Mississippi Brilla FC
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Full name | Mississippi Brilla Futbol Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | Brilla | ||
Founded | 2006 | ||
Stadium | Clinton Arrow Stadium Clinton, Mississippi | ||
Owner | Rusty Bryant | ||
Head Coach | Luke Sanford | ||
League | USL League Two | ||
2021 | 1st, Deep South Division Playoffs: Conference Semifinals | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Mississippi Brilla is an amateur American soccer club based in Clinton, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in USL League Two. The team's colors are sky blue, navy and white.
Brilla is associated with , an organization which undertakes sports ministry to share Christianity through the sport. The club’s name is derived from the Spanish word for "shine", and references the biblical passage Matthew 5:16 which says "Therefore, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Although the club initially finished in the middle of the standings their first couple of years, Brilla has become one of the strongest PDL franchises in the Southeast on the pitch, winning their division regular season title in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2021. In 2017, the club had their best showing in the playoffs, winning the Southern Conference Championship and advancing to the PDL Semi-finals.
History[]
![]() | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Recent history needs updating.(September 2020) |
Mississippi Brilla entered the PDL in 2007 to a great deal of fanfare, as the first soccer franchise in Mississippi since the demise of the Jackson Chargers in 1999. Under head coach , Brilla tied their first game 1-1 at home to New Orleans Shell Shockers in front of over 1,000 fans (with the honor of the first goal in franchise history going to ), and although the average attendance remained high throughout the season, the on-field results were not quite as impressive. Brilla won their first game next time out, 1-0 over DFW Tornados, but then failed to register a victory in their next four games. In the end, too many ties caused Brilla's downfall - 5 on the season - and despite some impressive results, including a 5-1 hammering of Baton Rouge Capitals in June and 5-0 demolition of Nashville Metros in July, it was not quite enough to make the playoffs, and they eventually finished their freshman year fourth behind divisional (and eventual national) champions Laredo Heat. was the team's top scorer, with six goals, while and led the assists stats with three apiece.
Brilla's second season in the PDL was pretty much on an equal footing with their first. With new head coach at the helm, attendances remained high, often topping 900 fans per game, and the team enjoyed a number of exciting victories, including a hard-fought 2-0 win over the eventual divisional champions Austin Aztex U23, a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over New Orleans Shell Shockers in mid-June, and a spectacular 6-2 final day victory at home against Houston Leones in which scored a brace. As was the case in 2007, however, Brilla's downfall was a lack of consistency, and their inability to string a series of results together to gain momentum: their longest streak was a 5-game run in late June and early which included three wins and two ties, including the aforementioned victory over New Orleans. Mississippi ended the season in 4th place in the Mid South Division, just four points out of the playoffs, and with plenty to build on in 2009. Phillip Buffington was the team's most prolific goalscorer, with 8 for the season.
In 2009 Brilla had its most successful start in team history. Brilla qualified for the U.S. Open Cup for the first time in franchise history by going undefeated in their first four games, winning three and drawing one.
Players and staff[]
Current roster[]
As of June 2019.[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Head coach[]
Luke Sanford (2019-present)
Notable Players[]
This list of notable players comprises players who have gone on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.
Emir Alihodžić
Michael Azira
Kharlton Belmar
Richard Bryan
Gui Brandao
Phillip Buffington
Kyle Clinton
Kyle Culbertson
Craig Demmin
Dwyane Demmin
Richard Dixon
Devon Fisher
Billy Forbes
Kaelon Fox
J. J. Greer
Kellen Gulley
Chakib Hocine
Willie Hunt
Oscar Jimenez
Alec Kann
Angelo Kelly-Rosales
Macauley King
Jake Leeker
David Lilly
Napo Matsoso
Brendan Moore
Debola Ogunseye
Lucas Paulini
Kyle Segebart
Jordan Skelton
Bryce Taylor
Thomas Vancaeyezeele
Former Head Coaches[]
Mark McKeever (2015-2018)
Drew Courtney (2013-2014)
Dave Dixon (2007, 2009–2012)
Steve DeCou (2008)
Year-by-year[]
Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | US Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
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2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Mid South | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 1,109 |
2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Mid South | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 935 |
2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Southeast | Divisional Finals | 1st Round[2] | 852 |
2010 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify | 671 |
2011 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Southeast | Conference Finals | Did not qualify | 732 |
2012 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Southeast | Did not qualify | 1st Round[3] | 502 |
2013 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 564 |
2014 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Mid South | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 597 |
2015 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Mid South | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify | 709 |
2016 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid South | Did not qualify | 2nd Round[4] | — |
2017 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Mid South | National Semifinals | Did not qualify | — |
2018 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Deep South | Did not qualify | 3rd Round[5] | — |
2019 | 4 | USL League Two | 3rd, Deep South | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | — |
2020 | 4 | USL League Two | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
2021 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Mid South | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify | — |
Honors[]
- USL PDL Southeast Division Champions 2009
- USL PDL Southeast Division Champions 2010
- USL PDL Southeast Division Champions 2011
- USL PDL Mid South Division Champions 2015
- USL PDL Southern Conference Champions 2017
- USL League Two Mid South Division Champions 2021
Stadium[]
- Robert P. Longabaugh Field; Mississippi College; Clinton, Mississippi (2007-2009)
- Harper Davis Stadium; Millsaps College; Jackson, Mississippi (2007, 2010–2012)
- M&F Bank Stadium (Freedom Ridge Park); Ridgeland, Mississippi (2 games in 2008-2009)
- Traceway Park, Clinton, Mississippi (4 games in 2015, 2016)
- Arrow Field at Clinton High School; Clinton, Mississippi (3 games in 2008-2010, 2013–2015, 2017-present)
Supporters[]
The Mississippi Brilla supporter club is The Blue Battalion,[6] founded in 2015. The Battalion tailgate before each home game and bring passion and noise to match days. Each home game the group selects their player of the game, who signs the large Blue Battalion flag.
Broadcasts[]
Each Mississippi Brilla home game is broadcast live on Eleven Sports and also kept there for on demand viewing.[7]
References[]
- ^ "2019 Roster | Brilla Soccer Ministries". brillasoccer.org.
- ^ "2009 First Round: Austin Aztex beat Mississippi 2-0 for first Open Cup win".
- ^ "2012 US Open Cup First Round: Georgia Revolution edge Mississippi Brilla, 1-0 in OT".
- ^ "U.S. Open Cup 2020". U.S. Soccer Official Website. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "U.S. Open Cup 2020". U.S. Soccer Official Website. 2018-05-23. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Log into Facebook". Facebook.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Mississippi Brilla - Eleven Sports". www.elevensports.com.
External links[]
- Association football clubs established in 2006
- USL League Two teams
- Soccer clubs in Mississippi
- Hinds County, Mississippi
- 2006 establishments in Mississippi