FC Buffalo
Encyclopedia
FC Buffalo is an American soccer team based in Buffalo, New York
, United States
. Founded in 2009, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League
(NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, in the Northeast Keystone Division.
The team plays its home games at Robert E. Rich All-High Stadium
. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.
and Buffalo City FC. The team is owned by a group of six Buffalonians: Joshua Batten, Scott Frauenhofer, Brent Garner, Ryan Knapp, Donny Kutzbach, Nick Mendola and Ray Siminski.
The club had a contest for fans to submit a nickname and after much debate and thousands of votes cast, "Blitzers" was chosen. The vote was aided by Buffalo native and CNN
broadcaster Wolf Blitzer
airing an interview with owners Nick Mendola and Scott Frauenhofer discussing the contest.
ESPN correspondent Vincent Thomas commented: "Although the "Blitzers" nickname has ended up being a pretty deft marketing move, it's more legit than a ploy. The term blitz comes from the German word for lightning, which is all over the team's logo and the city's municipal flag. And, of course, there's a mutual fondness between Blitzer and his hometown."
The Blitzers finished their opening campaign with six wins, two draws and four losses. They were the only team to defeat the Keystone Conference champion FC Sonic.
On Dec. 8, 2010, the Blitzers announced they had parted ways with head coach Jim Hesch. Ten days later, they announced via their web site that they had inked Daniel Krzyzanowicz to coach the club into the future. Krzyzanowicz helms a Medaille College program that has made the NCAA tournament five times and reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2010.
The 2011 season was up-and-down, with the Blitzers winning five, drawing one and losing six. During the season the Blitzers took on the Bedlington Terriers F.C.
in a friendly match at All High Stadium in the inaugural Bedlington Cup. Due to the connection of Robert Rich to Buffalo, NY and Bedlington, England the friendly was arranged and the Terriers traveled to Buffalo for the match. The Blitzers won 5-1 in front of a sell out crowd.
Now with Palloseura Kemi Kings
Kendal McFayden
Now with Kitsap Pumas
Tony Mermigas
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2009, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
(NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth 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...
, in the Northeast Keystone Division.
The team plays its home games at Robert E. Rich All-High Stadium
All-High Stadium
All-High Stadium is a football stadium in Buffalo, New York. It was opened in 1926 and was refurbished for the fall of 2006. It is part of the Bennett High School complex...
. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.
History
FC Buffalo joined the NPSL as an expansion franchise in 2009 and took part in its first competitive season in 2010. While not a continuation of either franchise, FC Buffalo follows in the footsteps of two other recent Buffalo-based teams that competed in the NPSL: Queen City FCQueen City FC
Buffalo City FC was an American soccer team based in Buffalo, New York, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played only one season in the National Premier Soccer League , a national premier league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Eastern Keystone Division...
and Buffalo City FC. The team is owned by a group of six Buffalonians: Joshua Batten, Scott Frauenhofer, Brent Garner, Ryan Knapp, Donny Kutzbach, Nick Mendola and Ray Siminski.
The club had a contest for fans to submit a nickname and after much debate and thousands of votes cast, "Blitzers" was chosen. The vote was aided by Buffalo native and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
broadcaster Wolf Blitzer
Wolf Blitzer
Wolf Isaac Blitzer is an American journalist who has been a CNN reporter since 1990. Blitzer is currently the host of the newscast The Situation Room and was the host of the Sunday talk show Late Edition until it was discontinued on January 11, 2009...
airing an interview with owners Nick Mendola and Scott Frauenhofer discussing the contest.
ESPN correspondent Vincent Thomas commented: "Although the "Blitzers" nickname has ended up being a pretty deft marketing move, it's more legit than a ploy. The term blitz comes from the German word for lightning, which is all over the team's logo and the city's municipal flag. And, of course, there's a mutual fondness between Blitzer and his hometown."
The Blitzers finished their opening campaign with six wins, two draws and four losses. They were the only team to defeat the Keystone Conference champion FC Sonic.
On Dec. 8, 2010, the Blitzers announced they had parted ways with head coach Jim Hesch. Ten days later, they announced via their web site that they had inked Daniel Krzyzanowicz to coach the club into the future. Krzyzanowicz helms a Medaille College program that has made the NCAA tournament five times and reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2010.
The 2011 season was up-and-down, with the Blitzers winning five, drawing one and losing six. During the season the Blitzers took on the Bedlington Terriers F.C.
Bedlington Terriers F.C.
Bedlington Terriers F.C. are a football club based in Bedlington, England. They were established in 1949 and joined the Northern Alliance in 1980 and joined the Northern League when it expanded to two divisions 3 years later...
in a friendly match at All High Stadium in the inaugural Bedlington Cup. Due to the connection of Robert Rich to Buffalo, NY and Bedlington, England the friendly was arranged and the Terriers traveled to Buffalo for the match. The Blitzers won 5-1 in front of a sell out crowd.
2011 Roster
Source: http://www.npsl.info/teams/21727632/21730217-22075687/TEAM.htmlNotable former players
Dan StevensDaniel Stevens (soccer)
Daniel Stevens is an American soccer player who is currently playing in Finland for Ykkönen side Palloseura Kemi Kings.-Youth career:Stevens is a youth product of the Syracuse Blitz Football Club. He Began his college career at SUNY Oneonta competing for the Red Dragons from 2004-2005. After his...
Now with Palloseura Kemi Kings
Palloseura Kemi Kings
Palloseura Kemi Kings or PS Kemi Kings is a Finnish football team based in the town of Kemi, who are currently playing in the Finnish second division, the Ykkönen.-History:...
Kendal McFayden
Kendal McFayden
Kendell McFayden is an American soccer player who currently plays for Kitsap Pumas in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
Now with Kitsap Pumas
Kitsap Pumas
Kitsap Pumas is an American soccer team based in Bremerton, Washington, United States. Founded in 2008, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.Kitsap are the reigning PDL champions,...
Tony Mermigas
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 2011 | 4 | NPSL | 5th, Keystone | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Honors
International- Lord Bedlington Cup
- Winners (1): 2011, defeated Bedlington Terriers F.C.Bedlington Terriers F.C.Bedlington Terriers F.C. are a football club based in Bedlington, England. They were established in 1949 and joined the Northern Alliance in 1980 and joined the Northern League when it expanded to two divisions 3 years later...
of England's Northern LeagueNorthern LeagueNorthern League may refer to:In baseball & cricket:* Northern League , the name of the five 'northern' baseball leagues* Northern League , an independent baseball league in the United States...
, 5-1
- Winners (1): 2011, defeated Bedlington Terriers F.C.
Stadia
- Robert E. Rich All-High StadiumAll-High StadiumAll-High Stadium is a football stadium in Buffalo, New York. It was opened in 1926 and was refurbished for the fall of 2006. It is part of the Bennett High School complex...
; Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
(2010-present)
Fans
- FC Buffalo's supporters group is currently known as "The Situation Room"; named after Wolf Blitzer's CNN news program. TSR currently resides on the left hand side of All High Stadium; their sole purpose is to create an atmosphere that is the loudest, most unique and inclusive of any fan base in the City of Buffalo.
- TSR stands 100% behind FC Buffalo's vision of a truly community based team that all Buffalonians/Western New Yorkers can take pride in.