Oakland Roots SC

Oakland Roots Sports Club is an American professional soccer team based in Oakland, California. The club was formed in 2018 by a group of Oakland natives, and began play in the National Independent Soccer Association in the fall of 2019. In 2021, the club joined the second division USL Championship.[1]

Oakland Roots
Full nameOakland Roots Sports Club
FoundedJuly 2018 (July 2018)
StadiumPioneer Stadium
Capacity5,000
OwnerMarshawn Lynch, Billie Joe Armstrong, G-Eazy
ChairmanSteven Aldrich
Head coachNoah Delgado
LeagueUSL Championship
202310th, Western Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

History

The club was formed in July 2018, and would be known as Oakland Roots Sports Club.[2] The club originally was slated to play in the NPSL Founders Cup, but the club ultimately withdrew and instead joined the National Independent Soccer Association, a Division III sanctioned United States Soccer Federation professional league.[3][4]

Oakland Roots began by signing three Oakland-raised players in the spring of 2019: Devante Dubose, Julio Cervantes and Yohannes Harish.[5][6] This was followed by the signing of several higher-profile players as the club built out its inaugural rosters. Those players included former San Jose native and MLS player Benji Joya, former Honduran World Cup veteran and San Jose Earthquake Victor Bernardez, and former first-round MLS draft pick Jack McInerney.[7][8][9]

The club announced Bay Area native and former MLS player and Colorado Rapids technical director Paul Bravo as its first head coach on May 9, 2019.[10]

National Independent Soccer Association

The club opened the inaugural 2019–20 NISA season as the league's first game, at home in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 4,500. McInerney would score a first-half perfect hat-trick in a match that would eventually end up in a 3–3 draw.[11]

Oakland Roots played eight games in their inaugural season: six in NISA and two friendlies against Mexican clubs FC Juarez and Atlético Zacatepec. The club picked up their first win at home against Atlético Zacatepec by a score of 2–0.[12]

Oakland Roots sold out all four of their home games in the 2019 fall season averaging 4,927 fans, including a record 5,723 in their final home game, a 1–1 draw vs Los Angeles Force.[13]

On October 31, 2019, Oakland Roots and Bravo mutually agreed to part ways.[14] On December 3, 2019, Oakland Roots announced Jordan Ferrell as the club's new head coach.[15]

The Roots opened their second season at home once again in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,603. The match against Chattanooga FC would end in a 1–1 draw when McInerney scored in the 93rd minute of the match after the Roots were forced to play a man down from a first-half red card.[16] The Roots followed this up by winning their first-ever NISA league match the following weekend vs Michigan Stars FC 2–1.[17]

On April 27, 2020, following an extended stoppage of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NISA announced the cancellation of the 2020 spring season.[18][19]

In the abridged 2020 fall regular season, Oakland finished first in the three team Western Conference, with Matthew Fondy leading the team with two goals.[20][21] The Roots finished atop its group in the NISA Fall Championship, and beat Chattanooga FC in the national semifinal, before falling to Detroit City FC, 2–1, in the final.[22][23]

USL Championship

On September 15, 2020, the team announced they would be moving from the third-division NISA to the second-division USL Championship.[24]

Initially, in 2017, the USL approved a bid from real estate developer Mark Hall to bring a soccer team to Concord, California, instead of Oakland.[25][26] The team, called USL East Bay, planned to play in a 15,000+ seat soccer-specific stadium complex before the development idea was scrapped in May 2020.[27][28] The team's territorial rights were later sold to the Roots.

In November 2020, Oakland Roots announced the signing of Oakland born, Richmond, California raised midfielder Saalih Muhammad via a transfer from New Mexico United as the club's first USL Championship player.[29] This was followed by the early December signings of Oakland raised Max Ornstil and re-signings of Yohannes Harish and Tarn Weir, as well as many others.[30]

In April 2021, Marshawn Lynch joined the Roots ownership group.[31]

Oakland Roots picked up their first USL Championship win on May 23 at LA Galaxy II when striker Jeremy Bokila scored in stoppage time to give Oakland the 3–2 win.[32] The team was set to kick off the USL Championship home season on June 19 against Sacramento Republic FC, but the match was called off due to field issues.[33] This was then followed by multiple games being called off due to USL health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 Pandemic.[34]

The team went on to play multiple games at Las Positas College before finishing the season back home at Laney. The club had just one win through their first 13 games. The club placed dead last in the USL Power Rankings in August.[35]

The team began a massive turnaround with a 2–1 win at Merritt College, powered by goals from Ornstil and Harish. From there, Oakland went on to pick up 34 points in 19 games, earning the final Pacific Division playoff spot on the final day of the season following a 1–0 win over Sporting Kansas City II.[36]

Oakland upset the Mountain Division Champions El Paso Locomotive in the first round of the playoffs, breaking a 470-day home unbeaten run by the Texas side. The Roots’ playoff run came to an end the following weekend when the team lost 6–5 on penalties against Orange County SC after 120 minutes of scoreless action.[37]

On December 21, 2021, the Roots announced they were leasing the former Oakland Raiders practice facility in Alameda, California as their training facility.[38]

On December 30, 2021, the Roots announced Juan Guerra as the club's fourth head coach.[39]

On October 23, 2022, the Roots upset San Diego Loyal 3–0 in the first round of the playoffs. This punched their ticket to play San Antonio, where they lost 3–0. [40]

On September 18, 2023, the team announced that Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong joined the ownership group for the Roots.[41]

Record

Year-by-year
Season League Div. Pos. P W D L GS GA Pts. Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Top goalscorer Manager
Name League
2019–20 NISA Fall, West Coast[lower-alpha 1] 4th 6 0 3 3 10 13 3 Did not qualify Cancelled United States Jack McInerney 8 United States Paul Bravo
Spring[lower-alpha 2] 1st 2 1 1 0 3 2 4 Cancelled United States Jordan Ferrell
2020–21 Fall, Western[lower-alpha 3] 1st 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 Runner-up United States Matthew Fondy 2
2021 USL Championship Pacific Division 4th 32 11 8 13 36 41 41 Conf. Semi-Finals Democratic Republic of the Congo Jeremy Bokila 5
2022 Western Conference 7th 34 11 13 10 51 46 46 Conf. Semi-Finals R3 Iceland Óttar Magnús Karlsson 19 Venezuela Juan Guerra (6–12–7)
Puerto Rico Noah Delgado (5–1–3)
2023 Western Conference 10th 34 11 9 14 45 48 42 Did not qualify R2 United States Johnny Rodriguez 12 Puerto Rico Noah Delgado
  1. The Fall 2019 NISA season had eight teams split into two separate conferences, East Coast and West Coast
  2. Spring season cancelled before completion
  3. The Fall 2020 NISA season had eight teams split into two separate conferences, Eastern and Western

Stadium

Roots home matches were played at Laney College Football Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium located near Lake Merritt, from their inauguration through the 2022 season. For Roots games the pitch was widened using a modular turf system. The stadium had room for 3,500 seated and up to 5,500+ with standing room.[42]

In 2023, Laney College installed a new turf system which proved incompatible with the modular system used by the Roots. This led the club to shift home matches to Pioneer Stadium on the campus of CSU East Bay for the entirety of the 2023 season.[43]

Average attendance
YearReg. Season
2019 Fall 4,927
2020 Spring 5,193
2020 Fall N/A
2021 4,344*
2022 4,664
2023 3,894
  • For games at Laney and Merritt only

Club culture

Local sporting and music culture has featured the club's crest, designed by Matthew Wolff. Roots merchandise has been featured in two G-Eazy videos “West Coast” and "Bang".[44][45] A Roots shirt also appeared in Zion I "Flame Go" Video a few months later.[46] Oakland native Damian Lillard wore Oakland Roots merchandise before a game in the 2019 NBA playoffs.[47] Oakland rapper Mistah F.A.B performed before the club's final home game of 2019.[42] Kevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors wore a Roots t-shirt on the bench during a regular season NBA game.[48] Roots merchandise featured in Kehlani's video "All me" on February 13, 2020.[49] Underground rappers Murs and The Grouch performed prior to the team's March 7, 2020 match against Michigan Stars FC.[50]

The club partners with local non-profit organizations as part of a community outreach effort.[51] The club joined the Common Goal movement on June 30, 2020, as the first soccer club in the United States to do so.[52] The team pledged to donate one percent of the team's payroll and one percent of all future ticket revenue to help address social inequality.

Roots Justice Fund

The club created the Oakland Roots Justice Fund is a charitable fund to support racial and gender justice. The club stated the fund would support new and existing initiatives by the Roots and community partners to "support causes at the intersection of racial and gender justice."[53] The fund was established with donations by the Roots investor group.[54]

Supporters

Oakland Roots has five main supporters groups; Roots Radicals, La Brigada Del Pueblo, Oakland 68s, Homegrown Hooligans, and Los Roots. "The Function" is a coalition of fans from all five groups. "The Function" is in reference to E-40's single, while “Roots Radicals” is an ode to the East Bay Punk Rock band Rancid.[55]

Associated teams

Project 51O
Main article: Project 51O

The Oakland Roots reserve team, Project 51O, was launched on December 9, 2019.[56] Originally set to compete in the National Premier Soccer League for the 2020 season, the team only played one match, a win over Napa Valley 1839 FC, before the season was halted and eventually cancelled due to COVID-19.[57][58]

On September 17, 2020, the team announced it would compete in USL League Two beginning with the 2021 season.[59] They eventually would forgo the season and start play in 2022.

Oakland Soul SC

On May 24, 2022, Oakland Roots SC launched their women's team, Oakland Soul, to play in the USL W League beginning in the 2023 season.[60] The team plans to join the USL Super League, a new professional women's league, in 2025 upon completion of a new stadium shared with Roots SC.[61]

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2019–2020 Nike Oaklandish
2021–2022 Puma Anthem
2023–present Meyba

Players and staff

Current roster
As of July 27, 2023[62]
No. Pos. Player Nation
2 DF Baboucarr Njie  Gambia
3 DF Kevin Wright  Sierra Leone
4 MF Joseph Nane  Cameroon
6 DF Tarek Morad  United States
7 MF Napo Matsoso  Lesotho
8 MF Irakoze Donasiyano  Burundi
10 MF Lindo Mfeka  South Africa
11 MF Trayvone Reid  Jamaica
13 DF Neveal Hackshaw  Trinidad and Tobago
14 DF Danny Barbir  United States
15 MF Daniel Gomez  United States
16 MF Ryan Her  United States
17 FW Johnny Rodriguez  United States
18 FW Anuar Peláez  Colombia
19 MF Wolfgang Prentice  United States
20 GK Paul Blanchette  United States
21 DF Emrah Klimenta  Montenegro
22 MF Jeciel Cedeño  Ecuador
23 MF Memo Diaz  United States
30 DF Bryan Tamacas  El Salvador
34 DF Thomas Camier ([A])  France
38 FW Etsgar Cruz ([A])  United States
39 MF Javier Bedolla-Vera ([A])  United States
47 GK Taylor Bailey  United States
50 DF Damario McIntosh ([A])  United States
61 GK Edwin Rodriguez ([A])  United States
62 GK Adan Corona ([A])  United States
99 MF Drew Murray  United States
  1. ^
    USL Academy player
    2.

Technical staff

Managerial records
As of April 8, 2023
Name Nat. From To P W D L GS GA %W Honours Notes
Paul Bravo  United States May 9, 2019[63] October 31, 2019[64] 6 0 3 3 10 13 000.00
Jordan Ferrell  United States December 3, 2019[65] November 16, 2020 9 5 2 2 15 9 055.56 2020 Fall NISA Western Conference Champion
Dario Pot  Croatia November 16, 2020[66] April 25, 2021[67] 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Jordan Ferrell  United States April 25, 2021 December 30, 2021[68] 34 12 9 13 37 43 035.29
Juan Guerra  Venezuela December 30, 2021[68] August 18, 2022[69] 26 6 12 8 38 38 023.08
Noah Delgado (interim)  United States August 18, 2022[69] November 30, 2022 12 7 1 4 20 13 058.33
Noah Delgado  United States December 1, 2022[70] present 4 2 1 1 6 4 050.00

Honors

League

National Independent Soccer Association

  • Western Conference
    • Champion (1): 2020

Team Awards

References
  1. "Oakland Roots and their former MLS players bound for USL Championship in 2021". MLSsoccer.com. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  2. "Bay Area Soccer Roundup: 'Oakland Roots' announced, USL East Bay heads to Concord, Street Soccer USA Cup in SF, Quakes play 2 this week". blog.sfgate.com. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  3. "NPSL FOUNDERS CUP MEMBERS ANNOUNCE DATES FOR 2019 EVENT". National Premier Soccer League. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  4. "Oakland Roots Statement: League and Membership". Oakland Roots SC. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  5. Zimmerman, Douglas (19 February 2019). "Oakland sticks to its Roots with first signing, Devante Dubose". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  6. Zimmerman, Douglas (18 March 2019). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots announce players, Quakes lose, UPSL, NPSL results". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  7. Zimmerman, Douglas (25 April 2019). ""I am ready for this." Former U.S. U-20 captain Benji Joya joins Oakland Roots". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  8. "Oakland Roots Sign World Cup Veteran Víctor Bernárdez". Oakland Roots SC. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  9. Zimmerman, Douglas (24 July 2019). "Ex-MLS star Jack McInerney joins Oakland Roots". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  10. Woitalla, Mike. "Paul Bravo takes Oakland Roots' helm to complete Bay Area homecoming". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  11. Zimmerman, Douglas (1 September 2019). "Oakland Roots tie first ever game 3–3". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  12. Zimmerman, Douglas (14 October 2019). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots win first ever game, College, UPSL roundup". SFGate. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
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  35. "USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 16". 11 August 2021.
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  37. "The Striker Texas".
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  40. "ESPN".
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  43. Oakland Roots Sports Club announces venue plan for remainder of 2023 USL Championship season
  44. "West Coast (feat. Blueface, ALLBLACK & YG) (Official Video)". YouTube. March 27, 2019.
  45. "G-Eazy, Tyga – Bang (Official Video)". YouTube. August 21, 2019.
  46. "Zion I, MADlines, and DONBLAK – "Flame Go" (The North Pole Anthem)". YouTube. December 10, 2019.
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  50. https://www.facebook.com/oaklandroots/videos/632547380930494/?v=632547380930494
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  52. Zimmerman, Douglas (30 June 2020). "Oakland Roots donates 1% of salaries to combat social injustice". SFGate. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
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  54. https://oaklandrootssc.com/news/2020/7/30/justice-match-announcement
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  57. "Napa Valley 1839 FC Drops Home Opener 2–1 to Newcomer Project 51O". National Premier Soccer League. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
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  59. Staff, USLLeagueTwo com (17 September 2020). "USL League Two Welcomes Project 51O For 2021 Season". USL League Two. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  60. "'Oakland Soul' to become city's women's soccer team". KTVU. May 24, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  61. Ingemi, Marisa (May 16, 2023). "Why the Bay Area could get a second top-tier women's pro soccer team". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
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  64. "Oakland Roots and Paul Bravo Mutually Agree to Part Ways" Archived 2019-10-31 at the Wayback Machine – Oakland Roots SC, December 30, 2019
  65. "Jordan Ferrell Named Head Coach for Oakland Roots S.C." www.oaklandrootssc.com. Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
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  67. "Roots, Head Coach Dario Pot Part Ways". Usl Championship. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
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  70. "Oakland Roots Sports Club Officially Announce Noah Delgado as Head Coach". oaklandrootssc.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
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