Monterey Bay FC

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Monterey Bay FC
Monterey Bay FC logo.svg
Full nameMonterey Bay Football Club
Nickname(s)Union[1]
FoundedFebruary 1, 2021; 10 months ago (2021-02-01)
StadiumCardinale Stadium
Seaside, California
Capacity6,000
OwnerRay Beshoff
PresidentMike DiGiulio
Head CoachFrank Yallop
LeagueUSL Championship
WebsiteClub website

Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) is a future American professional soccer team based in Monterey County, California. The club was established in 2021 and is a member of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer league system. They plan to begin play in the 2022 season.

History[]

Former Monterey Bay Teams[]

The Monterey Bay had its first professional team in 1993 when Santa Cruz Surf joined the USISL.[2] The team would only last through the 1994 season, but professional soccer's absence would not last long as the Monterey Bay Jaguars were established for the 1995 season.[3] The following season the Jaguars would change the location in their name to "California" and have their most successful season, defeating the Richmond Kickers 2-1 to win the USISL Select League Championship.[4] The Jaguars would continue to play in USL leagues until their folding after the 1999 USL D3 Pro League season.

National club soccer would not return to the Monterey Bay until 2004, when the Salinas Valley Samba joined the Men's Premier Soccer League for its second season.[5] The 2007 NPSL season would see two Monterey Bay teams playing in the same league, with the Santa Cruz County Breakers established. However this would not last long, as the Breakers only played another season before folding.[6] The Samba themselves would fold the following year, with the 2009 season being their last. In 2018, a decade after the initial Breakers team folded, the club reestablished their first-team side and joined the USL PDL under the name Santa Cruz Breakers FC.[7]

From Fresno to the Monterey Bay[]

Monterey Bay F.C. is a continuation of the USL Championship's Fresno FC franchise. The team, owned by Ray Beshoff, ceased operations after the 2019 season because he was unable to secure construction of a soccer-specific stadium. Beshoff retained the franchise rights and started a search for another place in California to relocate.[8] On February 1, 2021, Monterey Bay F.C. joined the USL Championship. The club's Sporting Director will be two-time MLS Coach of the Year, Frank Yallop. Yallop had previously served as General Manager of Fresno FC.[9][10] In April 2021, former San Jose Earthquakes captain, Ramiro Corrales, joined the team staff as a technical advisor.[11] Frank Yallop was also named Head Coach on April 22, 2021, with Ramiro Corrales named as Assistant Coach.[12]

The club signed their first player, Walmer Martinez, on December 22nd, 2021. Born in Santa Cruz, Martinez returned to play professionally at the same campus he had played collegiately with CSUMB.[13]

Stadium[]

Monterey Bay F.C. will play their games at what was Freeman Stadium on the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay. The stadium will be renovated with private funds and will hold 6,000 fans.[14] Ground breaking for the stadium renovations took place on September 16, 2021. The team entered into a multi-year partnership with the Cardinale Automotive Group for the stadium naming rights. The venue will be renamed Cardinale Stadium.[15]

Players[]

Current roster[]

As of December 22, 2021
No. Pos. Player Nation
— FW Walmer Martinez  El Salvador
  1. ^
    USL Academy player
    2.

Technical staff[]

As of April 22, 2021
Technical staff
Sporting director / Head coach Frank Yallop
Technical advisor / Assistant coach Ramiro Corrales

References[]

  1. ^ "Monterey Bay F.C. Reveals Official Crest and Colors". montereybayfc.com. Monterey Bay Football Club. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Year in American Soccer, 1993". soccerhistoryusa.org. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  3. ^ "The Year in American Soccer, 1995". soccerhistoryusa.org. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  4. ^ "The Year in American Soccer, 1996". soccerhistoryusa.org. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  5. ^ "MPSL News". web.archive.org. 2003-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  6. ^ "Midfield Press » Santa Cruz Breakers Add PDL First Team With an Eye Towards More". web.archive.org. 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  7. ^ Staff, USLPDL com (2018-01-31). "Santa Cruz Breakers FC Join PDL as Southwest Member". USL League Two. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  8. ^ "Fresno FC Club Statement". Fresno FC. December 19, 2019.
  9. ^ Devine, John (February 1, 2021). "Pro soccer: USL to put pro franchise in Monterey". montereyherald.com.
  10. ^ "USL Championship Welcomes Monterey Bay Football Club". USLChampionship.com Staff. February 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "MONTEREY BAY FC ADDS FORMER MLS AND U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER RAMIRO CORRALES TO TECHNICAL STAFF". USL Championship. April 12, 2021.
  12. ^ "MONTEREY BAY FC ANNOUNCES FRANK YALLOP WILL SERVE AS HEAD COACH". Monterey Bay Football Club. April 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (2021-12-22). "Monterey Bay F.C. Announces Walmer Martinez as First Signing in Club's History". USL Championship. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  14. ^ "Monterey Bay FC plan includes major stadium renovation". Kevin Reichard. Soccer Stadium Digest. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  15. ^ "Monterey Bay FC Breaks Ground on Cardinale Stadium on the CSUMB Campus". montereybayfc.com. Monterey Bay Football Club. September 16, 2021.
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