46-556: The California Victory was a USL First Division professional soccer team based in San Francisco, California . It was an expansion team for the 2007 season, but ceased operation in September of that year after parent club Deportivo Alavés withdrew its support. On October 12, 2006, USL President Francisco Marcos announced Dmitry Piterman , a Ukrainian American and chairman of Spanish club Deportivo Alavés , had officially acquired
92-685: A USL First Division franchise beginning in the 2007 season. The Victory was the first European owned team to compete at any level of the United Football Leagues , and also the first USL First Division team in California since the demise of the San Diego Flash in 2001. The club played at Kezar Stadium , the former home of the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers . The name Victory is derived from Alavés’ home city of Vitoria-Gasteiz ,
138-636: A field with the Ottawa Redblacks football team. The Ottawa group subsequently committed to the NASL. Unlike most other nations, there is no system of merit-based promotion and relegation in the American and Canadian pyramids , meaning that the champions of USL-1 could not move up to Major League Soccer and, similarly, the worst teams in MLS were not in danger of being demoted to USL-1. However, some USL-1 teams had in
184-563: A mid-season loss of form, but the addition of several new players, including Justin Fashanu , led to a resurgence. Atlanta made it to the championship series , only to lose to the Seattle Sounders in three games. After losing nearly $ 600,000 in 1995 and continuing to lose money in 1996, Imerman arranged for the league to take over team operations in June 1996. In August 1996, Vincent Lu purchased
230-617: A star attraction at the zoo. The team also moved to DeKalb Memorial Stadium for the 1999 season. From at least 1999 to at least 2001, the Silverbacks were affiliated with the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer . In January 2000, David Cormack joined Latham and Glustrom as owners of the Silverbacks, but left in September to become the Chief Executive of Aberdeen F.C. In 2000, Atlanta and Tennessee Rhythm began an annual competition for
276-730: The Atlanta Magic , owned by Sam Chase, as a new franchise for the 1995 season. At the time, the Magic played in the USISL . In October 1994, the team, still referred to as the Atlanta Magic, signed national team forward Bruce Murray . However, by November 1994, Chase had decided to enter an entirely new team, to be named the Atlanta Ruckus , in the APSL. Despite this decision, several Magic players moved to
322-572: The Atlanta Silverbacks in a one-sided 4–0 final. Vancouver won their second USL1 championship in 2008 by beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2–1 in the first USL1 final to feature no American teams; the championship went north of the border again in 2009 when Montreal Impact won their first USL1 title, beating Vancouver 6–3 on aggregate over two legs in the first all-Canadian affair. On August 27, 2009, Nike agreed to sell its stake in
368-934: The USSF Division 2 Professional League in 2010 before the split became final. The teams that remained in the First Division were merged with the USL Second Division in 2011 to form USL Pro . When the A-League became the USL First Division in 2005, the league comprised 12 teams: Atlanta Silverbacks , Charleston Battery , Minnesota Thunder , Montreal Impact , Portland Timbers , Puerto Rico Islanders , Richmond Kickers , Rochester Raging Rhinos , Seattle Sounders , Toronto Lynx , Vancouver Whitecaps , and Virginia Beach Mariners . The Calgary Mustangs , Edmonton Aviators , and Syracuse Salty Dogs , all of whom competed in
414-530: The United Soccer Leagues (USL) to Rob Hoskins and Alec Papadakis of Atlanta -based NuRock Soccer Holdings, instead of to the USL Team Owner's Association (TOA), a group comprising the owners of several USL First Division clubs. In the months that followed, several prominent TOA members began to voice their concerns about the state of the league in general, its management structure and ownership model,
460-687: The Virginia Beach Mariners folded just prior to the start of the 2007 season due to an ownership dispute which left the team without financing. These teams were replaced by two new teams: the Carolina RailHawks from the Triangle region of North Carolina , playing out of Cary , and California Victory , a team in Northern California under the ownership of Dmitry Piterman (chairman of Spanish team Deportivo Alavés ) which folded after
506-580: The 1906 earthquake and fire of San Francisco. 1906 had its roots in early fan support of the San Francisco Seals football team and the San Jose Earthquakes, who were on hiatus from MLS when the Victory began to play. They were identifiable by their custom T-shirts, colourful chants and banners draped over the rails. California Victory Supporters Association (CVSA) was the official supporters club of
SECTION 10
#1732855827723552-416: The 2013 fall season. At the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup , the Silverbacks defeated MLS teams Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids to reach quarterfinals, where they lost to Chicago Fire . On December 2, 2014, the NASL licensed the Silverbacks name from Boris Jerkunica and Henry Hardin and continued to operate the team through the 2015 season. The league was not successful in finding new ownership, and
598-611: The CVSA. The goal of the group was to raise enough money by accepting memberships to purchase the club, an ownership model based on the NFL 's Green Bay Packers and influenced by My Football Club . They were however ultimately unsuccessful. USL First Division The USL First Division (usually referred to as USL-1 ) was a professional men's soccer league in the United States and Canada from 2005 to 2010. During its existence, it formed
644-553: The Caribbean. The First Division was formally dissolved following the completion of the temporary season to make way for USL Pro . Prior to 2010, the league had a steady rate of expansion and contraction. Richmond was voluntarily relegated to the USL Second Division in 2006 to cut costs, Toronto was voluntarily relegated to the USL Premier Development League in 2007 because of MLS expansion, and on March 30, 2007,
690-484: The Cleveland City Stars and written by team president Jonathan Ortlip and executive director Aaron Tredway, the club executives went on to accept the decision to terminate the franchise. On June 19, 2008, an announcement was made that an expansion slot had been awarded to a Tampa Bay, Florida -based franchise led by main investors Andrew Nestor (CEO) and Hinds Howard (chairman) of Citrus Ventures . The plan
736-514: The NASL nor the USL First Division in 2010, and ordered both "camps" to work together on a plan to temporarily allow their teams to play a 2010 season. The interim solution was announced on January 7, 2010, with the USSF running the new USSF D2 Pro League comprising clubs from both USL-1 and NASL. All 12 teams from the USL First Division and the NASL competed in the USSF D2 Pro League in 2010, which
782-627: The NASL was not sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation and the Silverbacks did not play during the 2010 season. On November 20, 2010, the USSF sanctioned the NASL and the Atlanta Silverbacks immediately re-joined for the 2011 season. On May 22, 2012, the Atlanta Silverbacks created controversy when they became the first team to sell the rights to host a 2012 U.S. Open Cup match to Seattle Sounders FC . On July 2, 2012,
828-564: The NASL, American Soccer League , and USL First Division. There was also discussion that Argentinian team River Plate is interested in putting a second USL team in Puerto Rico , as well as discussion that recent start-up team, the San Diego Flash may also join either the USL or NASL. Prior to the 2009 NASL split several other cities had been mentioned as being locations where future USL-1 franchises might launch, including St. Louis, Missouri (led by
874-567: The Ruckus, including Bill Andracki , Chris Hellenkamp , Brian Moore and Mo Suri . Even after the creation of the Ruckus, the Atlanta Magic continued to play in the USISL, losing to the Baltimore Bays in the 1995–96 USISL indoor season championship. The Ruckus nearly failed even before it had played a game. Six weeks before the 1995 season, Chase experienced financial difficulties and failed to post
920-418: The Silverbacks announced former United States men's national soccer team star Eric Wynalda would take over as the club's interim head coach and Director of Soccer, replacing Alex Pineda Chacón and Rodrigo Rios respectively. Wynalda appointed Brian Haynes as the team's permanent head coach, while Wynalda remained on the Silverbacks' staff as technical director. Under the leadership of Haynes and Wynalda,
966-596: The Silverbacks men's and women's side. The Ultras were also to be known for their fanatical support at Silverbacks Park, as well as away matches. They had a reputation for their unfriendly or challenging attitude towards fans from opposing clubs. The team had a Women's Premier Soccer League counterpart in the Atlanta Silverbacks Women from 2005 through 2016. In July 1994, the American Professional Soccer League announced it had accepted
SECTION 20
#17328558277231012-425: The Victory. Seeing a need for community support of the club, several loyal 1906ers met at The Pig & Whistle with members of the Victory front office. There, the attending 1906ers established the CVSA. Through the sales of handmade merchandise and community outreach, the CVSA had effectively created a fan base for the Victory. SaveTheVictory.org was a movement set in motion by the Victory's official supporters club,
1058-462: The Willie B. Cup. Between 2000 and 2007, when the cup was discontinued, the Silverbacks won it four times. Despite the new ownership group, coach and stadium, the Silverbacks continued to struggle on the field. From 1996 through 2001, the team went through seven coaches and missed the playoffs six consecutive seasons. In 2002, the Silverbacks, under head coach Brett Mosen, made the playoffs and went to
1104-524: The capital city of both the province of Álava and the Basque Country of Spain . Terry Fisher, a longtime football executive and coach, was the team's first general manager . The team was managed and coached by Glenn van Straatum , while US international Hugo Perez was an assistant. 1906 Supporters was the blanket term for the supporters of the California Victory. The term 1906 referred to
1150-574: The club ceased operations on January 11, 2016. The Silverbacks' reserve side in the amateur National Premier Soccer League adopted the Silverbacks name after the NASL club folded. Jerkunica maintained ownership of the name, and was part of the NPSL ownership group. In January 2019, the club announced that it had parted ways with Jerkunica, and consequently lost the right to use the Silverbacks name, choosing to be known as Atlanta SC . The Silverbacks official colors were red, black, silver, and white, and
1196-483: The club logo featured those four colors prominently. On January 23, 2013, a new logo was announced. The club's name was inspired by Willie B. , a gorilla who was a main attraction of Zoo Atlanta until his death in February 2000. In September 2012, a poll was posted on the Silverbacks' official website relating to a potential rebrand. The options were: to retain the Silverbacks name, a rebrand to Atlanta Chiefs to recall
1242-574: The club played in many leagues over the years before folding after the 2015 season. The team played its home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park , a large soccer complex featuring a 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in Atlanta, 15 miles northeast of downtown. The team's colors were red, black, grey, and white. The club had 2 independent supporter groups, Westside 109 and the Atlanta Ultras. The Ultras were established in 2011 & were known to support both
1288-517: The co-founders of a new North American Soccer League , which would begin play in 2010. The league, which at the time had yet to be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation or the Canadian Soccer Association, would also comprise the Carolina RailHawks , Crystal Palace Baltimore , Miami FC , Minnesota Thunder , Montreal Impact , FC Tampa Bay , Vancouver Whitecaps and a brand new team led by St. Louis Soccer United . However,
1334-432: The current USL Premier Development League (PDL) franchise St. Louis Lions ); Orlando, Florida (with Mexican side Pachuca being rumored as connected to it); Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Detroit, Michigan ; Hamilton, Ontario ; San Antonio, Texas ; and Ottawa, Ontario . On September 1, 2009, a group from Ottawa formally applied for USL-1 team, contingent on the approval of updates to Lansdowne Park . The team would share
1380-399: The end of the 2007 season, having played only one season. In November 2008, the Atlanta Silverbacks announced that they would sit out the 2009 season to "reassess the landscape," and would possibly return at a future date. Similarly, the Seattle Sounders left prior to the 2009 season due to the imminent entrance of Seattle Sounders FC into Major League Soccer . Their spot in the league
1426-542: The expected 2010 expansion franchises, applied to the United States Soccer Federation , the Canadian Soccer Association , and FIFA for approval to create a new North American Soccer League , reducing the league's membership to just three teams. After lawsuits were filed and heated press statements exchanged, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) declared they would sanction neither
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1472-539: The final A-League season in 2004, folded during the offseason, and did not take up their places in the new league. The Seattle Sounders won the inaugural USL1 championship, beating Richard on penalty kicks in the championship game after a 1–1 tie in regulation time. The Vancouver Whitecaps won the first of their two USL1 titles in 2006 by beating the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3–0 in the championship game, while Seattle won their second title in 2007 by overcoming
1518-505: The first leg, and the higher seed hosting the second. Prior to 2009, the final was played as a single leg at the higher seed's stadium. After the first legs were completed, the lowest remaining seed played the Commissioner's Cup winner, and the higher seeds played each other. The highest remaining seed hosted the penultimate game of the Finals. The playoffs started the week after the completion of
1564-597: The franchise. In June 1998, the league suspended the team after Lu refused to sign a renewed franchise agreement with the league. The A-League continued to operate the team, now known as the A-League Atlanta . At the time Umbro had a promotional contract with the A-League and it contacted a local Atlanta law firm, Alston & Bird , about the possibility of litigation against the league and Lu. However, this contact resulted in Alston & Bird lawyer John Latham purchasing
1610-450: The leadership of USL president Francisco Marcos, and about the sale of the league to NuRock, which the TOA felt was counter-productive and detrimental to the development of the league. Within several weeks, a number of TOA member clubs threatened to break away from USL and start their own league; this break away became official on November 10, 2009, when the majority of USL-1 clubs, as well as one of
1656-426: The past chosen to take voluntary relegation to a lower level of the USL system, often to reduce operating costs, while teams had also decided to move up to USL-1 after finding success at the lower levels. The top seven teams advanced to the playoff tournament, with the Commissioner's Cup winner (regular season champion) receiving a bye into the semi-finals. Each round consisted of two legs, the lower seeded team hosting
1702-660: The regular season, and typically ended in mid-October. †The Austin Aztex have been awarded a USL Pro franchise and will begin play in 2015 in that league. Active clubs Former Club USSF D2 Season (2010) Club moved to MLS Club moved to NASL Club moved to USL Club moved to USL 2nd Div or PDL Club on hiatus Atlanta Silverbacks The Atlanta Silverbacks FC were an American professional soccer club based in Atlanta, Georgia . Founded in 1998 as Atlanta Ruckus,
1748-554: The required $ 100,000 letter of credit with the league by the March 1 deadline. The league nearly revoked the franchise, but, South African businessman Johnny Imerman quickly stepped in and bought the team. The Ruckus, under former U.S. national team coach Lothar Osiander , began its competitive existence on May 5, 1995, when it defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first game of the newly renamed A-League . The Ruckus experienced
1794-526: The second tier of soccer in the United States soccer league system behind Major League Soccer . It was operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL) and was known as the A-League , from 1997 until 2004. Several teams left the league in 2009 to form the new North American Soccer League , with the intent of running their own second-tier league. Following a brief legal dispute, the two leagues operated in tandem under United States Soccer Federation (USSF) mediation as
1840-461: The team along with his friend Bobby Glustrom. In September 1998, Latham and Glustrom hired Mike Balson as general manager. Balson then hired 1996 USISL Coach of the Year Nuno Piteira as head coach. In a September 1998 press conference at Zoo Atlanta , the two partners also announced the team would be known as the Atlanta Silverbacks in honor of Willie B. , a silverback gorilla who was
1886-525: The team enjoyed a remarkable turnaround and captured the 2013 NASL Spring season title, thus earning the right to host the 2013 Soccer Bowl , which the Silverbacks lost 1–0 to the New York Cosmos . Haynes posted a regular season record of 13 wins, 10 losses, and 10 draws and won the 2013 NASL Coach of the Year trophy, but team leadership ultimately decided not to retain him as head coach, citing poor results during
California Victory - Misplaced Pages Continue
1932-416: The team from the original NASL or a third write-in option. The name Atlanta FC was later added to the poll after receiving a "significant" number of the write-in votes. The Silverbacks played their home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park , a 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium built in 2006 for use specifically by the team. Prior to the 2006 season the Silverbacks played at various municipal stadiums in
1978-515: The third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup . In 2003, Atlanta began another string of poor seasons, failing to make the playoffs for four seasons. Finally in 2007, for the first time since its inaugural season in 1995, Atlanta made it to the league championship, falling to the Seattle Sounders. In November 2009, the Silverbacks announced their intent to leave the USL First Division to become
2024-463: Was for the club to join the league in 2010 and be named the Tampa Bay Rowdies . Possible cities mentioned for future campaigns included Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Syracuse, New York . Syracuse had had a highly attended team in the A-League from 2002 to 2004, but it folded due to stadium issues, having ground-shared with the local baseball team. Fort Lauderdale also had a history of teams from
2070-530: Was taken by the Cleveland City Stars , who won the USL Second Division title in 2008, and voluntarily moved up to USL-1 for the 2009 season, folded at the end of the year. On December 2, 2009, Inside Minnesota Soccer reported that the USL had asked the City Stars to terminate the contracts of all the players, as the franchise was to be dissolved. Posting an email addressed to all players under contract with
2116-470: Was won by the Puerto Rico Islanders . On September 8, 2010, the USL announced the formation of USL Pro which would merge the USL First Division and USL Second Division to begin play in 2011. The merger is meant to consolidate USL's position within the American professional soccer landscape and focus on commercial growth and professional development of soccer in 4 main regions throughout the U.S., Canada, and
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