View source for Erie Commodores FC

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox football club
| American = true
| clubname    = Erie Commodores FC
| image       = Erie Commodores.png
| upright = 0.8
| fullname    = Erie Commodores Football Club
| nickname    = Erie Commodores, Commodores, ECFC
| founded     = {{Start date and age|2009}}
| stadium     = [[Saxon Stadium]]<br />[[Erie, Pennsylvania]]
| capacity    = 2,300
| owner       = John Melody
| mgrtitle    = Head Coach
| manager     = Dylan Sumner
| league      = [[National Premier Soccer League]]<br />
[[United Women's Soccer]]
| season      = 2015
| position    = 
| current     = 2023 NPSL season
| website     = http://eriecommodores.com/
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| body1       = 0467b4
| rightarm1   = 0467b4
| shorts1     = 0467b4
| socks1      = 0467b4
| pattern_la2 = 
| pattern_b2  = _4squaresonshoulder
| pattern_ra2 = 
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'''Erie Commodores FC''' is an American [[association football|soccer]] team based in [[Erie, Pennsylvania]], competing in the [[National Premier Soccer League]] (NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the [[American Soccer Pyramid]]. The team plays its home games at [[Saxon Stadium]], located on the campus of [[Mercyhurst University]]. In 2021, the Commodores expanded by adding a pro-am women's team that competes in [[United Women's Soccer]].<ref>[https://uwssoccer.com/uws2-launches-lake-erie-conference/ UWS League Two launches Lake Erie Conference]</ref>

The "Commodores" name is a tribute to [[Oliver Hazard Perry]], a [[Commodore (United States)|U.S. Navy commodore]] who operated out of Erie's [[Presque Isle Bay]] during the [[Battle of Lake Erie]], a flashpoint in the [[War of 1812]]. Perry's ship, the [[USS Niagara (1813)|USS ''Niagara'']], famously flew a flag with the phrase "Don't Give up the Ship" during the battle, both of which are symbolized in the Commodores' logo. The [[Erie Maritime Museum]] now preserves the ''Niagara'' at Presque Isle Bay.

==History==

In 2009, local soccer coach Pedro Argáez founded '''Erie Admirals SC''', building on an existing youth soccer program. John Melody, a former player at Mercyhurst University in Erie, initially served as Argáez's head coach before taking full ownership of the team. On April 24, 2015, Melody rebranded the club as '''Erie Commodores FC'''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Erie's NPSL Team Rebrands as Erie Commodores FC|publisher=International Soccer Network|url=http://isnsoccer.com/news/2015/04/14/eries-npsl-team-rebrands-as-erie-commodores-fc/|access-date=2015-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621192946/http://isnsoccer.com/news/2015/04/14/eries-npsl-team-rebrands-as-erie-commodores-fc/|archive-date=2017-06-21|url-status=dead}}</ref> Melody later appointed Micky Blythe, another Mercyhurst alumnus, as head coach for one season. Afterward, Neil Brown, a [[UEFA coaching licences#UEFA A Licence|UEFA A License]] holder, helped lead the Commodores in their [[2015 NPSL season|2015 NPSL campaign]].<ref>[http://eriecommodores.com/about-erie-commodores-football-club/ About the Erie Commodores Football Club]</ref>

===Player development===
Several former Commodores players have advanced to professional soccer, including Adam Clement, who joined [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS), as well as [[Jeremy Deighton]], Greg Blum, and [[Neil Shaffer]] with [[Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC]] in the [[United Soccer League]]. Others, like Dan Howell, Billy Colton, Sam Dorf, and [[Danny Deakin]], pursued opportunities in international leagues, with Deakin being drafted by [[Orlando City SC]] of MLS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2017/01/17/orlando-city-selects-midfielder-danny-deakin-third-round-2017-mls-superdraft|title=Orlando City Selects Midfielder Danny Deakin in Third Round of 2017 MLS SuperDraft &#124; Orlando City}}</ref>

===Rust-belt rivalries===
The Commodores developed notable rivalries, including with fellow Rust Belt Conference team [[Cleveland SC]] from [[Cleveland, Ohio]]. They previously had a rivalry with [[Detroit City FC]] of [[Detroit, Michigan]] until they moved to the [[National Independent Soccer Association]]. In 2020, Erie competed in the NPSL Members Cup alongside Cleveland SC, [[FC Buffalo]], and the [[Steel City FC (Pennsylvania)|Pittsburgh Hotspurs]]. The club also participated in the Erie County Derby against FC Buffalo, a regional NPSL rivalry between [[Erie County, Pennsylvania]] and [[Erie County, New York]], which ended when Buffalo joined [[USL League Two]] in 2023.

===The Brewers Cup===
In 2024, the Commodores reignited their rivalry with FC Buffalo through the Erie County Brewers Cup, sponsored by Erie-based John Russell Brewing Company and Buffalo-based Big Ditch Brewing Company. The Brewers Cup features a two-game series, with one game in each city, and the two breweries collaborated to release "Lake Erie Life," a tropical summer [[India pale ale]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Erie County Brewers Cup 2024|publisher=Erie Commodores FC|url=https://www.eriecommodores.com/news/|access-date=2024-05-24}}</ref>

==Current roster==
{{updated|May 17, 2022}}

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player | no=  1| nat=USA| pos=GK | name=Chris Ralph}}
{{Fs player | no=  2| nat=USA| pos=DF | name=Antonio De La Torre}}
{{Fs player | no=  3| nat=ENG| pos=DF | name=Faheem Khan}}
{{Fs player | no=  4| nat=USA| pos=DF | name=Chad Eldridge}}
{{Fs player | no=  5| nat=ARG| pos=DF | name=Bautista Corti}}
{{Fs player | no=  6| nat=WAL| pos=DF | name=Sam Richards}}
{{Fs player | no=  7| nat=ENG| pos=MF | name=Danny Stevens}}
{{Fs player | no=  8| nat=ENG| pos=MF | name=Tom Barry}}
{{Fs player | no=  9| nat=USA| pos=FW | name=Max Wilkins}}
{{Fs player | no=  10| nat=ENG| pos=MF | name=Dylan Sumner}}
{{Fs player | no=  11| nat=BRA| pos=MF | name=Renan Diniz}}
{{Fs player | no=  12| nat=BRA| pos=MF | name=Gabriel Peres}}
{{Fs player | no=  14| nat=ENG| pos=FW | name=Tinashe Katsande}}
{{Fs player | no=  15| nat=ENG| pos=MF | name=Ryan Beckinsale}}
{{Fs player | no=  16| nat=USA| pos=FW | name=Thomas Binkowski}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player | no=  17| nat=CAN| pos=MF | name=Owen Jowett}}
{{Fs player | no=  19| nat=USA| pos=MF | name=Steve Yeonas}}
{{Fs player | no=  20| nat=USA| pos=DF | name=Ryan Lieser}}
{{Fs player | no=  21| nat=AUS| pos=FW | name=Joe Knox}}
{{Fs player | no=  22| nat=ENG| pos=DF | name=Andy Bennett}}
{{Fs player | no=  23| nat=ENG| pos=DF | name=Gavin Morgan}}
{{Fs player | no=  24| nat=ENG| pos=MF | name=Toby Gower}}
{{Fs player | no=  25| nat=USA| pos=FW | name=Jack Foht}}
{{Fs player | no=  26| nat=USA| pos=FW | name=Shawn Rapal}}
{{Fs player | no=  27| nat=USA| pos=DF | name=Peter Wagner}}
{{Fs player | no=  28| nat=USA| pos=GK | name=Jonathan Gomes}}
{{Fs player | no=  29| nat=USA| pos=GK | name=Mitchell Wolff}}
{{Fs player | no=  30| nat=MAR| pos=MF | name=Anass Hadran}}
{{Fs player | no=  31| nat=GER| pos=GK | name=Friedrich Petrelli}}
{{Fs end}}

==Year-by-year==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
![[United States soccer league system|Tier]]
!League
!Regular Season
!Record
!Playoffs
|-
|[[2009 NPSL season|2009]]
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st of 6, Eastern Keystone
|9 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie
|National Final
|-
|[[2010 NPSL season|2010]]
|4
|NPSL
|2nd of 7, Northeast-Keystone
|10 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties
|'' did not qualify''
|-
|[[2011 NPSL season|2011]]
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st of 8, Northeast-Keystone
|10 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie
|National Semifinals
|-
|[[2012 NPSL season|2012]]
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes
|6 wins, 1 loss, 5 ties
|Division Final
|-
|[[2013 NPSL season|2013]]
|4
|NPSL
| 3rd of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes
|6 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties
| National Semifinals
|-
|[[2014 NPSL season|2014]]
|4
|NPSL
| 2nd of 4, Midwest-Great Lakes East
|6 wins, 6 losses, 2 ties
| ''did not qualify''
|-
|[[2015 NPSL season|2015]]
|4
|NPSL
| 7th of 13, Midwest
|5 wins, 7 losses, 0 ties
| ''did not qualify''
|-
|[[2016 NPSL season|2016]]
|4
|NPSL
| 5th of 6, Midwest-Great Lakes East
|2 wins, 4 losses, 4 ties
| ''did not qualify''
|-
|[[2017 NPSL season|2017]]
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st of 7, Midwest-East
|6 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties
| Regional first round
|-
|[[2018 NPSL season|2018]]
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st of 7, Midwest-East
|8 wins, 1 loss, 3 ties
| Regional first round
|-
|[[2019 NPSL season|2019]]
|4
|NPSL
| 3rd of 6, Midwest-East
|4 wins, 2 losses, 4 ties
| ''did not qualify''
|-
|[[2020 NPSL season|2020]]
|4
|NPSL
|Cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 Pandemic]]
|N/A
| ''Not played''
|-
|[[2021 National Premier Soccer League season|2021]]
|4
|NPSL
| 4th of 6, Midwest-Rust Belt
|1 win, 5 losses, 4 ties
|'' did not qualify''
|-
|[[2022 National Premier Soccer League season|2022]]
|4
|NPSL
| 4th of 5, Midwest-Rust Belt
|3 wins, 7 losses, 2 ties
|'' did not qualify''
|-
|[[2023 National Premier Soccer League season|2023]]
|4
|NPSL
| 5th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes
|5 wins, 6 losses, 1 tie
|'' did not qualify''
|-
|[[2024 National Premier Soccer League season|2024]]
|4
|NPSL
| 6th of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes
|3 wins, 4 losses, 3 ties
|'' did not qualify''
|}

==Honors==
National:
* NPSL National runners-up: 2009
* NPSL National semifinalist, 3rd Place winner: 2011
Region/Historic Equivalent:
* NPSL Midwest Region Champions: 2013
* NPSL Northeast Division Champions: 2011
* NPSL Eastern Division champions: 2009
Conference/Historic Equivalent:
* NPSL Midwest Region-East Conference champions: 2017, 2018
* NPSL Midwest-Great Lakes Conference champions: 2012
* NPSL Northeast Division-Keystone Conference champions: 2011
* NPSL Eastern Keystone Division champions: 2009
Rivalry:
* Erie County Derby Champions (vs [[FC Buffalo]]): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022

==Staff==
===Owner===
* {{flagicon|IRL}} John Melody (2010–present)
* {{flagicon|MEX}} Pedro Argáez (2009–2010)

===Head coach===
* {{flagicon|USA}} Rich Wall (2023–present)<ref>{{cite news |title="Rich Wall/Head Coach"|newspaper= Erie Commodores FC|url=https://www.eriecommodores.com/npsl/coaching-staff/}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|IRL}} John Melody (2009–2013, 2016–present)<ref>{{cite news |title=Melody steps down as Admirals coach|newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]]|url=http://www.goerie.com/article/20140207/SPORTS13/302079935/Melody-steps-down-as-Admirals-coach}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} Dan Howell (2015)
* {{flagicon|ENG}} Micky Blythe (2014)

===Assistant coach===
* {{flagicon|WAL}} Neil Brown (2011–2014)
* {{flagicon|ENG}} Micky Blythe (2009–2013)

==Stadia==
* [[Saxon Stadium]] (2022–Present)
* [[Gannon University|McConnell Family Stadium]] (2013, 2016–2021)
* [[McDowell High School|Gus Anderson Field]] (2014–2015)
* [[Cathedral Preparatory School|Dollinger Field]] (2012–2013)
* [[Penn State Erie, The Behrend College|Penn State Behrend Soccer/Lacrosse Complex]] (2010–2011)
* Family First Sports Park (2009-2010)

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Portal|Pennsylvania|Association football}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|eriecommodores.com}}

{{Erie Commodores FC}}
{{National Premier Soccer League}}
{{USSoccer}}
{{Erie sports}}
{{Pennsylvania Sports}}

[[Category:National Premier Soccer League teams]]
[[Category:Amateur soccer teams in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Soccer clubs in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:2009 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2009]]