USL One announced on January 10 that North Carolina FC will join the league in 2021. The club from Cary, North Carolina, outside of Raleigh brings a strong pedigree to USL One.
The History
The club was founded in 2006 under the name, Carolina Railhawks. The Railhawks began their inaugural campaign in 2007 in the USL First Division. (Sidebar: USL needs their old logo back.)
The club won their first trophy in 2007 with a win against Charleston Battery to claim the Southern Derby Cup. The Southern Derby Cup consist of teams from the North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia area. Each year comprising of different teams as the clubs change leagues. Most recently, the Charleston Battery, North Carolina FC and Charlotte Independence have taken part.
NASL
The Railhawks made the move to the newly founded NASL in 2010. In the first year of the league, featuring future MLS teams, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Railhawks in 2013 may have been the club’s best year. They finished with the most points in the NASL along with reaching the quarterfinal of the US Open Cup. They knocked out the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA before falling to Real Salt Lake, the eventual runners-up. Even though the Railhawks had the most points in the league, they could not reach the coveted Soccer Bowl (best final name ever).
MLS Bid and Name Change
A new ownership group entered the fold in 2015 as Steve Malik bought the team with ambitions of bringing the Cary club to the MLS.
So, a year after owning the team with these ambitions it is only natural to change the awesome name of Railhawks to the imposing North Carolina FC. Just ask Club de Foot Montreal.
Local news affiliate, WRAL, was quoted saying this about the team’s name change, “North Carolina FC rides the current wave of generalized, location-centric soccer branding MLS apparently prefers, judging by the league’s last five announced expansion clubs: New York City FC, Orlando City SC, Atlanta United FC, Minnesota United FC and Los Angeles FC.”
Nevertheless, the new owner brought fresh ideas, ambition and money to the club.
Malik unveiled a breath taking new 20,000 seat stadium that would stand in downtown Raleigh if the MLS was to choose the club. The renderings were everything a major club would want.
But in December 2019, David Tepper stepped into the fold as the new Charlotte FC owner. Tepper was able to pay the $325 million expansion fee, the largest ever fee in MLS history.
The North Carolina FC to MLS bid was over.
A New Manager
In 2018, the club landed one of their best acquisitions to attract the MLS, Dave Sarachan. The former US Men’s National Team caretaker manager after Bruce Arena was fired.
Sarachan built a strong identity within the club that showed the professionalism of soccer in The Triangle.
Sarachan left North Carolina FC on January 15. He stated via Twitter : “My ambitions for the future of the club differed from the organization’s recent decision.”
Last Season
North Carolina FC finished the 2020 campaign with 19 points and a third place spot in Group G of the USL Championship.
Andre Fortune led the club with 6 goals. Fortune was a poacher who scored many of his goals from crosses from his teammates via the cutback or from the penalty spot.
Also, NCFC club captain, Nazmi Albadawi, earned his 150th appearance on September 10. This is the fourth most matches in the club’s historic history. Albadawi finished with two goals on the season.
Former Hastings Broncos and Creighton player Akeem Ward was with NCFC last season. The player started in 10 matches scoring only one goal, his first of his professional career in the 1-0 win over Memphis 901 FC. On January 13, Ward joined newly created USL Championship side, Oakland Roots.
One of Our Own
One of our own Owls started his career with the North Carolina outfit. Austin Panchot signed with the club on January 9, 2019 for his first professional contract. Panchot appeared in five games.
USL One
The move to League one is what Sarachan may have been referring to when he spoke about the difference of ambition between himself and the ownership group. NCFC emphasized the drop to USL One as a “strategic move” for the club. This may refer to a lack of finances within the club during the pandemic season. But, The Athletic’s Jeff Rueter explained that this move comes from the “foreseeable future”.
So, in 2021 get ready to watch one of America’s most historic clubs visit Werner Park. It is surely going to be fun.
Who Gives A Hoot? 