Hartford Athletic

Hartford Athletic is an American professional soccer team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and started play in the USL Championship in 2019.[1][2] It is the only pro soccer team in Connecticut as of 2024 (though Connecticut United FC is expected to debut in 2025).

Hartford Athletic
Full nameHartford Athletic
FoundedJuly 11, 2018 (2018-07-11)
StadiumTrinity Health Stadium
Capacity5,500
OwnerHartford Sports Group
Head coachBrendan Burke
LeagueUSL Championship
202312th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

History

On June 8, 2021, Hartford Athletic announced they will be fielding a women's side to compete in the new USL W League beginning in 2022.[3]

Stadium

The club plays on the grounds of Trinity Health Stadium, with a capacity of 5,500.[4] The 1935 stadium was renovated and reopened on July 13, 2019, despite the fact the stadium was not completely finished.[5] Lights were completed and first used for the stadium's first night game on September 14, 2019 (Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City FC).[6]

During the construction of Trinity Health Stadium, Athletic played home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. They played their first home game in front of more than 11,000 supporters.[7]

Hartford's first U.S. Open Cup match in 2019, which was also the first win in club history, was played at Al-Marzook Field in West Hartford.[8]

Colors and badge

Hartford Athletic's official colors are green and blue, chosen because of their strong association with the sports teams of Hartford.[9][10] The team's crest and colors were first unveiled in a video on December 6, 2018.[11]

Sponsorship

Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2019–2021 Adidas Trinity Health of New England[12]
2022– Hummel[13]

Players and staff

Current roster

As of 17 June 2024[14]

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  USA Greg Monroe
2 DF  MAR Younes Boudadi
3 DF  USA Joey Akpunonu (on loan from FC Cincinnati)
4 DF  JAM Jordan Scarlett
5 DF  TRI Triston Hodge
6 MF  COD Beverly Makangila
7 FW  USA Marcus Epps
8 MF  CAN Jay Chapman
10 MF  USA Danny Barrera
11 FW  COD Michee Ngalina
12 MF  GHA Anderson Asiedu
15 DF  USA Joe Farrell
17 FW  VIN Kyle Edwards
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF  USA Joe Schmidt
19 DF  USA Rece Buckmaster
23 DF  GUF Thomas Vancaeyezeele
27 DF  CMR Pele Ousmanou
29 MF  SLE Emmanuel Samadia
31 FW  JAM Deshane Beckford
33 FW  SEN Mamadou Dieng
37 FW  USA Dantouma Toure (on loan from the MLS Pool)
40 GK  BRA Renan Ribeiro
43 MF  USA Ian Shaul [A]
44 GK  USA Justin DiCarlo [A]
94 MF  USA Marlon Hairston
-- DF  USA Michael DeShields
  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK  USA Brooks Thompson (on loan to Spokane Velocity)
77 FW  COD Enoch Mushagalusa (on loan to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC)

Players with multiple nationalities

Team management

Front office
Owners Joseph Calafiore
Bruce Mandell
Scott Schooley
Coaching staff
Head coach Brendan Burke
Assistant coach Dan Gaspar
Goalkeeper coach Enzo Pereira
Strength & conditioning coach Joe Lucas Santos
Athletic trainer Kevin Hoffmann
Technical director Ray Reid
Technical advisor Paul Buckle

Last updated: January 7, 2021
Source:

Club captains

Years Name Nation
2019 Philip Rasmussen  Denmark
20202022 Danny Barrera  United States
2023 Niall Logue  Northern Ireland

Club culture

The supporters for Hartford Athletic are split between five groups based on their geographical location within the state of Connecticut:

  • The 19th Regiment – The first supporters group founded in early 2019 shortly after the announcement of the club. Today, it represents supporters based in the Greater Hartford area and Northern Connecticut.
  • Mad Hat Massive – Independent supporters group representing members from Fairfield and Litchfield counties, with their home pub hosting the official supporters away days watch parties at TK's American Cafe in Danbury where the Jell-O Shot tradition began. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
  • The Boonies – Members of the Mad Hat Massive in the greater Torrington area.
  • Elm City Casuals – Independent supporters based out of the Greater New Haven area. They’re independent. They like pizza and riding trains. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
  • East Side Rising – Supporters group founded in 2020 to represent Eastern Connecticut, nicknamed "A Family of Fans."
  • Raza Brava – Latino-centric supporters group representing the greater Hartford area.

Each group is separately managed but they stand and chant together on the east end of Trinity Health Stadium for home matches.

Starting in the 2022 season, the 19th Regiment, Mad Hat Massive and the Elm City Casuals will unite as one group, called The Bonanza

Among the notable chants used is the "Brass Bonanza," a melody sung by the supporters groups after scoring a goal, which was also used for the former NHL team in the city, the Hartford Whalers, for the same circumstances. The groups also use Bob Marley's classic "Three Little Birds" for the beginning of matches and when the opposing team scores. [15]

Under-19 team

The Hartford Athletic U19 team plays in the United Premier Soccer League New England Conference.

Team records

Year-by-year

As of 14 October 2023
Season USL Championship Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top Scorer
P W L D GF GA Pts Position Player Goals
2019 34 8 21 5 49 80 29 17th, Eastern Did not qualify Third round Wojciech Wojcik 7
2020 16 11 3 2 31 24 35 1st, Group F Conference Quarterfinals Not played Alex Dixon 6
2021 32 12 15 5 50 50 41 5th, Atlantic Did not qualify Not played Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. 10
2022 34 10 18 6 47 57 36 10th, Eastern Did not qualify Third round Ariel Martínez 9
2023 34 4 24 6 40 79 18 12th, Eastern Did not qualify Third round Prince Saydee 10

Head coaches

  • Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
Coach Nationality Start End Games Win Loss Draw Win %
Jimmy Nielsen  Denmark September 5, 2018 October 27, 2019 369225025.00
Radhi Jaïdi  Tunisia November 8, 2019 October 19, 2020 171142064.71
Harry Watling  England January 13, 2021 June 25, 2022 4916258032.65
Ray Reid (interim)  United States June 25, 2022 August 22, 2022 13463030.77
Tab Ramos  United States August 22, 2022 June 26, 2023 246144025.00
Omid Namazi  United States June 26, 2023 November 1, 2023 182142011.11
Brendan Burke  United States December 12, 2023 present 14581035.71

Average attendance

Year Reg. Season Playoffs
2019 5,025
2020 1,351 2,194
2021 4,640
2022 5,178
2023 4,089
2024 4,345

See also

References

  1. "Hartford Joins USL For 2019 Season at Dillon Stadium". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  2. "Pro Soccer Team Announced For Hartford, Set To Begin Play In 2019". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  3. "USL announces return of the W League from 2022 – SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  4. "What's next for Dillon Stadium and Hartford Athletic? A turf field, players and more". Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  5. Anthony, Mike (July 14, 2019). "Mike Anthony: Hartford had it Saturday, and our new soccer team had a lot to do with it". courant.com. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  6. Hartford Athletic (September 14, 2019). "RECAP: Hartford Athletic Falls in First Dillon Stadium Match Under the Lights". Hartford Athletic.
  7. "Hartford Athletic Hosts First Home Game". Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  8. "Hartford Athletic vs. New York Cosmos – Football Match Summary – May 14, 2019 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  9. "Hartford Athletic unveils crest, teases apparel and player signings". Hartford Courant. December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  10. Arlia, John (December 11, 2018). "Behind the Brand: Revitalizing Hartford's Proud Tradition". USL Championship. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  11. "Hartford Athletic Unveils Official Club Crest". USL Championship. December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  12. Athletic, Hartford (February 27, 2019). "Hartford Athletic Announces Trinity Health of New England as Title Partner". Hartford Athletic | Connecticut's Professional Soccer Team.
  13. "Hummel Named Hartford Athletic's Official On-Field Apparel Provider". November 22, 2021.
  14. "Player Numbers". Twitter.com. Hartford Athletic. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  15. "Hartford Athletic Supporters Make Their Mark During Inaugural Season". NBC Connecticut. September 9, 2019.
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