Nashville Metros
Encyclopedia
Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee
, United States
. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference. The Metros are the longest continuously owned and operated soccer club in the country.
The team plays its home games at Ezell Park
, where they have played since 1997. The team's colors are red, blue and white.
) in 1990 but, due to a lack of indoor facilities, the Metros played their entire first season on the road, before finding facilities in Smyrna
. The Metros continued to play indoors until 1996, but only managed to win six matches in six seasons. They played outdoors in the USL Premier League during much of the same period, with significantly better results.
The Metros then moved to the A-League
second division in 1997, and began concentrating more specifically on outdoor soccer. They made their first U.S. Open Cup
appearance in 1998, but were forced to reorganize in 1999 due to financial circumstances. The side became the Tennessee Rhythm and moved from Nashville to Franklin
, but returned to their original venue in 2001, reverting to their original name at the same time. In 2002 the Metros moved down from the A-League to the PDL
, mainly due to their ground’s substandard facilities, such as the lack of a press box.http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=6271
This list of notable former players comprises players who went 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.
Jay Ayres
Jon Busch
Danny DeVall
Gabe Eastman
Joshua Hill
Steve Klein
Richard Mulrooney
Daryl Sattler
(1998–1999) Brett Mosen (2000–2001) Andy Poklad (2002–2004) Rico Laise (1999, 2007–2008) Richard Askey (2009) Obed Compean (2005–2006, 2010) Ricardo Lopez (2011–present)
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(PDL), 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 Southeast Division of the Southern Conference. The Metros are the longest continuously owned and operated soccer club in the country.
The team plays its home games at Ezell Park
Ezell Park
Ezell Park is an urban park in southeastern Nashville, Tennessee. The park is home to a soccer complex used by the Nashville Metros of the USL PDL, and is run by the Nashville Board of Parks and Recreation....
, where they have played since 1997. The team's colors are red, blue and white.
History
The Metros were founded by Lynn Agee and Devinder Sandhu. They began play in the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League (indoorIndoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
) in 1990 but, due to a lack of indoor facilities, the Metros played their entire first season on the road, before finding facilities in Smyrna
Smyrna, Tennessee
Smyrna is a town in Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. Smyrna's population was 25,569 people at the 2000 census. The Census estimate of the 2009 population is 39,142.-Geography:Smyrna is located at ....
. The Metros continued to play indoors until 1996, but only managed to win six matches in six seasons. They played outdoors in the USL Premier League during much of the same period, with significantly better results.
The Metros then moved to the A-League
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
second division in 1997, and began concentrating more specifically on outdoor soccer. They made their first U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
appearance in 1998, but were forced to reorganize in 1999 due to financial circumstances. The side became the Tennessee Rhythm and moved from Nashville to Franklin
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
, but returned to their original venue in 2001, reverting to their original name at the same time. In 2002 the Metros moved down from the A-League to the PDL
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, mainly due to their ground’s substandard facilities, such as the lack of a press box.http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=6271
Current roster
As of June 5, 2011.Notable former players
- See also: All-time Nashville Metros rosterAll-time Nashville Metros rosterThis list comprises all players who have participated in at least one league match for Nashville Metros in the USL Premier Development League since the USL began keeping detailed records in 2003...
This list of notable former players comprises players who went 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.
Jay Ayres
Jay Ayres
Jay Ayres is an American soccer defender.Ayres played college soccer at Belmont University, and for Nashville Metros in the USL Premier Development League, before being signed by the San Jose Earthquakes....
Jon Busch
Jon Busch
Jon Busch is an American soccer goalkeeper for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
Danny DeVall
Danny DeVall
Daniel LeCroy “Danny” DeVall is a U.S. soccer midfielder and the founder and CEO of Local Business Marketing Corporation...
Gabe Eastman
Gabe Eastman
Gabe Eastman is a retired American soccer player.-College:Eastman attended Modesto Junior College, where he was voted his college soccer team's MVP in 1995.-Professional:...
Joshua Hill
Joshua Hill
Joshua Hill may refer to:* Joshua Hill , Australian baseball player* Joshua Hill , American adventurer* Joshua Hill , American* Josh Hill , Australian footballer...
Steve Klein
Steve Klein (soccer player)
Steve Klein is an American soccer player, who last played for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL First Division. He most recently was the head coach of the Lancaster Inferno in the National Premier Soccer League....
Richard Mulrooney
Richard Mulrooney
Richard Mulrooney is a former American soccer player.-College:Mulrooney played four years of college soccer at Creighton University, where he recorded 51 assists from 1995 to 1998...
Daryl Sattler
Daryl Sattler
Daryl Sattler is an American soccer player.-College:Sattler played college soccer at Western Kentucky University where he started in the net all four years...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990/91 | N/A | SISL Indoor | 9th, Southeast | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1991 | N/A | SISL | 4th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1991/92 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 4th, Southeast | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1992 | N/A | USISL | 5th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1992/93 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 4th, Southeast | Playoffs | N/A |
| 1993 | N/A | USISL | 6th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1993/94 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 6th, Southeast | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1994 | 3 | USISL | 5th, Midsouth | Divisional Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1994/95 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 4th, Mid-South | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1995 | 4 | USISL Premier | 3rd, Eastern | Divisional Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 1995/96 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 7th, Southeast | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1996 | 4 | USISL Premier | 4th, Eastern Northern | Division Finals | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 2 | USISL A-League | 2nd, Central | Division Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 1st, Central | Conference Quarterfinals | Quarter Finals |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 6th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 5th, Central | Did not qualify | 2nd Round |
| 2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 4th, Central | 1st Round | 2nd Round |
| 2002 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Mid South | 1st Round | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid South | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Mid South | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Mid South | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, South Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2011 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Head coaches
Greg PetersenGreg Petersen
-Player:Petersen attended CSU East Bay where he played as goalkeeper on the men’s soccer team. In 1984, he was named to the First Team All Conference team.-Coach:...
(1998–1999) Brett Mosen (2000–2001) Andy Poklad (2002–2004) Rico Laise (1999, 2007–2008) Richard Askey (2009) Obed Compean (2005–2006, 2010) Ricardo Lopez (2011–present)
Stadia
- Ezell ParkEzell ParkEzell Park is an urban park in southeastern Nashville, Tennessee. The park is home to a soccer complex used by the Nashville Metros of the USL PDL, and is run by the Nashville Board of Parks and Recreation....
; Nashville, TennesseeNashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
(1997–present) - Siegel Park; Murfreesboro, TennesseeMurfreesboro, TennesseeMurfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
5 games (2007–2010)
Average attendance
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.- 2005: 307
- 2006: 392 (8th in PDL)
- 2007: 361
- 2008: 308
- 2009: 162
- 2010: 215
- 2011: 349