Upstate United Football Club
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| Full name | Upstate United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Stars Nation |
| Short name | UUFC |
| Founded | 2020 |
| League | United Premier Soccer League |
| Location | Syracuse |
| Stadium | Chuck R Wilbur |
| Chairman | Fred Eurbare |
| Head coach | Chris Pelligra |
| Manager | Abu Bility |
Upstate United Football Club, formerly known and founded as Upstate Lone star Football Club in 2020, is an American semi professional development soccer club based in Syracuse, New York. Upstate United Football Club competes in the United Premier Soccer League which sit in the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid in the Northeast Region’s Western NY Conference. The team plays its home games at Onondaga Community College Chuck R Wilburn in Syracuse, New York.
History[edit]
Founded in 2020 by three Liberians immigrants who had fled a civil war in their home country. The club was named Upstate Lone Star Football Club after the Liberia national football team which is nicknamed the Lone Star. In the midst of the tumultuous covid-19 years 2019-2020, these group of passionate soccer enthusiasts in Upstate, New York, came together to form what would become a beacon of footballing excellence - Upstate Lone Star FC. Founded with a vision to promote the beautiful game in the region, the club embarked on its journey with determination and ambition.[1][2]
Upstate United FC was announced as an United Premier Soccer League expansion team on February 5, 2021.[3] On the day of the announcement, the leadership group was announced with Hanson Goeso serving as President and Thomas Nimineh as Vice President. General Manager Abu Bility and Alen Jusic as head coach.
The team played its inaugural match on May 5, 2021, at home in Utica NY at the accelerate sports complex against Invictus FC. Forward Elvin Johnson scored the first goal in team history to take lead in the 10th minute, Midfielder Lawson Jellue score the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Invictus FC. That same year the team had one of its best performance, a 3-2 victory over FCY New York in Buffalo, NY in front of 200 fans.[4] In its inaugural United Premiere Soccer League [UPSL] season, Upstate Lone Star FC made an immediate impact under Head Coach Allen Jusic, showcasing remarkable talent and resilience on the pitch. The team's relentless effort and dedication saw them finished 4th in the 2021 UPSL Northeast Conference Western New York Division, with an record of 6w-1D-5L in 12 games. During the fall UPSL D1 season the club won both the UPSL WNY D1 and UPSL Northeast D1 Conference championship in the club first season.[5]
NISA Independent Cup[edit]
As Upstate United F.C continued to evolve, their on-field prowess reached new heights in 2023. With a squad brimming with talent and tactical acumen, the club had a decent performance under the internship of Hanson Goeso as acting coach, finishing 3rd with an record of 4W-1D-5L. Under his leadership, the club was able to secured promotion backed to the UPSL Premier division. The impressive run in the UPSL earned them an invite to the 2023 National Independent Soccer Association independent cup tournament.[6] In group stages the club face of against UPSL opponent Smugtown F.C in a 1-0 home thriller victory. Next game was against FCY New York in Buffalo NY, winner of the 2023 UPSL WNY Premier title,Playoff title, and UPSL Northeast Conference title. The game finished in 4-4 draw, which advanced Upstate United FC to the NISA Independent Cup Regional Championship. The match was set between NISA Pro club Flower City Union -Salt City Union located in Auburn NY and Upstate United. Salt City Union won the regional title over Upstate United FC overcoming 3-0 deficit to win the title 4-3 over Upstate United. Flower City would go on to also win the National Independent Soccer Association league title.[7] [8]
Colors and badge[edit]
The Upstate United F.C club logo embodies a sense of unity, strength, and global representation. Here's a detail description:
Logo Shape: The logo is a circular, symbolizing unity and continuity.
Color Scheme: The predominant colors are red, white, and blue, evoking patriotism and dynamism.
Central Emblem: At the center of the logo is the initial of the club, prominently displayed, signifying identity and belonging.
Stars: Flanking the club initial are two stars, one on the left and one on the right.
Globe: Positioned within the central emblem is a globe, representing the globe nature of soccer and the club's international outlook. It symbolizes inclusiveness and the interconnections of the sport across continents. Encircling the globe are seven stars, each representing one of the seven continents. This feature underscores the global reach of soccer and suggests the club's commitment to embracing diversity and fostering connections across borders.
Overall Impression: The logo exudes a sense of pride, unity, and ambition. It reflects the club's dedication to developing young soccer talents within a global context and its aspiration to achieve excellence both locally and internationally.
References[edit]
- ^ "Under the Lights: Upstate United FC (WNY Premier / UPSL)". Protagonist Soccer. 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Syracuse soccer tournament celebrates unity". WSYR. 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ "UPSL Announces Western New York Expansion with Upstate Lonestar FC". www.sanleefc.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Tsujimoto, Ben (2021-05-16). "Sluggish start dooms FCY New York in first-ever UPSL home match". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "About US | Upstate United FC - Upstate United Semi Professional Soccer Program". www.upstateunitedfootballclub.com. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "NISA Announces 2023 Independent Cup Regions". www.nisasoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Media Alert: Flower City Union Win 2023 NISA Title". www.nisasoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Flower City Union wins NISA Championship". RochesterFirst. 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-05-04.