Erie Commodores FC

Erie Commodores FC

Full name	Erie Commodores Football Club
Nickname(s)	Erie Commodores, Commodores, ECFC
Founded	2009; 15 years ago (2009)
Stadium	Saxon Stadium Erie, Pennsylvania
Owner	John Melody
Head Coach	Rich Wall
League	National Premier Soccer League United Women's Soccer
Website	Club website
Home colors Away colors
Current season

Erie Commodores FC is an American soccer team based in Erie, Pennsylvania which competes in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a nationwide amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team plays its home matches at Saxon Stadium on the campus of Mercyhurst University. In 2021, the Commodores added a pro-am women's team to play in United Women's Soccer.^[1]

The "Commodores" name alludes to Oliver Hazard Perry, a U.S. Navy commodore who based his operations at Erie's Presque Isle Bay during the Battle of Lake Erie, a flashpoint in the War of 1812. His ship, the USS Niagara, hoisted a blue flag saying, "Don't Give up the Ship," during the battle (both featured in the Commodores' logo). Today, the Erie Maritime Museum keeps the Niagara in Presque Isle Bay.

History

Pedro Argáez, a local soccer coach, formed Erie Admirals SC in 2009, developing the club from an established youth soccer program. John Melody, an alumnus of Mercyhurst University in Erie, served Argaez as head coach, later acquiring full ownership while continuing to lead the team. On April 24, 2015, Melody officially rebranded his club as Erie Commodores FC.^[2] He also hired fellow Mercyhurst graduate, Micky Blythe, as head coach for one season. Subsequently, Neil Brown, who received an internationally prestigious "A" license from UEFA, helped lead Commodores FC in their 2015 NPSL campaign.^[3]

Several players who once played for Commodores FC moved on to the professional soccer ranks: Adam Clement with Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer (MLS); Jeremy Deighton, Greg Blum, and Neil Shaffer with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of the United Soccer League; Dan Howell in Iceland; Billy Colton in New Zealand, Sam Dorf in Ireland and Israel, and, most recently, Danny Deakin, who was drafted by Orlando City SC of MLS.^[4]

Erie Commodores FC has a rivalry with fellow Rust Belt conference NPSL club Cleveland SC (Cleveland, Ohio). They had a rivalry with Detroit City FC (Detroit, Michigan) until Detroit left the NPSL for the National Independent Soccer Association. In 2020, the Commodores competed in the NPSL Members Cup with Cleveland SC, FC Buffalo, and the Pittsburgh Hotspurs. The club participated in the Erie County Derby against FC Buffalo, a regional NPSL rivalry pitting Erie County, Pennsylvania and Erie County, New York until Buffalo joined USL League Two in 2023.

In 2024, the Commodores renewed their rivalry with FC Buffalo with the Erie County Brewers Cup, featuring a collaborative sponsorship by the Erie-based John Russell Brewing Company and the Buffalo-based Big Ditch Brewing Company. John Russell and Big Ditch also released Lake Erie Life, a tropical summer India pale ale beer. The Brewers Cup is a two-game series with a home game in each city.^[5]

Current roster

As of 17 May 2022

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  USA Chris Ralph 2 DF  USA Antonio De La Torre 3 DF  ENG Faheem Khan 4 DF  USA Chad Eldridge 5 DF  ARG Bautista Corti 6 DF  WAL Sam Richards 7 MF  ENG Danny Stevens 8 MF  ENG Tom Barry 9 FW  USA Max Wilkins 10 MF  ENG Dylan Sumner 11 MF  BRA Renan Diniz 12 MF  BRA Gabriel Peres 14 FW  ENG Tinashe Katsande 15 MF  ENG Ryan Beckinsale 16 FW  USA Thomas Binkowski

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 MF  CAN Owen Jowett 19 MF  USA Steve Yeonas 20 DF  USA Ryan Lieser 21 FW  AUS Joe Knox 22 DF  ENG Andy Bennett 23 DF  ENG Gavin Morgan 24 MF  ENG Toby Gower 25 FW  USA Jack Foht 26 FW  USA Shawn Rapal 27 DF  USA Peter Wagner 28 GK  USA Jonathan Gomes 29 GK  USA Mitchell Wolff 30 MF  MAR Anass Hadran 31 GK  GER Friedrich Petrelli

Year-by-year

Year	Tier	League	Regular Season	Record	Playoffs
2009	4	NPSL	1st of 6, Eastern Keystone	9 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie	National Final
2010	4	NPSL	2nd of 7, Northeast-Keystone	10 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties	did not qualify
2011	4	NPSL	1st of 8, Northeast-Keystone	10 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie	National Semifinals
2012	4	NPSL	1st of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes	6 wins, 1 loss, 5 ties	Division Final
2013	4	NPSL	3rd of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes	6 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties	National Semifinals
2014	4	NPSL	2nd of 4, Midwest-Great Lakes East	6 wins, 6 losses, 2 ties	did not qualify
2015	4	NPSL	7th of 13, Midwest	5 wins, 7 losses, 0 ties	did not qualify
2016	4	NPSL	5th of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes East	2 wins, 4 losses, 4 ties	did not qualify
2017	4	NPSL	1st of 7, Midwest-East	6 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties	Regional first round
2018	4	NPSL	1st of 7, Midwest-East	8 wins, 1 loss, 3 ties	Regional first round
2019	4	NPSL	3rd of 6, Midwest-East	4 wins, 2 losses, 4 ties	did not qualify
2020	4	NPSL	Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic	N/A	Not played
2021	4	NPSL	4th of 6, Midwest-Rust Belt	1 win, 5 losses, 4 ties	did not qualify
2022	4	NPSL	4th of 5, Midwest-Rust Belt	3 wins, 7 losses, 2 ties	did not qualify
2023	4	NPSL	5th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes	5 wins, 6 losses, 1 tie	did not qualify

Honors

National:

• NPSL National runners-up: 2009
• NPSL National semifinalist, 3rd Place winner: 2011

Region/Historic Equivalent:

• NPSL Midwest Region Champions: 2013
• NPSL Northeast Division Champions: 2011
• NPSL Eastern Division champions: 2009

Conference/Historic Equivalent:

• NPSL Midwest Region-East Conference champions: 2017, 2018
• NPSL Midwest-Great Lakes Conference champions: 2012
• NPSL Northeast Division-Keystone Conference champions: 2011
• NPSL Eastern Keystone Division champions: 2009

Rivalry:

• Erie County Derby Champions (vs FC Buffalo): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022

Staff

Owner

• John Melody (2010–present)
• Pedro Argáez (2009–2010)

Head coach

• Rich Wall (2023–present)^[6]
• John Melody (2009–2013, 2016–present)^[7]
• Dan Howell (2015)
• Micky Blythe (2014)

Assistant coach

• Neil Brown (2011–2014)
• Micky Blythe (2009–2013)

Stadia

• Saxon Stadium (2022–Present)
• McConnell Family Stadium (2013, 2016–2021)
• Gus Anderson Field (2014–2015)
• Dollinger Field (2012–2013)
• Penn State Behrend Soccer/Lacrosse Complex (2010–2011)
• Family First Sports Park (2009-2010)

References

External links

• Official website