FC Buffalo

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see FC Buffalo (women).
FC Buffalo
Full nameFC Buffalo
Nickname(s)Blitzers, Wolves, Buffalonians
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009)
StadiumAll-High Stadium
Buffalo, New York
Capacity5,000
OwnerNick Mendola
Head CoachSean Hallas
LeagueUSL League Two
20236th, Valley Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Websitehttp://www.fcbuffalo.org/

FC Buffalo is an American soccer club based in Buffalo, New York, United States, with teams in men's and women's soccer.

Founded in 2009, the men's team plays in the USL League Two, a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Midwest Division. In 2021, club owner Nicholas Mendola announced the launch of a women's soccer team, which started play in United Women's Soccer in May and went on to win consecutive division titles.

The team plays its home games at All-High Stadium. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.

FC Buffalo participates in the Erie County Derby against Erie Commodores FC, a regional rivalry featuring two clubs in different states and different leagues who share counties of the same name. FC Buffalo also participated in the Western New York Derby against Rochester Lancers and the I-90 Derby against Syracuse FC.

History

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Founding and inaugural season

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FC Buffalo joined the NPSL as an expansion franchise in 2009 and took part in its first competitive season in 2010 with games held between the Demske Complex at Canisius University and Robert E. Rich All High Stadium. 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 FC and Buffalo City FC. The team is owned by a group of five Buffalonians: Joshua Batten, Scott Frauenhofer, Donny Kutzbach, Nick Mendola, and Ray Siminski. In the off-season following the 2022 season, supporters' group member Jonathan Baird joined the ownership group.

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. The supporters' group is named "The Situation Room" after Blitzer's primetime news program on CNN.

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."[1]

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.

Subsequent seasons

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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 helmed 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 E. Rich Jr. 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.[2] The match was filmed and later made into a BBC documentary called Mr Rich and The Terriers[3]

The team's mascot Wolf Blitzer was unveiled at the Winter Wolves fund raiser. 2012 Season tickets were sold at the event. The unique feature of the 2012 season ticket is that it consists of a special season ticket holder's scarf that will function as admission to the season's home matches.[4][5]

FC Buffalo saw its first player drafted into Major League Soccer on January 17, 2012 when midfielder Krystian Witkowski was claimed in the second round of the supplemental draft by the Philadelphia Union.[6] The team then saw a player drafted into Major League Soccer for the second-consecutive year, as second-leading scorer Mike Reidy was selected 71st overall in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft by Sporting KC.

On November 20, 2012, FC Buffalo signed its third head coach, Brendan Murphy. The Buffalo native was a national champion as a player at St. Lawrence University.[7] He led the team to a playoff spot in his first season, where they lost 5-2 to rivals Erie.

MLS called again in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, when Liam Callahan went 24th overall to the Colorado Rapids and Russell Cicerone was selected by the Portland Timbers with the 76th pick. Weeks later, head coach Brendan Murphy was hired as goalkeeping coach by the Rochester Rhinos, and FC Buffalo hired University at Buffalo alum and Grand Island High School coach Frank Butcher as manager, tabbing former players John Grabowski and Casey Derkacz as assistants.

Butcher was the fastest coach to 10 wins in club history, and led the team to Germany for the 2019 preseason. The club played three matches including one against FC St. Pauli II, and also welcomed the Liga MX reserva side Monarcas Morelia and FC St. Pauli's first team for international friendlies.

The club elevated Butcher into an administrative position in 2021, hiring Ryan "Ozzy" Osborne as first team men's coach. Osborne won the Great Lakes Conference with Cleveland SC.

On May 9, 2022, the team announced that they would play their home games for the 2022 season at Dobson Field on the campus of D'Youville University while All-High Stadium is renovated.[8] After the renovations at All High were completed, Buffalo Public Schools initially declined to have the team play its matches there for the 2023 season, which forced an emergency field location at Williamsville South High School for the team's challenging first season in USL League Two.[9][10] Then in April of 2024, the club were welcomed back to All High ahead of the upcoming season.[11]

Kit

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The team take inspiration for their colors, royal blue and yellow gold, from the classic Buffalo Sabres uniforms. The badge features a crest with a soccer ball inside a circle of electric flashes under the team name and founding year. The logo is reminiscent of the municipal flag of Buffalo, NY. In 2015, the team returned to a Nike manufactured shirt and introduced three sets of uniforms. One all blue, one all yellow, and one all white. The kits can be mixed and matched on game day to create multiple unique and colorful looks.

The front jersey sponsor is Rich Products, a multinational food production corporation headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Rich's also owns and sponsors the local Triple-A International League baseball team, the Buffalo Bisons. Més Que, Buffalo's premier downtown soccer bar, and Batavia Downs Gaming & Casino are the two other shirt sponsors.

Kit manufacturers

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Shirt sponsors

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  • 2010: Papa Jake's Saloon
  • 2011–2016: Rich Products
  • 2017: Lif Dental
  • 2018: Soho Buffalo / Frankie Primo's +39
  • 2019–2021: Hofbrauhaus Buffalo
  • 2023: Community Beerworks
  • 2023–present: The Martin Group

Players and staff

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Current roster

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As of May 16, 2024 [1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA Bryce Tramuta
3 DF Canada CAN Kobe Grant
4 DF Germany GER Fabian Overkamp
5 DF United States USA Riley Wagner
6 MF United States USA Brennan McDermott
7 DF United States USA Ashton Jell
8 MF Netherlands NED Timo Jansen
9 FW Spain ESP Ander Castillo
10 MF Canada CAN Nico Stoddart
11 MF England ENG Mohammed Sanyang
13 GK United States USA Jack Petrie
14 MF England ENG Ollie Lovell
16 MF United States USA Diego Rivera
17 MF Brazil BRA Matheus Spina
18 MF United States USA Max Kwitchoff
20 MF Spain ESP Aitor Jorde
22 FW England ENG Calum Newson
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 DF United States USA Landon Hungerford
25 DF United States USA AJ Zarcone
33 FW Austria AUT Felix Kogler
99 GK Czech Republic CZE Andreas Kokoska
- DF United States USA Jacob Leone
- MF Portugal POR Antonio Pratas
- MF United States USA Luke Reidell
- MF United States USA Gaven Egan
- DF United States USA Elliott Weber
- GK United States USA Jack Root
- MF United States USA Aney Djadou
- MF United States USA Sam LaMendola
- MF Spain ESP Alfonso Madrigal
- FW Germany GER Fridolin Gefrorer
- MF Germany GER Michel Hoelscher

Current[when?] Standings

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Rust Belt Conference

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Cleveland SC (C) 12 8 3 1 33 14 +19 25 Midwest Region Quarterfinals
2 Pittsburgh Hotspurs 12 8 4 0 24 15 +9 24
3 FC Buffalo 12 5 6 1 15 20 −5 16
4 Erie Commodores 12 3 7 2 13 23 −10 11
5 Akron City FC 12 2 6 4 10 23 −13 10
Source: NPSL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head; 3) goal differential in head-to-head results; 4) wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) fewest losses; 7) coin toss. If three or more teams are tied on points, a mini-table involving only the tied teams is used, and teams are ranked in the mini-table on points. If two teams are tied on points in the mini-table, the two-team rules for classification apply. If three or more teams are tied on points in the mini-table, they are ranked based on 1) wins in conference competition; 2) total goal differential in conference competition; 3) fewest losses in conference competition; 4) coin toss.
(C) Champions

2021 NISA Independent Cup — Great Lakes

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Detroit City FC (C) 3 3 0 0 17 2 +15 9
2 FC Buffalo 3 2 0 1 11 3 +8 6
3 Cleveland SC 3 0 1 2 3 13 −10 1
4 Livonia City FC 3 0 1 2 2 15 −13 1
Source: nisaofficial.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals for; 4) head-to-head
(C) Champions

Year-by-year

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Year Division League Regular Season W-L-D Playoffs Open Cup
2010 4 NPSL 3rd, Keystone 6–4–2 did not qualify did not enter
2011 4 NPSL 5th, Keystone 5–6–1 did not qualify Lost qual. playoff
2012 4 NPSL 5th, Midwest-Great Lakes 1–7–4 did not qualify did not enter
2013 4 NPSL 2nd, Midwest-Great Lakes 8–5–0 Conference Semi-Finals did not qualify
2014 4 NPSL 4th, Midwest-Great Lakes East 5–8–1 did not qualify did not qualify
2015 4 NPSL 5th, Midwest-Great Lakes East 6–2–4 did not qualify did not qualify
2016 4 NPSL 3rd, Midwest-Great Lakes East 5–3–2 did not qualify did not qualify
2017 4 NPSL 5th, Midwest-East 5–4–3 did not qualify did not qualify
2018 4 NPSL 4th, Midwest-East 6–4–2 did not qualify did not enter
2019 4 NPSL 4th, Midwest-East 4–4–2 did not qualify did not enter
2021 4 NPSL 3rd, Midwest-Rust Belt 4–4–2 did not qualify did not enter
2022 4 NPSL 3rd, Midwest-Rust Belt 5-6-2 did not qualify did not enter
2023 4 USL2 6th, Valley 1-7-3 did not qualify did not qualify
2024 4 USL2 4th, Valley 5-4-3 did not qualify did not qualify
Total 67-68-31 0–1

Tournaments

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Year Tournament League Regular Season W-L-D
2020 2020 NISA Independent Cup NISA 3rd 0-0-2
2021 2021 NISA Independent Cup NISA 2nd 2-1-0

Managerial history

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Coach Years League W-L-D Playoffs
Jim Hesch 2010 6–4–2 DNQ
Dan Krzyzanowicz 2011–2012 6–13–5 DNQ
Brendan Murphy 2013–2016 24–18–7 0–1
Frank Butcher 2017–2021 19–16–9 DNQ
Ryan "Ozzy" Osborne 2022 1-2-1 DNQ
Dan Panaro 2022 4-4-0 DNQ
Casey Derkacz 2023 1-7-3 DNQ
Sean Hallas 2024- 5-4-3 DNQ
Total 66–68–30

Honors

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  • Erie County Derby Champions: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024 (derby was not staged in 2023)

International friendly

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  • Lord Bedlington Cup
    • Winners (1): 2011

In inaugural competition, defeated Bedlington Terriers F.C. of England's Northern League, 5 – 1 [12]

Rivalries

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  • Supporters of FC Buffalo, Detroit City and AFC Cleveland formed the Rust Belt Derby modeled after the Cascadia Cup. The winner of the Derby is based on the head-to-head record of the Midwestern Conference clubs during regular season NPSL matches.[13] Cleveland won the inaugural Rust Belt Derby on June 23, 2012 following a 1–1 draw with Detroit.[14]
  • FC Buffalo claim as their top rival Erie and the sides compete in the EC (Erie County) Derby. To Date FC Buffalo have five wins, eight losses and three ties against Erie and is unbeaten in its last six.[15]

Stadium

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Fans

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  • FC Buffalo's supporters group is known as "The Situation Room"; named after Wolf Blitzer's CNN news program. Their goal is to create an atmosphere that is the loudest and most inclusive of any fan base in the City of Buffalo.

Affiliated teams

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References

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  1. ^ "Buffalo soccer team to be named after Wolf Blitzer". ESPN.
  2. ^ http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article472847.ece%7CFC [permanent dead link] Buffalo tops Bedlington in a friendly soccer match
  3. ^ "Mr Rich and the Terriers". BBC One. BBC. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  4. ^ http://home.buffalo.com/sports/gallery/fc-buffalos-winters-wolves-at-town-ballroom/%7CFC [permanent dead link] Buffalo’s Winter’s Wolves at Town Ballroom
  5. ^ http://www.fcbuffalo.org/uncategorized/2012-scarves-hit-streets-weekend/%7C2012 [permanent dead link] Season Ticket Scarf NOW Available For Online Order
  6. ^ Di Veronica, Jeff (January 17, 2012). "Aquinas' Krystian Witkowski drafted by Philly-MLS". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  7. ^ "MURPHY NAMED HEAD COACH AT FC BUFFALO". National Premier Soccer League. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  8. ^ "FC Buffalo + CBW + Dobson Field = Winning Combo". fcbuffalo.org. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Buffalo, F. C. (May 15, 2023). "Letter: Why FC Buffalo has a new home". FC Buffalo. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "FC Buffalo welcomes new and returning faces into the 716 for 2023 season". WKBW 7 News Buffalo. May 25, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Buffalo, F. C. (May 2, 2024). "FC Buffalo returns to All-High Stadium". FC Buffalo. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  12. ^ http://www.jaredmobarak.com/2011/06/29/photography-bedlington-cup/ [bare URL]
  13. ^ "The Rust Belt Derby by Daniel Casey - SoccerNewsday.com". Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  14. ^ "The Rust Belt Derby". Soccer News Day. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  15. ^ "Seven Minutes from Heaven". FC Buffalo. June 23, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
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