Fort Worth Vaqueros FC

Fort Worth Vaqueros FC is an American amateur soccer club based in Fort Worth, Texas, which began play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in May 2014.[1][2] The Vaqueros play in the Lone Star Conference of the South Region.[3][4] The club is based at Farrington Field, a facility owned by the Fort Worth Independent School District. The team's name was announced at the Fort Worth Livestock Exchange Building on February 13, 2014, after a name the team contest.[5][6][7] The team's official logo was selected by the fans then revealed by the team on March 20, 2014.[8] The team played its inaugural 2014 season at historic LaGrave Field but had to relocate in 2015 after the Fort Worth Cats, from whom the Vaqueros had been subletting the field, lost their lease.[9]

Full nameFort Worth Vaqueros FC
Founded2013 (2013)
StadiumW.O. Barnes Stadium
River Oaks, Texas
Capacity4,560
OwnerPlaybook Management International LLC
Head CoachTony Merola
LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
WebsiteClub website

Seasons
Year League Record (W-L-T) Regular Season Playoffs Open Cup Head Coach
2014 NPSL 2–7–1 7th, South Central did not qualify did not qualify Mark Snell
2015 NPSL 3–6–5 6th, South Central did not qualify did not qualify Mark Snell
2016 NPSL 1–10–1 11th, South Central did not qualify did not qualify Mark Snell
2017 NPSL 7–3–1 1st, Lone Star Conference Semifinals did not qualify Nick Stavrou
2018 NPSL 7–3–2 4th, Lone Star Conference Semifinals First round Nick Stavrou
2019 NPSL 8–2–4 3rd, Lone Star Conference Champions did not qualify Nick Stavrou
2020 Roja League 1-3-2 6th, Roja League did not qualify Qualified/Cancelled Sergio Franklin
2021 NPSL 0-9-1 8th, Lone Star did not qualify Qualified/Cancelled Sergio Franklin
2022 NPSL 3-8-1 8th, Lone Star did not qualify did not qualify Tony Merola
2023 NPSL 4-7-0 7th, Lone Star did not qualify did not qualify Tony Merola

Honors
  • Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship (1): 2017
  • Trinity River Cup Championship (1): 2019
  • Chisolm Trail Clásico Championship (1): 2019
  • Lone Star Conference Championship (1): 2019

Club culture

Supporters

Playing at the historic LaGrave Field, the Vaqueros welcomed 2,700 fans to their first home game and enjoyed an average attendance of 2,000 fans during the 2014 season.[10] The main supporters group for the Vaqueros is named The Panther City Hellfire, a name taken from a historic Fort Worth nickname.

The Vaqueros have a close connection with their fans, involving them in the evolution and growth of the club. When the team was first created and needed a name and logo, the club allowed the fan community to create, submit and vote on what both of these aspects would look like. Many names were submitted, but the final decision was between Fort Worth United, Fort Worth Vaqueros FC and Panther City FC, with Fort Worth Vaqueros FC ultimately being selected. Vaqueros season ticket holders do not receive paper tickets to the games, but instead receive a free team jersey that they wear to each game as their ticket into the game.[11] The club supporters come mainly from the city of Fort Worth and the surrounding Metroplex communities.

Rivalries

When the Vaqueros first entered the NPSL, they had an instant rival in Dallas City FC. With the teams in close proximity to each other in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, there is a natural rivalry between the two clubs. In addition to their conference play, the Vaqueros play a two leg cup series against Dallas City. The name of this cup was selected by both teams' fans, from the DFW area through social media.[12] The Vaqueros lost the first Trinity River Cup to Dallas City FC in 2014, suffering a 2–0 loss in the first leg and a 1–0 loss in the second leg.[13]

Beginning in 2016, the Vaqueros began a two-leg (non-league) series with Shreveport Rafters FC, called the Texas Trail Classic. Shreveport won the inaugural cup.

In 2019, the Chisholm Trail Clásico began, pitting the Vaqueros against the Denton Diablos FC.

Kit manufacturers and sponsorships
Year Kit manufacturer Sponsor
2014 Germany Puma Hispano Exito[14]
2015 Tarrant County College[15]
2016 United States UN1TUS Chimera Brewing Company[16]
2017 Zadeh Law Firm
2018 Germany Puma Fort Worth Weekly[17]
2019 Pinnacle Bank
2020 Fort Worth Police Officers Association
2021 Sidral Mundet
2022 The Starr Conspiracy
2023 The Chat Room Pub[18]

Coaching staff
  • Head coach: Tony Merola
  • Assistant coach:

Youth Academy

Partnerships

On January 1, 2015, Vaqueros owner Michael Hitchcock and the newly formed Legend Football Partners acquired a significant interest in English soccer club Alfreton Town F.C. From this acquisition, Fort Worth Vaqueros formed a partnership with the English club, creating an avenue for player sharing, cross marketing, international matches and preseason training in both countries. "This move automatically makes the Vaqueros a stronger organization through the benefits of sharing players, training techniques, matches and the collaboration of ideas from two different soccer nations," said Hitchcock.[19]

In August 2015, Hitchcock's Playbook Management International expanded the Vaqueros family ties by acquiring a stake in Tobago FC Phoenix 1976.[20]

References
  1. Welpton, Peter (February 6, 2014). "Are you aware Ft Worth is getting a soccer team?". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  2. Nishimura, Scott (March 14, 2014). "Goal! Vaqueros set for May soccer debut at LaGrave Field". Fort Worth Business Press. Fort Worth, TX. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  3. "Fort Worth's Minor League Soccer Team to Begin Play May 9" (PDF) (Press release). Fort Worth Vaqueros. January 27, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  4. Dickson, Gordon (March 2, 2014). "New Fort Worth Vaqueros soccer club aiming to connect with community". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  5. Hunt, Steve (February 13, 2014). "Vaqueros FC makes strong initial impression". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  6. "Fans select Vaqueros as name of Fort Worth's new minor league soccer team" (PDF) (Press release). Fort Worth Vaqueros. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. "Seleccionan nombre de 'Vaqueros' para equipo de fútbol". Diario La Estrella (in Spanish). Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  8. Welpton, Peter (March 3, 2014). "With name picked, Ft. Worth Vaqueros need a logo". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  9. Dickson, Gordon (April 14, 2015). "Fort Worth Vaqueros moving home soccer games to Texas Wesleyan University". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  10. Kost, Kenneth; Prince, Jeff (July 9, 2014). "Take Me Out to the Soccer Match". Fort Worth Weekly. Fort Worth, TX. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  11. "About Us". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  12. Welpton, Peter (May 24, 2014). "Dallas vs Ft Worth – a new rivalry begins". Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  13. "Vaqueros Surrender Trinity River Cup to Dallas City FC". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. June 8, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  14. "Fort Worth Vaqueros jersey will sport a charity". Dallas Morning News. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  15. "TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE TO ADORN VAQUEROS JERSEY FRONT IN 2015". NPSL. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  16. "Vaqueros Will Sport New Look This Season". Fort Worth Weekly. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  17. "Sports Rush: A New Look for the Vaqueros". Fort Worth Weekly. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  18. "Decade of Vaqueros Sponsorship Lottery 2023". FortWorthVaqueros.com. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  19. "Vaqueros Owner Purchases Interest in England's Alfreton Town FC". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  20. "FC Phoenix gets US owners | Tobago Today". Archived from the original on 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
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