Carolina RailHawks FC
Encyclopedia
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
, 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 plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL), 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...
.
The team plays its home games at WakeMed Soccer Park, where they have played since 2007. The team's colors are orange, white and blue. Their current head coach is Scotsman Martin Rennie
Martin Rennie
Martin Rennie is a Scottish soccer coach and is currently the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer. He was signed to a multi-year contract by Vancouver on 9 August 2011.-Coaching career:...
.
The club is owned by Traffic Sports USA
Traffic Sports USA
Traffic Sports USA, based in Miami, is the leading soccer event management company in the North American, Central American and Caribbean region...
.
History
The expansion of the USL to Cary, NC was announced on January 26, 2006 at a press conference at SAS Soccer ParkSAS Soccer Park
WakeMed Soccer Park is a major soccer complex located in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Originally opened in 2002 as the home of the Carolina Courage of the WUSA, WakeMed Soccer Park is now the home to the Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League...
(since renamed WakeMed Soccer Park).
After a few changes in the 2008 off season the RailHawks ownership group now consists of: Wellman Family Limited partnership (Selby and Brian Wellman), HTCFC. INC (Bob Young former CEO of Red Hat
Red Hat
Red Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide....
, presently founder and CEO of LULU.com), Singh Holdings (Dr. H. Paul Singh) and Boris Jerkunica.
On October 11, 2006, former Rochester Rhinos defender Scott Schweitzer
Scott Schweitzer
Scott Schweitzer is an American soccer coach and former professional soccer player. He spent two years as the head coach of Carolina RailHawks FC.-College soccer:...
was named the first head coach of the RailHawks. Schweitzer played collegiately at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
and retired from play prior to the 2006 season. On December 5, 2006, the RailHawks named the first players to sign with the franchise. Among the signings were two former UNC Tar Heel players, Chris Carrieri
Chris Carrieri
Chris Carrieri is an American soccer player currently playing for Richmond Kickers in the USL Second Division.-College and Amateur:...
and Caleb Norkus
Caleb Norkus
Joshua Caleb Norkus is a retired American soccer player who serves as a youth coach for the Carolina RailHawks. He played professionally in Germany, Chile, Puerto Rico and the United States...
, as well as several other players with Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
, and foreign playing experience.
On March 6, 2007, the RailHawks formed a parternship with the Next Level Academy (NLA) and the Capital Area Soccer League
Capital Area Soccer League
The Capital Area Soccer League is an American soccer league located in North Carolina's capital, Raleigh. The league is home to over 800 men's, women's, and youth clubs from the Triangle area...
(CASL) to develop the youth system in the Triangle Area of North Carolina. Youth teams that currently participate under the CASL name in the Super Y-League
Super Y-League
The Super Y-League is the highest form of American and Canadian youth soccer. It consists of over 100 teams, many of which are operated by clubs from MLS to PDL.- Age groups :The Super Y-League has these following age groups:*U-12*U-13*U-14*U-15...
(boys and girls 13-16) would play under the name CASL RailHawks. Also, the Raleigh Elite, who was operated by the NLA as a member of 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...
, became the U23 team of the RailHawks program. Their name was changed to the Cary RailHawks U23's. In addition, two Super-20 League
Super-20 League
The United Soccer Leagues Super-20 League is an American-Canadian soccer league for players 17 to 20 years of age. Introduced in 2006 it took the place of the U-19 age bracket in the Super Y-League....
teams were launched (one for men, one for women) in 2008.
The club launched their inaugural season
Carolina RailHawks FC 2007 Season
The Carolina RailHawks launched their inaugural season on April 21, 2007 in front of a crowd of 6,327 at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, NC when they drew 1-1 with the Minnesota Thunder in their first official regular season match...
on April 21, 2007, in front of a crowd of 6,327 at SAS Soccer Park when they drew 1-1 with the Minnesota Thunder in their first official regular season match. Midfielder Kupono Low
Kupono Low
Kupono Low is an American soccer player currently playing for Carolina RailHawks in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:...
scored the first goal in franchise history when he blasted 24-yard left-footed shot past Thunder keeper Joe Warren in the 8th minute of the inaugural match. On May 8, 2007, the RailHawks earned their first franchise victory 2-0 against Chivas USA in an exhibition match.
On August 14, 2007, with a 3-0 victory over the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, the RailHawks secured their first piece of silverware, the 2007 Southern Derby
Southern Derby
The Southern Derby is a fan-based cup competition between USL Pro teams based in the South-Atlantic region of the United States ....
Cup, with one match remaining in the contest. The RailHawks finished their first USL-1 season in 8th place in the league table, securing the league's final playoff spot on the last day of the regular season with a 2-0 victory away over fellow expansion franchise the California Victory
California Victory
The California Victory was a USL First Division professional soccer team based in San Francisco, California. It was an expansion team for the 2007 season, but ceased operation in September of that year after parent club Deportivo Alavés withdrew its support....
. The RailHawks were eliminated from the playoff quarterfinals by the eventual league champion Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
.
In November 2009 the RailHawks announced their intent to leave the USL First Division to become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League (2010)
The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...
, which would begin play in 2010. The league, which has yet to be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation or the Canadian Soccer Association, would also comprise the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
, Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
, Tampa Bay Rowdies
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL)
FC Tampa Bay is an American professional soccer team based in Tampa, Florida, United States. Founded in 2008, the team currently play in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, Vancouver Whitecaps and a brand new team led by St. Louis Soccer United.
After lawsuits were filed and heated press statements exchanged, the USSF declared they would sanction neither league for the coming year, and ordered both to work together on a plan to temporarily allow their teams to play a 2010 season. The interim solution was announced on January 7, 2010 with the USSF running the new USSF D-2 league comprising clubs from both USL-1 and NASL.
Colors and badge
The team's official name, logo and colors (orange, white and blue) were announced on July 19, 2006 at the halftime interval of the 2006 USL All-Star Match. The club logo features a stylized shied with a depiction of a "Railhawk", soaring above a railway line, overlaid with the Carolina RailHawks wordmark and a soccer ball.The RailHawk is a fictitious bird of prey that combines the speed and power of the locomotive with the aggressive and fierce nature of a hawk. Cary originally grew out from a depot on the New Bern, NC - Hillsborough, NC rail line and the CSX and Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
lines run directly across from the team's grounds. Hawks are indigenous to the area. The name "RailHawks" was chosen as part of a name-the-team contest which was won by W. Jarrett Campbell, a soccer blogger and founder of the Triangle Soccer Fanatics
Triangle Soccer Fanatics
The Triangle Soccer Fanatics is a soccer supporters club based in Cary, North Carolina. The club is an independent fan club supporting Carolina RailHawks F.C. of the USL First Division as well as promoting soccer in the Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill areas.The group was founded by W...
, the team's independent supporters club
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
. Campbell received two lifetime season tickets as his prize.
Stadium
- WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, North CarolinaCary, North CarolinaCary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
(2007–present)
The RailHawks play their home games at WakeMed Soccer Park (formerly known as SAS Soccer Park), a soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
in Cary, North Carolina
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
which opened in May 2002.
The soccer complex consists of a purpose-built main stadium, two lighted practice fields, and four additional fields. The main stadium and the 2 lighted fields (2 & 3) are all FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
international regulation size (120 yards x 75 yards). The main stadium seats 6,883 and is expandable to 10,000 with temporary seating. Field 2 also has 1,000 permanent bleacher seats.
The park is on 150 acre (0.607029 km²) that the State of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
has leased to Wake County. Money to build the soccer park came from $14.5 million in county-wide hotel room and prepared food and beverage taxes. The Town of Cary assumed responsibility for operations and maintenance in 2004 from Capital Area Soccer League
Capital Area Soccer League
The Capital Area Soccer League is an American soccer league located in North Carolina's capital, Raleigh. The league is home to over 800 men's, women's, and youth clubs from the Triangle area...
. On January 26, 2006, the Town of Cary council amended its lease to allow it to sublet the property to Triangle Professional Soccer through the year 2011 for the exclusive promotion of professional soccer and lacrosse events at the complex.
Rivalries
Upon entering the USL First Division, the RailHawks also joined the Southern Derby
Southern Derby
The Southern Derby is a fan-based cup competition between USL Pro teams based in the South-Atlantic region of the United States ....
, renewing a rivalry first started in 2000 between supporters of the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
, and the Raleigh Capital Express. By winning the Southern Derby Cup in their inaugural season, the RailHawks became the first Triangle-area team to hold the Cup since 2000 when Raleigh won the cup 3-1-0 over the Silverbacks and Battery in the Derby's first season.
The rivalry between the three clubs is further fueled by the fact that former RailHawks coach Scott Schweitzer earned a reputation among Battery supporters as the defender they loved to hate during his time as a player for Rochester Rhinos and current Atlanta Silverbacks owner Boris Jerkunica
Boris Jerkunica
Boris M. Jerkunica is a native of Croatia who lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and young daughter. He has founded or co-founded several companies including Software Builders International, NetZIP and ZivVa/Vocalocity...
had a partial ownership stake in the RailHawks franchise.
Rochester Rhinos
A rivalry developed between the RailHawks and Rochester Rhinos due to the close financial and player ties between the two organizations. Former RailHawks GM Chris Economides
Chris Economides
Chris Economides is the Senior Director of the a USL First Division part of the United Soccer Leagues. Prior to joining USL in October 2008, Economides served as the Chief Operating officer for the Rochester Rhinos before going on to found former USL First Division team Carolina Railhawks.Prior to...
held the same position with the Rhinos before departing for Cary, and former Rhinos President Frank DuRoss
Frank DuRoss
Frank DuRoss is the owner of multiple professional sports franchises in the United States. His most recent acquisition is Carolina RailHawks F.C., USL First Division soccer team located in Cary, North Carolina....
and former CEO Steve Donner
Steve Donner
Steve Donner is an American sports promoter, team owner, and manager. He was an owner of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League and the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League. He is currently the CEO of USL Pro soccer team, Orlando City S.C..-Career:Donner helped...
were part of the original ownership group. In addition, former RailHawks coach Scott Schweitzer
Scott Schweitzer
Scott Schweitzer is an American soccer coach and former professional soccer player. He spent two years as the head coach of Carolina RailHawks FC.-College soccer:...
was a captain and fan favorite of the Rhinos, and onetime RailHawks players Frank Sanfilippo
Frank Sanfilippo
Frank Sanfilippo is an American soccer player currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.-College:...
and Connally Edozien
Connally Edozien
Connally Edozien is a Nigerian soccer player who currently without a club.-Youth and College:Edozian was born in Nigeria, but spent much of his youth in London, England...
were once Rhinos players.
Puerto Rico Islanders
The Carolina RailHawks and Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
have a rivalry brewing among the two clubs. Although Islanders supporters were not pleased when the RailHawks revealed orange and blue kit colors (selected because the combination is not used by any other Triangle area sports teams, although coincidentally the same colors sported by the Islanders), the rivalry begun in earnest when Islanders President Andrés Guillemard-Noble
Andy Guillemard-Noble
Andrés Guillemard-Noble, is a Puerto Rican attorney who also serves as the majority owner and president of the Puerto Rico Islanders soccer team, and its spokesman in the local media.-Football:...
accused the RailHawks of piracy in the signing of Islanders' free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
Caleb Norkus
Caleb Norkus
Joshua Caleb Norkus is a retired American soccer player who serves as a youth coach for the Carolina RailHawks. He played professionally in Germany, Chile, Puerto Rico and the United States...
. While the club executive insists that the Islanders had a verbal agreement with Norkus to return to Puerto Rico for the 2007 season, the player refutes that accusation, saying the two sides never reached terms and cites the lack of an offered written contract as evidence of their lack of agreement.
Current roster
As of September 19, 2011Notable former players
This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.Ronald Cerritos
Ronald Cerritos
Ronald Osvaldo Cerritos Flores is a former Salvadoran footballer, who played as a striker.Cerritos is the all-time goalscorer of the Major League Soccer team, the San Jose Earthquakes, with 61 goals and also holds the all-time assists with 47.-Club career:Cerritos has spent the bulk of his career...
Gavin Glinton
Gavin Glinton
Gavin Glinton is a Turks and Caicos Islands soccer player who currently plays for Nam Dinh FC in the V-League.-College and amateur:...
Caleb Norkus
Caleb Norkus
Joshua Caleb Norkus is a retired American soccer player who serves as a youth coach for the Carolina RailHawks. He played professionally in Germany, Chile, Puerto Rico and the United States...
Daniel Paladini
Daniel Paladini
Daniel Paladini is an American soccer player currently playing for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
Greg Shields
Greg Shields
Greg Shields is a Scottish footballer.-Early career:Shields started his career with Gairdoch United boys club where he actually started of as a midfield player before moving to Rangers as a youth player. Shields made his debut in 1996 in UEFA Champions League tie against Ajax...
- See also All-time Carolina RailHawks rosterAll-time Carolina RailHawks rosterThis list comprises all players who have participated in at least one league match for Carolina RailHawks since their first season in the USL in 2007. Players who were on the roster but never played a first team game are not listed; players who appeared for the team in other competitions but never...
Achievements
- North American Soccer League
- Winners (Regular Season) (1): 2011
- USL First DivisionUSL First DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
- Runner-up (Regular Season) (1): 2009
- USSF Division 2 Professional LeagueUSSF Division 2 Professional LeagueUSSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
- Runner-up (Playoffs) (1): 2010
- Winners, NASL Conference (1): 2010
- Minor Trophies
- Copa Tecate (1): 2009
- Southern DerbySouthern DerbyThe Southern Derby is a fan-based cup competition between USL Pro teams based in the South-Atlantic region of the United States ....
(3): 2007, 2008, 2009
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular 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... |
2 | 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.... |
8th | Quarter Finals | Semi Finals | 4,962 |
| 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:... |
2 | USL First Division | 8th | Did not qualify | 3rd Round | 3,869 |
| 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 | 2nd | Quarter Finals | 2nd Round | 2,943 |
| 2010 2010 Carolina RailHawks FC season -USSF Division 2 Professional League Regular Season: -2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup:-Quarterfinals:RailHawks advance 4-0 on aggregate-Semifinals:RailHawks advance 2-1 on aggregate.Mid-Season Friendlies=... |
2 | USSF Division 2 Pro League | 1st, NASL (4th) | Finals | 2nd Round | 2,241 |
| 2011 | 2 | NASL North American Soccer League (2010) The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the... |
1st | Semi Finals | Denied Entry |
- Previous Seasons' Fixtures & Results: 2007 | 2008 | 2009Carolina RailHawks FC 2009 SeasonThis is a recap of the Carolina RailHawks 2009 season. The RailHawks are an American soccer team which played their third season in the USL First Division in 2009.-Current roster:As of July 26, 2009Transfers:...
| 20102010 Carolina RailHawks FC season-USSF Division 2 Professional League Regular Season: -2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup:-Quarterfinals:RailHawks advance 4-0 on aggregate-Semifinals:RailHawks advance 2-1 on aggregate.Mid-Season Friendlies=...