Soccer club
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| Full name | Grand Rapids Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Blues, GRFC | ||
| Founded | 2014 | ||
| Dissolved | 2021 | ||
| Website | http://www.grandrapidsfc.com/ | ||
| |||
Grand Rapids FC was an American soccer club based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, whose senior men's team played in USL League Two. The team was founded in 2014 and ceased operations in 2021. Its first season was in 2015. It was initially funded by a group of supporters who purchased memberships to cover the operating expenses, as well as by local sponsors.
History
Grand Rapids FC (GRFC) was started by a group of Grand Rapids residents as a community-funded project along the lines of Nashville FC. Fundraising began on February 14, 2014, by word of mouth and was opened to the public a month later. The team applied to the National Premier Soccer League for the 2015 season but their application was denied. Instead, GRFC and AFC Ann Arbor (also denied an NPSL bid in 2015) founded the Great Lakes Premier League. The new league held its inaugural meeting on January 17, 2015, with six teams.
Following a 2015 season in which GRFC finished in second place, averaging 4,509 fans per game, the team announced on September 25, 2015, that they would leave the Great Lakes Premier League to join the National Premier Soccer League.
The 2016 season resulted in a first-place position in the NPSL Great Lakes West conference and qualification for the playoffs by beating AFC Ann Arbor in a 3–1 victory in front of a club record 6,854 spectators. The club reached the final of the NPSL Midwest Regional playoffs and beat Indy Eleven NPSL in front of a record attendance of 6,912, qualifying the team for the 2017 US Open Cup. The following day GRFC lost against 2016 NPSL champions AFC Cleveland on penalties.
On November 1, 2016, the club announced they would add a women's team under the same GRFC banner, which would begin play in 2017 in a new Midwest division of the United Women's Soccer league. The women's team plays at Grandville High School in Grandville, Michigan. The Grand Rapids FC (women) won the 2017 United Women's Soccer Championship in their inaugural season.
On December 5, 2019 it was announced that the club would be moving from the NPSL to USL League Two. Also during this time, the ownership of the women's side was transferred to Midwest United FC and their name was changed to reflect this change.
Grand Rapids FC ceased operations on October 27, 2021. The club cited that the lack of an adequate home venue and the financial challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the club.
Colors and badge
On March 14, 2014, representatives of the club released their vision for the official club logo and colors. The badge draws inspiration from the early German influence in Grand Rapids' brewing, notably Christoph Kusterer, as well as city design. The combination of royal and navy blue reflects a continuity with West Michigan sports teams and various Grand Rapids imagery.
Stadium
In 2020 and 2021, Grand Rapids FC had used the Midwest United FC Soccer Complex as their home field. Prior to 2020, Houseman Field in the Midtown neighborhood of Grand Rapids had been the home field since the club's inception.
Record attendance
- 6,912 – July 22, 2016, vs Indy Eleven NPSL at Houseman Field (second game of a doubleheader, attendance counted both games)
- 6,854 – July 8, 2016, vs AFC Ann Arbor at Houseman Field (single game record)
Head coaches
George Moni (2015–2017)
Lewis Robinson (2018–2019)- James Gilpin (2020)
Stuart Collins (2021)
Honors
National Premier Soccer League
- Conference championships (1)
- Midwest Region – Great Lakes West Conference: 2016
Minor competitions
- West Michigan Community Cup: 2020
Statistics
Year-by-year
| Year | Tier | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Average Attendance | Average League Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | GLPL | 2nd of 5 (3–3–2) | ― | Ineligible | 4,509 | 3,945 | |
| 2016 | 4 | NPSL | 1st of 7, Midwest – Great Lakes West (7–1–4) | Regional final | Ineligible | 4,315 | 4,784 | |
| 2017 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd of 8, Midwest – Great Lakes (6–6–2) | DNQ | First round | 2,691 | 2,588 | |
| 2018 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd of 7, Midwest – Great Lakes (7–3–2) | Regional first round | DNQ | ― | ― | |
| 2019 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd of 8, Midwest – Great Lakes (9–3–2) | DNQ | DNQ | ― | ― | |
| 2020 | 4 | USL2 | Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2021 | 4 | USL2 | 4th of 9, Central – Great Lakes (7–2–5) | DNQ | DNQ | ― | ― | |
- No playoffs were held in the inaugural season of the Great Lakes Premier League.
- To enter the U.S. Open Cup, in the previous season a team must have belonged to an affiliated league with at least 4 teams that played a schedule of at least 10 games.
- Attendance figures beyond the 2017 season have not been made public by the organization.
Historic record vs opponents
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| 0–0–0 | Win–loss-draw |
| 0–0 | Win–loss |
| * | No games played |
| Opponent | League | Playoffs | U.S. Open | Amateur Cup | MI Cup | Played | Total | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AAFC Lumberjacks
|
* | * | * | * | 1–0 | 1 | 1–0–0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 1.000 |
| AFC Ann Arbor
|
4–5–1 | * | * | * | * | 10 | 4–5–1 | 15 | 13 | +2 | .450 |
 AFC Cleveland
|
* | 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) | * | * | * | 1 | 0–0–1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 |
| Ann Arbor FC
|
* | * | * | 1–0 | * | 1 | 1–0–0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 1.000 |
 Chicago FC United
|
* | * | 0–1 | * | * | 1 | 0–1–0 | 0 | 1 | −1 | .000 |
 Croatian Eagles
|
1–0–1 | * | * | * | * | 2 | 1–0–1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | .750 |
| Dayton Dutch Lions
|
1–0–0 | * | * | * | * | 1 | 1–0–0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 1.000 |
| Dayton Dynamo
|
2–0–0 | * | * | * | * | 2 | 2–0–0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 1.000 |
| Detroit City FC
|
2–2–4 | * | * | * | * | 8 | 2–2–4 | 13 | 12 | +1 | .500 |
 Duluth FC
|
* | 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) | * | * | * | 1 | 0–0–1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 |
| FC Columbus
|
1–3–0 | * | * | * | * | 4 | 1–3–0 | 3 | 8 | −5 | .250 |
 FC Indiana
|
6–0–0 | * | * | * | * | 6 | 6–0–0 | 26 | 2 | +24 | 1.000 |
| Flint City Bucks
|
1–0–1 | * | * | * | 0–1 | 3 | 1–1–1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 |
| Fort Wayne FC
|
0–0–2 | * | * | * | * | 2 | 0–0–2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 |
| Indy Eleven NPSL
|
* | 1–0 | * | * | * | 1 | 1–0–0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 1.000 |
| Kalamazoo FC
|
6–2–2 | * | * | * | * | 10 | 6–2–2 | 20 | 10 | +10 | .700 |
| Kings Hammer FC
|
0–1–0 | * | * | * | * | 1 | 0–1–0 | 2 | 3 | –1 | .000 |
| Lansing United
|
2–1–1 | * | * | * | 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) | 5 | 2–1–2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | .600 |
| Livonia City FC
|
* | * | * | 0–1 | * | 1 | 0–1–0 | 0 | 1 | –1 | .000 |
| Michigan Stars FC
|
3–1–2 | * | * | * | * | 6 | 3–1–2 | 7 | 5 | +2 | .667 |
| Milwaukee Torrent
|
2–0–2 | * | * | * | * | 4 | 2–0–2 | 7 | 5 | +2 | .750 |
| Muskegon Risers SC
|
* | * | * | * | 2–0 | 2 | 2–0–0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 1.000 |
| Oakland County FC
|
3–1–0 | * | * | * | * | 4 | 3–1–0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | .750 |
| RWB Adria
|
0–2–0 | * | * | * | * | 2 | 0–2–0 | 2 | 6 | −4 | .000 |
| South Bend Lions FC
|
1–0–1 | * | * | * | * | 2 | 1–0–1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | .750 |
| Toledo Villa FC
|
4–0–0 | * | * | * | * | 4 | 4–0–0 | 17 | 3 | +14 | 1.000 |
| Total | 39–18–17 | 1–0–2 (0–2 PKs) | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1–1 (0–1 PKs) | 85 | 44–21–20 | 166 | 96 | +70 | .635 |
- Note: Table includes all competitive matches and does not include friendlies.
- Updated to end of 2021 season.
- Livonia City FC forfeited this May 4, 2019 match due to fielding an ineligible player. Grand Rapids FC was subsequently disqualified from the 2019 Amateur Cup for fielding too many players in the competition.
- Oakland United were renamed Oakland County FC in 2016
Player records
Goals
|
Appearances
|
|
- Note: Table includes all competitive matches and does not include friendlies.
- Updated to end of 2021 season.
Reference:
Club culture
Supporters
The Grand Army was the supporters group for Grand Rapids FC. Starting in 2015, all pre-game festivities were held at Bob's Bar and a march led through the Midtown neighborhood. In June 2015 a fanzine entitled What if it Rains started publication. The name of the magazine referred to one of the reasons the NPSL originally declined the club's application and celebrated the club's massive support.
References
- ^ "Grand Rapids FC disbands after seven years". MLive.com. October 27, 2021. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- "A Soccer Club in Grand Rapids?". Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- "Many pitch in for hometown soccer franchise". GRBJ.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- "sports.yahoo.com". yahoo.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- "NPSL denies Ann Arbor semi-pro soccer club's application; owners plan to establish new league". MLive.com. December 2014. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- "Grand Rapids Football Club Joins the NPSL – Grand Rapids FC". GrandRapidsFC.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- "Grand Rapids FC launches women's team for 2017 season". mlive. November 1, 2016. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- "Grand Rapids FC beats Santa Clarita, captures United Women's Soccer championship". MLive.com. July 2017. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- "GRFC Announces Collaboration With Midwest United". December 24, 2019. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- "AFTER SEVEN SEASONS, GRAND RAPIDS FC CEASES OPERATIONS". GrandRapidsFC.com. October 27, 2021. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- "Identity". Grand Rapids FC official website. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- Baxter, Albert (1891). History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. New York and Grand Rapids: Munsell and Company. p. 203.
- "Identity". Grand Rapids FC official website. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- GRFC (April 13, 2021). "GRAND RAPIDS FC TO RELEASE FULL 2021 SEASON SCHEDULE; FIRST GAME AT THIS YEAR'S HOME FIELD SET FOR MAY 16". grandrapidsfc.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- "Houseman Field to become home of Grand Rapids Football Club". mlive. July 10, 2014. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Peter J. Wallner (February 8, 2020). "Grand Rapids FC to remain at Houseman Field for upcoming season". MLive.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Stuart Collins Accepts Head Coaching Job For Grand Rapids FC". February 25, 2021. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- "United Soccer League Provides Update on 2020 League Two Season". April 30, 2020. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- "How do you enter the 2016 US Open Cup? USSF takes over amateur qualifying". July 31, 2015. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- "Grand Rapids FC disqualified from U.S. Amateur Cup". mLive. May 9, 2019. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- "What if it Rains". WhatIfItRains.net. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- "MOTU VIGET". Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- "Game Day FAQ". Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- "About". Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
External links
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