Grand Rapids FC
Full nameGrand Rapids Football Club
Nickname(s)The Blues, GRFC
Founded2014
Dissolved2021
WebsiteClub website

Grand Rapids FC was an American soccer club based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, whose senior men's team played in USL League Two. The team was founded in 2014 and ceased operations in 2021.[1] Its first season was in 2015. It was initially funded by a group of supporters who purchased memberships to cover the operating expenses, as well as by local sponsors.[2]

History

Grand Rapids FC (GRFC) was started by a group of Grand Rapids residents as a community-funded project along the lines of Nashville FC.[3] Fundraising began on February 14, 2014, by word of mouth and was opened to the public a month later. The team applied to the National Premier Soccer League for the 2015 season but their application was denied.[4] Instead, GRFC and AFC Ann Arbor (also denied an NPSL bid in 2015) founded the Great Lakes Premier League.[5] The new league held its inaugural meeting on January 17, 2015, with six teams.

Following a 2015 season in which GRFC finished in second place, averaging 4,509 fans per game, the team announced on September 25, 2015, that they would leave the Great Lakes Premier League to join the National Premier Soccer League.[6]

The 2016 season resulted in a first-place position in the NPSL Great Lakes West conference and qualification for the playoffs by beating AFC Ann Arbor in a 3–1 victory in front of a club record 6,854 spectators. The club reached the final of the NPSL Midwest Regional playoffs and beat Indy Eleven NPSL in front of a record attendance of 6,912, qualifying the team for the 2017 US Open Cup. The following day GRFC lost against 2016 NPSL champions AFC Cleveland on penalties.

On November 1, 2016, the club announced they would add a women's team under the same GRFC banner, which would begin play in 2017 in a new Midwest division of the United Women's Soccer league.[7] The women's team plays at Grandville High School in Grandville, Michigan. The Grand Rapids FC (women) won the 2017 United Women's Soccer Championship in their inaugural season.[8]

On December 5, 2019 it was announced that the club would be moving from the NPSL to USL League Two. Also during this time, the ownership of the women's side was transferred to Midwest United FC and their name was changed to reflect this change.[9]

Grand Rapids FC ceased operations on October 27, 2021. The club cited that the lack of an adequate home venue and the financial challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the club.[1][10]

Colors and badge

On March 14, 2014, representatives of the club released their vision for the official club logo and colors. The badge draws inspiration from the early German influence in Grand Rapids' brewing,[11] notably Christoph Kusterer,[12] as well as city design. The combination of royal and navy blue reflects a continuity with West Michigan sports teams and various Grand Rapids imagery.[13]

Stadium

Houseman Field

In 2020 and 2021, Grand Rapids FC had used the Midwest United FC Soccer Complex as their home field.[14] Prior to 2020, Houseman Field in the Midtown neighborhood of Grand Rapids had been the home field since the club's inception.[15][16]

Record attendance

Head coaches

Honors

National Premier Soccer League

Minor competitions

Statistics

Year-by-year

Year Tier League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Average Attendance Average League Attendance
2015 5 GLPL 2nd of 5 (3–3–2) ―[A] Ineligible[B] 4,509 3,945
2016 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest – Great Lakes West (7–1–4) Regional final Ineligible[B] 4,315 4,784
2017 4 NPSL 3rd of 8, Midwest – Great Lakes (6–6–2) DNQ First round 2,691 2,588
2018 4 NPSL 2nd of 7, Midwest – Great Lakes (7–3–2) Regional first round DNQ ―[C] ―[C]
2019 4 NPSL 3rd of 8, Midwest – Great Lakes (9–3–2) DNQ DNQ ―[C] ―[C]
2020 4 USL2 Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic[18]
2021 4 USL2 4th of 9, Central – Great Lakes (7–2–5) DNQ DNQ ―[C] ―[C]
  1. ^
    A No playoffs were held in the inaugural season of the Great Lakes Premier League.
  2. ^
    B To enter the U.S. Open Cup, in the previous season a team must have belonged to an affiliated league with at least 4 teams that played a schedule of at least 10 games.[19]
  3. ^
    C Attendance figures beyond the 2017 season have not been made public by the organization.

Historic record vs opponents

Legend
0–0–0 Win–loss-draw
0–0 Win–loss
* No games played
Opponent League Playoffs U.S. Open Amateur Cup MI Cup Played Total GF GA GD Win %
Michigan AAFC Lumberjacks * * * * 1–0 1 1–0–0 3 0 +3 1.000
Michigan AFC Ann Arbor 4–5–1 * * * * 10 4–5–1 15 13 +2 .450
Ohio AFC Cleveland * 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) * * * 1 0–0–1 0 0 0 .500
Michigan Ann Arbor FC * * * 1–0 * 1 1–0–0 4 1 +3 1.000
Illinois Chicago FC United * * 0–1 * * 1 0–1–0 0 1 −1 .000
Wisconsin Croatian Eagles 1–0–1 * * * * 2 1–0–1 3 1 +2 .750
Ohio Dayton Dutch Lions 1–0–0 * * * * 1 1–0–0 6 1 +5 1.000
Ohio Dayton Dynamo 2–0–0 * * * * 2 2–0–0 2 0 +2 1.000
Michigan Detroit City FC 2–2–4 * * * * 8 2–2–4 13 12 +1 .500
Minnesota Duluth FC * 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) * * * 1 0–0–1 2 2 0 .500
Ohio FC Columbus 1–3–0 * * * * 4 1–3–0 3 8 −5 .250
Indiana FC Indiana 6–0–0 * * * * 6 6–0–0 26 2 +24 1.000
Michigan Flint City Bucks 1–0–1 * * * 0–1 3 1–1–1 4 4 0 .500
Indiana Fort Wayne FC 0–0–2 * * * * 2 0–0–2 1 1 0 .500
Indiana Indy Eleven NPSL * 1–0 * * * 1 1–0–0 1 0 +1 1.000
Michigan Kalamazoo FC 6–2–2 * * * * 10 6–2–2 20 10 +10 .700
Ohio Kings Hammer FC 0–1–0 * * * * 1 0–1–0 2 3 –1 .000
Michigan Lansing United 2–1–1 * * * 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) 5 2–1–2 9 7 +2 .600
Michigan Livonia City FC * * * 0–1 [D] * 1 0–1–0 0 1 –1 .000
Michigan Michigan Stars FC 3–1–2 * * * * 6 3–1–2 7 5 +2 .667
Wisconsin Milwaukee Torrent 2–0–2 * * * * 4 2–0–2 7 5 +2 .750
Michigan Muskegon Risers SC * * * * 2–0 2 2–0–0 5 3 +2 1.000
Michigan Oakland County FC[E] 3–1–0 * * * * 4 3–1–0 10 4 +6 .750
Illinois RWB Adria 0–2–0 * * * * 2 0–2–0 2 6 −4 .000
Indiana South Bend Lions FC 1–0–1 * * * * 2 1–0–1 4 3 +1 .750
Ohio Toledo Villa FC 4–0–0 * * * * 4 4–0–0 17 3 +14 1.000
Total 39–18–17 1–0–2 (0–2 PKs) 0–1 1–1 3–1–1 (0–1 PKs) 85 44–21–20 166 96 +70 .635
  1. ^
    D Livonia City FC forfeited this May 4, 2019 match due to fielding an ineligible player. Grand Rapids FC was subsequently disqualified from the 2019 Amateur Cup for fielding too many players in the competition.[20]
  2. ^
    E Oakland United were renamed Oakland County FC in 2016

Player records

Reference:[21]

Club culture

The south side of Houseman Field, with members of the Grand Army supporters group in the foreground. Attendance 3,843.

Supporters

The Grand Army was the supporters group for Grand Rapids FC.[22] Starting in 2015, all pre-game festivities were held at Bob's Bar and a march led through the Midtown neighborhood.[23] In June 2015 a fanzine entitled What if it Rains started publication.[24] The name of the magazine referred to one of the reasons the NPSL originally declined the club's application and celebrated the club's massive support.

References

  1. ^ a b "Grand Rapids FC disbands after seven years". MLive.com. October 27, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "A Soccer Club in Grand Rapids?". Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  3. ^ "Many pitch in for hometown soccer franchise". GRBJ.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  4. ^ "sports.yahoo.com". yahoo.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "NPSL denies Ann Arbor semi-pro soccer club's application; owners plan to establish new league". MLive.com. December 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  6. ^ "Grand Rapids Football Club Joins the NPSL – Grand Rapids FC". GrandRapidsFC.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  7. ^ "Grand Rapids FC launches women's team for 2017 season". mlive. November 1, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "Grand Rapids FC beats Santa Clarita, captures United Women's Soccer championship". MLive.com. July 2017.
  9. ^ "GRFC Announces Collaboration With Midwest United". December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  10. ^ "AFTER SEVEN SEASONS, GRAND RAPIDS FC CEASES OPERATIONS". GrandRapidsFC.com. October 27, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  11. ^ "Identity". Grand Rapids FC official website. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  12. ^ Baxter, Albert (1891). History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. New York and Grand Rapids: Munsell and Company. p. 203.
  13. ^ "Identity". Grand Rapids FC official website. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  14. ^ GRFC (April 13, 2021). "GRAND RAPIDS FC TO RELEASE FULL 2021 SEASON SCHEDULE; FIRST GAME AT THIS YEAR'S HOME FIELD SET FOR MAY 16". grandrapidsfc.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  15. ^ "Houseman Field to become home of Grand Rapids Football Club". mlive. July 10, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  16. ^ Peter J. Wallner (February 8, 2020). "Grand Rapids FC to remain at Houseman Field for upcoming season". MLive.com. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "Stuart Collins Accepts Head Coaching Job For Grand Rapids FC". Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  18. ^ "United Soccer League Provides Update on 2020 League Two Season". April 30, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  19. ^ "How do you enter the 2016 US Open Cup? USSF takes over amateur qualifying". Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  20. ^ "Grand Rapids FC disqualified from U.S. Amateur Cup". mLive. May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  21. ^ "What if it Rains". WhatIfItRains.net. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  22. ^ "MOTU VIGET". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  23. ^ "Game Day FAQ". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  24. ^ "About". Retrieved July 1, 2018.

External links

Grand Rapids, Michigan
USL League Two
Sports teams based in Michigan
Categories