Cleveland City Stars
Encyclopedia
Cleveland City Stars was an American professional soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio
, United States
. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL First Division
(USL-1), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
until 2009. The club folded soon after the 2009 season.
The team played its home games at Bearcat Stadium (re-named Middlefield Cheese Stadium
for sponsorship purposes) on the campus of Bedford High School
in nearby Bedford, Ohio
, where they played in 2009. The team's colors were green, black and white. Their final head coach was Rod Underwood
.
and played their inaugural season in 2007. The team found success early on, going undefeated for the first nine games before losing to the Charlotte Eagles
in the tenth game of the season. They ended the regular season undefeated at home, and clinched the second seed for the USL-2 play-offs, where they progressed to the semi-final, and lost to eventual champions Harrisburg 1-0 after extra time.
The team's success continued in 2008 as they finished the regular season unbeaten at home. City posted a 10-3-7 record, which proved good enough for third place in the USL Second Division, and playoff qualification. They faced the Western Mass Pioneers
in the quarterfinals and won 4-2. They traveled to Richmond for the semi-final and won 1-0 after extra time. The City Stars hosted the championship game and defeated Charlotte 2-1 for the team's first ever championship.
On December 4, 2008 the team announced that they would compete in the USL First Division
for the 2009 season.
Soon after the end of the 2009 USL First Division season, the City Stars club folded due to financial issues.
George Josten
Ryan Miller Adam Moffat
Musa Otieno
Mark Schulte
Israel Sesay
Jed Zayner
that will see all of the team's home games aired on the station. Each match will air tape delayed on game night. Replays will be aired on Sundays. Play-by-play and color commentary will be provided by Desmond Armstrong
, 1994 World Cup TV commentator and former US national team player, and Glen Duerr, a former City Stars player. The broadcast will also include a half time segment highlighting the team's weekly inner-city coaching and life-lessons program.
On April 6, 2009, the City Stars announced a new deal with SportsTime Ohio
to air 12 home games. Returning is Glen Duerr and two new TV commentators Mark Zimmerman, Steve Bell. Bell is a former A-League (USL-1) and MLS player. Bell also will do the play-by-play for 3 out of 5 games on Fox Soccer Channel
.
The Army has an alliance with the Rochester Stampede, the supporters group from the Rochester Rhinos. The Stampede came to Cleveland in the 2007 season to cheer on the Stars and support the Green Army during the playoff game versus the Harrisburg City Islanders
.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
(USL-1), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
until 2009. The club folded soon after the 2009 season.
The team played its home games at Bearcat Stadium (re-named Middlefield Cheese Stadium
Middlefield Cheese Stadium
Middlefield Cheese Stadium, also known as Bearcat Stadium, is a multi-use stadium in Bedford, Ohio. It serves as home stadium for the soccer club Cleveland City Stars and Bedford High School. The stadium's capacity is 5,000 spectators....
for sponsorship purposes) on the campus of Bedford High School
Bedford High School (Bedford, Ohio)
Bedford High School is a public school in Bedford, Ohio, southeast of Cleveland, Ohio.-Background:Bedford High School was built in 1957, with additions in 1971, and 1994. Bedford High School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.Bedford High School is neighbors...
in nearby Bedford, Ohio
Bedford, Ohio
Bedford is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,074 at the 2010 census. It is an eastern suburb of Cleveland.-Geography:Bedford is located at ....
, where they played in 2009. The team's colors were green, black and white. Their final head coach was Rod Underwood
Rod Underwood
Rod Underwood is an American former soccer player and head coach. Underwood was the coach of Cleveland City Stars of the USL First Division. He also spent a year as a head coach of North East Stars in the TT Pro League...
.
History
The Cleveland City Stars were founded in 2006 as a member of the USL Second DivisionUSL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
and played their inaugural season in 2007. The team found success early on, going undefeated for the first nine games before losing to the Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the tenth game of the season. They ended the regular season undefeated at home, and clinched the second seed for the USL-2 play-offs, where they progressed to the semi-final, and lost to eventual champions Harrisburg 1-0 after extra time.
The team's success continued in 2008 as they finished the regular season unbeaten at home. City posted a 10-3-7 record, which proved good enough for third place in the USL Second Division, and playoff qualification. They faced the Western Mass Pioneers
Western Mass Pioneers
Western Mass Pioneers is an American soccer team based in Ludlow, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games...
in the quarterfinals and won 4-2. They traveled to Richmond for the semi-final and won 1-0 after extra time. The City Stars hosted the championship game and defeated Charlotte 2-1 for the team's first ever championship.
On December 4, 2008 the team announced that they would compete in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
for the 2009 season.
Soon after the end of the 2009 USL First Division season, the City Stars club folded due to financial issues.
Final roster
as of October 22, 2009Notable former players
Teteh BanguraTeteh Bangura
Ibrahim "Teteh" Bangura is a Sierra Leonean footballer. He currently plays for Bursaspor in Süper Lig.-Kallon F.C.:Bangura began his career in his native Sierra Leone, playing with F.C. Kallon...
George Josten
George Josten
George Josten is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:...
Ryan Miller Adam Moffat
Adam Moffat
Adam Moffat is a Scottish footballer who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.-Career:...
Musa Otieno
Musa Otieno
Musa Otieno is a Kenyan former soccer player.-Club:Otieno has enjoyed an illustrious career on his native continent, playing for AFC Leopards and Tusker FC in Kenya, and since 1997 for Santos in the South African Premier Soccer League...
Mark Schulte
Mark Schulte
Mark Schulte is an American soccer player who last played for Carolina RailHawks in the USSF Division 2 Professional League....
Israel Sesay
Israel Sesay
Israel Sesay is a Sierra Leone-born American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional Division.-Early Life and Amateur:...
Jed Zayner
Jed Zayner
Jedidiah "Jed" Zayner is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
- See also: All-time Cleveland City Stars rosterAll-time Cleveland City Stars rosterThis list comprises all players who have participated in at least one league match for Cleveland City Stars since their first season in the USL in 2007...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 United Soccer Leagues 2007 The 2007 Season is the 21st edition of the United Soccer Leagues season.The season kicked off on Friday, April 13 when the 2006 league runners-up Rochester Raging Rhinos traveled to the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon to take on the Puerto Rico Islanders.-General:* Two new teams join the... |
3 | USL Second Division | 2nd | Semifinals | 2nd Round | 1,417 |
| 2008 United Soccer Leagues 2008 The 2008 Season is the 22nd edition of the United Soccer Leagues season.The season kicked off on Friday, April 12 with two First Division games, as the Charleston Battery visited Miami FC and the Montreal Impact visited the Vancouver Whitecaps.-General:... |
3 | USL Second Division | 3rd | Champions | 3rd Round | 1,634 |
| 2009 United Soccer Leagues 2009 The 2009 season is the 23rd season played by the United Soccer Leagues. Season titles will be contested by 20 professional men's clubs in the USL First Division and USL Second Division, as well as 37 professional and amateur women's clubs in the W-League and 68 professional and amateur men's teams... |
2 | USL First Division | 11th | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | 1,491 |
Stadia
- Krenzler FieldKrenzler FieldKrenzler Field is a soccer stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on the campus of Cleveland State University. It serves as the home field to the men's and women's varsity teams and formerly the Cleveland City Stars of the USL First Division...
; Cleveland, OhioCleveland, OhioCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
(2007–2008) - Middlefield Cheese StadiumMiddlefield Cheese StadiumMiddlefield Cheese Stadium, also known as Bearcat Stadium, is a multi-use stadium in Bedford, Ohio. It serves as home stadium for the soccer club Cleveland City Stars and Bedford High School. The stadium's capacity is 5,000 spectators....
at Bedford High SchoolBedford High School (Bedford, Ohio)Bedford High School is a public school in Bedford, Ohio, southeast of Cleveland, Ohio.-Background:Bedford High School was built in 1957, with additions in 1971, and 1994. Bedford High School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.Bedford High School is neighbors...
; Bedford, OhioBedford, OhioBedford is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,074 at the 2010 census. It is an eastern suburb of Cleveland.-Geography:Bedford is located at ....
(2009–present)
Television
On April 7, 2008, the City Stars announced a deal with SportsTime OhioSportsTime Ohio
SportsTime Ohio is a regional sports network in Cleveland and northern Ohio, launched in 2006. It was created to air Cleveland Indians games, and is owned by the family which owns the team. It is also the cable television home of the Cleveland Browns...
that will see all of the team's home games aired on the station. Each match will air tape delayed on game night. Replays will be aired on Sundays. Play-by-play and color commentary will be provided by Desmond Armstrong
Desmond Armstrong
Desmond Kevin Armstrong is a retired American soccer defender and midfielder, who was a member of the United States national team from 1987 to 1994. He played three seasons in Major Indoor Soccer League, part of one in the Brazilian First Division, two in the American Professional Soccer League...
, 1994 World Cup TV commentator and former US national team player, and Glen Duerr, a former City Stars player. The broadcast will also include a half time segment highlighting the team's weekly inner-city coaching and life-lessons program.
On April 6, 2009, the City Stars announced a new deal with SportsTime Ohio
SportsTime Ohio
SportsTime Ohio is a regional sports network in Cleveland and northern Ohio, launched in 2006. It was created to air Cleveland Indians games, and is owned by the family which owns the team. It is also the cable television home of the Cleveland Browns...
to air 12 home games. Returning is Glen Duerr and two new TV commentators Mark Zimmerman, Steve Bell. Bell is a former A-League (USL-1) and MLS player. Bell also will do the play-by-play for 3 out of 5 games on Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer is an American television specialty channel, owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, that specializes in soccer. It formerly broadcast rugby and Australian rules football, but is now dedicated strictly to soccer...
.
Green Army Supporters Club
The Green Army is the team's supporters group. They were founded in April 2007 and usually number around 20 to 30 members every game. They sing English-style songs, and their enthusiasm has been embraced by the team. Last season some players stood with the Army when they were injured or not dressed for the game. The group has a group on Facebook with more than 100 members and an online forum.The Army has an alliance with the Rochester Stampede, the supporters group from the Rochester Rhinos. The Stampede came to Cleveland in the 2007 season to cheer on the Stars and support the Green Army during the playoff game versus the Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders is an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.