Stumptown AC

Stumptown AC, formerly Stumptown Athletic, was an American professional soccer team that played in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). The club is based in Matthews, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte.

Stumptown AC
Founded2018
StadiumSportsplex at Matthews
Capacity5,000
Head coachVacant
LeagueNational Independent Soccer Association
Fall 20218th Place
WebsiteClub website

History

Following an initial bid in late 2017, the team was first announced by the National Independent Soccer Association on October 23, 2018 with plans to begin play in the inaugural 2019–20 season.[1][2] Originally referred to in league press releases simply as "Charlotte", the name Stumptown Athletic was officially unveiled in June 2019.[3] The name came from an early nickname for Matthews derived from the fact that farmers cut down so many trees to clear land that the town was left full of tree stumps.[4]

The team was originally owned by Christopher Clarke of Atlanta, a lawyer specializing in wealth management, and Casey Carr, a former college soccer player with the DePaul Blue Demons and an entrepreneur based out of Mecklenburg County.[5] Carr also served as the club's president and GM.

On July 21, 2019 the club appointed Mark Steffens as head coach. Steffens previously coached the Charlotte Eagles and served as an assistant for the Charlotte Lady Eagles.[6] In August, Stumptown announced former Jamaica national football team player Michael Binns and Jared Odenbeck as their first signings.[7]

During the Fall 2019 showcase, Stumptown competed within the East Coast Conference and finished second in their group. In the championship game the team fell to Miami FC, 3–0.[8] After two matches in the Spring 2020 season, NISA announced a suspension of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] Eventually, the entire Spring Season was cancelled outright.[10]

Following a hiatus during the Fall 2020 season, the team's original front office dissolved the club and it was reformed under the new name Stumptown AC on March 3, 2021.[11] Soccer executive Fred Matthes and former Portland Timbers assistant coach Rod Underwood were announced as the new team president and head coach, respectively.

The club's supporters' group is the QC Royals, which was founded in 2015.[12]

Stadium

In 2021, the team announced it would play exclusively at the Sportsplex at Matthews and has played all of its home games there since.

Players and staff

Current roster
As of October 10, 2021[13]
No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK Kevin Gonzalez  United States
2 DF Bay Kurtz  United States
3 DF Shaan Sharma  United States
5 DF Jacob Lovinger  United States
6 DF Rhys Williams  United States
7 MF Alex McGrath  United States
8 MF Luis Garcia Sosa  Mexico
9 DF Robert Hines  United States
10 MF Agwie Chunga  United States
11 DF Travis Ward  United States
12 FW Khesanio Hall  Jamaica
13 DF Giovani Bejarno Navia  Colombia
14 DF Dylan Greenberg  United States
16 MF Ismael Longo  United States
17 MF Elliot Cutts  England
18 DF Anthony Legendre  United States
19 FW Giovanni Ramos-Godoy  United States
20 MF Jake Crim  United States
21 MF Julio Rubio  United States
22 DF Franky Martinez  United States
23 DF Giovani Bejarano  Colombia
24 FW Salifu Jatta  Gambia
30 GK Davis Smith  United States
33 DF Robert Hines  United States
42 MF Jared Odenbeck  United States

Technical staff
Technical staff
Head coach United States Rod Underwood
Assistant coach Republic of Ireland Christopher Nugent
Assistant coach United States Drew Yates
President United States Alex Kantor

Logo history
  • Stumptown Athletic(2019–2020)
    Stumptown Athletic
    (2019–2020)
  • Stumptown AC (2021–)
    Stumptown AC
    (2021–)

Year-by-year
Season League Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA Pts. Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Top goalscorer Manager
Name League
2019–20 NISA Fall – East Coast[lower-alpha 1] 2nd 6 4 0 2 13 7 12 Runner-up Cancelled Jamaica Michael Binns
Central African Republic Donald Benamna
United States Jalen Brown		 2 United States Mark Steffens
Spring[lower-alpha 2] 1st 2 0 2 0 3 3 2 Cancelled
2020–21 Fall On hiatus Cancelled United States Alex McGrath 3 Nigeria Rod Underwood
Spring 3rd 8 4 3 1 8 4 15 Did not qualify
  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[14]

References
  1. Showell, Alex (August 31, 2017). "Eight cities bid to join 3rd division National Independent Soccer Association". Stars and Stripes FC. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  2. "New Professional Soccer Club to Call Charlotte Home". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  3. Boraks, David (June 30, 2019). "New Pro Soccer Team Stumptown Athletic Debuts This Fall". WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  4. "Our History – Matthews NC". www.matthewsnc.gov.
  5. Boraks, David (June 30, 2019). "New Pro Soccer Team Stumptown Athletic Debuts This Fall". www.wfae.org.
  6. "Steffens to lead Stumptown Athletic". South Charlotte Weekly. July 26, 2019.
  7. Mahoney, Ashley. "Stumptown Athletic announces first players and philanthropic goals". www.thecharlottepost.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  8. Carmenate, Achillies (November 10, 2019). "Miami FC Wins NISA Eastern Conference Championship, 9th Trophy in Four Years". Lemon City Live. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  9. "Nisa Announces Suspension of Season For 30 Days". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  10. "NISA announces Spring season cancelled; aims for Summer tournament, Fall campaign". WTVC. April 27, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  11. "Pro Soccer Returns to Stumptown for NISA Spring Season". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  12. "Charlotte Soccer". QC Royals. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  13. "Roster". Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  14. Kennedy, Paul. "NISA cancels spring season, sets sights on August start to fall championship". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved April 28, 2020.


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