A]) |
| 28 | DF | USA | Zach Barrett |
| 30 | MF | USA | Alan Carleton |
| 33 | DF | USA | Christian Applewhite ([A]) |
| 40 | DF | USA | Thad Sawyer ([B]) |
| 44 | DF | USA | Gabriel Alonso ([B]) |
| 46 | MF | USA | Tristan Tropeano ([B]) |
| 47 | FW | USA | Isaiah Jones ([A]) |
| 56 | MF | MEX | Jonathan Pérez ([A]) |
| 66 | MF | KEN | Philip Mayaka |
| 77 | FW | USA | Adem Sipić ([A]) |
| 98 | GK | USA | Ammar Delic ([B]) |
| 99 | GK | USA | Brian Schwake ([A]) |
- ^ Nashville SC first team player.
- ^ Signed to Nashville SC Academy contract.
Staff
| Coaching & Technical Staff | |
|---|---|
| Director of Soccer Operations | Matt Cairns |
| Head coach | Chris O'Neal |
| Assistant coach | Omar Jarun |
| Assistant coach | Alex Kuehl |
| Goalkeeping coach | Vacant |
| Head Athletic Trainer | Luis Rodas |
| Performance Coach & Sports Scientist | Josh Stewart |
| Video Analyst/Scouting | Matt Bautista |
| Head Equipment Manager | Sam Gibson |
Records
Year-by-year
| Season | MLS Next Pro | Playoffs | Top Scorer | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Conference | Overall | Player | Goals | |||
| 2023 | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 48 | 45 | 38 | 9th, Eastern | 17th | Did not qualify | Azaad Liadi | 12 | |
Head coaches record
- As of August 9, 2024
| Name | Nationality | From | To | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Collison[9] | Wales | January 18, 2023 | April 9, 2024 | 32 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 55 | 54 | 28.13 |
| Christophe Berra (Interim)[10] | Scotland | April 9, 2024 | August 8, 2024 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 29 | 20.00 |
| Chris O'Neal[11] | United States | August 8, 2024 | Present | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 60.00 |
Supporters
The club currently has 1 officially-recognized Supporters' Group called HuntsVillains.[12]
References
- ^ "Nashville Soccer Club to Launch MLS NEXT Pro Team in Huntsville, Ala". Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ "SEVEN MLS-AFFILIATED CLUBS TO JOIN MLS NEXT PRO IN 2023". Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ Hills, Drake (November 9, 2022). "Nashville SC's MLS Next Pro team in Alabama now has a name — Huntsville City Football Club". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ Jacques, John (December 19, 2022). "Huntsville City FC Inks Isaiah Johnston". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Banks, Ben (April 10, 2024). "West Ham hero sacked in shock circumstances with former Hearts and Wolves star replacing him as boss". Edinburgh Evening News.
- ^ Easterling, Mike (July 7, 2024). "Huntsville City FC in market for third head coach this season". 256 Today. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ mlsnextpro. "Huntsville City FC appoints Inter Miami CF U-17 Coach Chris O'Neal as Head Coach | MLSNEXTPro.com". mlsnextpro. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ https://www.mlsnextpro.com/huntsvillecityfc/club/
- ^ Hills, Drake (January 18, 2023). "Huntsville City FC taps former English Premier League midfielder Jack Collison as coach". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Huntsville City Football Club Announces Coaching Staff Changes". Huntsville City FC Communications. April 9, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Denton, Trevor (August 8, 2024). "Huntsville City FC introduces new head coach". WAAYTV. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ HNT. "Huntsville City FC | HuntsvilleCityFC.com". HNT. Retrieved March 27, 2025.