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{{Update|date=July 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname    = Madison 56ers
| image       = Madison56ers.jpg
| fullname    = Madison 56ers
| nickname    = 56ers
| founded     = 1956
| stadium     = [[Breese Stevens Field]]<br>[[Madison, Wisconsin]]
| capacity    = 5,000
| chrtitle    = General Manager
| chairman    = [[Cristian Brei]]
| mgrtitle    = Head Coach
| manager     = [[Jim Launder]]
| league      = [[United Premier Soccer League]]
| season      = [[2018 Spring UPSL season|2018]]
| position    = 2nd, UPSL Midwest Conference–North Division
| American    = true
| current     = 2018 Spring UPSL season

| pattern_la1 = _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes
| pattern_b1  = _with_white_collar
| pattern_ra1 = _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes
| pattern_so1 = _hoops_black
| leftarm1    = DD0000
| body1       = DD0000
| rightarm1   = DD0000
| shorts1     = 000000
| socks1      = DD0000

| pattern_la2 =
| pattern_b2  =
| pattern_ra2 =
| pattern_so2 = _hoops_black
| leftarm2    = FFFFFF
| body2       = FFFFFF
| rightarm2   = FFFFFF
| shorts2     = 000000
| socks2      = DD0000
| }}
[[Image:Princeton56.png|thumb|right|Original Princeton-56ers logo]]
'''Madison 56ers''' is an American [[association football|soccer]] team based in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], [[United States]]. Founded in 2005, the team plays in the [[United Premier Soccer League]]. Prior to the 2009 season the team was known as the '''Princeton 56ers'''.

Since their inception the club has called [[Breese Stevens Field]] its home pitch. The team played one season at [[Warner Park]] in 2008 due to renovations at Breese Stevens Field. The team's colors are red, black and white.

The 56ers NPSL side is part of the Madison 56ers Soccer Club, which was founded in 1956. The club has won 22 youth state championships, one men's national championship, six men's state championships, four men's USASA Region II championships and three women's state championships. The 56ers also have a team in the [[Women's Premier Soccer League]] that began in 2010.

==History==
The team's first game was a 5–1 victory over Minnesota club [[Inferno 95]] in a friendly on May 15, 2005, at [[Breese Stevens Field]], with Jed Hohlbein scoring the team's first goal. The team finished 6–8 overall, third in the NPSL Midwest with a 5–5 record, behind NPSL champion [[Detroit Arsenal (soccer)|Detroit]] and [[Bavarian Soccer Club|Milwaukee]]. Hohlbein was named to the inaugural NPSL All-Midwest team.

In 2006, the Princeton 56ers were 12–2–4 overall and won the NPSL Midwest title with an 8–0–2 record. They lost to the [[Sacramento Knights]] 2–0 in the NPSL championship game on July 29, 2006, with Anthony Chimienti and Alfredo Renteria scoring in the final 19 minutes. The game drew a team-record crowd of 1,351. Goalkeeper Eric Mickschl was named the NPSL Midwest MVP, while teammate Jed Hohlbein also made the All-Midwest team for the second time.

In 2007, the team went 13–3–1 overall and repeated as NPSL Midwest champion with an 8–1–1 record. They lost to the [[Southern California Fusion]] 1–0 in the NPSL semi-finals on July 27, 2007, in [[La Mesa, California]], then defeated the [[Sonoma County Sol]] 1–0 in the third-place match on July 28, 2007. Midfielder [[Brad Ring]] was named the NPSL Midwest MVP, and was joined on the All-Midwest team by goalkeeper Ryan Germann, defender Reed Cooper, defender-midfielder Tenzin Rampa and forward Jed Hohlbein. The 56ers made their debut in [[2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|U.S. Open Cup]] qualifying in 2007, as the NPSL representative. They lost to Detroit United 2–1 in the first round of the USASA Region II qualifying tournament on April 21. A match against German Fourth Division side [[SC Wiedenbrück 2000|SC Wiedenbrück]] on June 23, 2007, was their first match against international competition.

In 2008, the team went 7–3–2 overall and tied for second place in the NPSL Midwest with a 3–1–2 record. Henry Aiyenero was the team's leading scorer with five goals. Jed Hohlbein, [[Brad Ring]], Reed Cooper and midfielder Trevor Banks were named to the All-Midwest team. In the [[2008 U.S. Open Cup]], they won by forfeit over the Bloomington (Ind.) Cutters in the first round of Region II qualifying, then lost to [[RWB Adria]] 2–0 in the semi-finals.

In 2009, the team finished 8–3–2 overall and 5–2–1 in the NPSL Midwest, tying the [[St. Paul Twin Stars]] and the [[Chicago Fire NPSL]] atop the standings. The Twin Stars were awarded the regional title and a berth in the NPSL national semi-finals on a tiebreaker. Keith Dangarembwa led the team with four goals and was one of five 56ers players named to the All-Midwest team, joining goalkeeper Jon Szafranski, midfielder Pablo Delgado and defenders Trevor Banks and Brian Bultman. The 56ers made their debut in the [[United States Adult Soccer Association|USASA]] Region II Amateur Cup, losing to [[Croatia Cleveland]] 3–0, then defeating [[F.C. Indiana (NPSL)|FC Indiana]] 3–1 and Illinois' [[AAC Eagles]] 5–3 at the competition in Oak Forest, Ill., but failing to advance to the final.

In 2010, the team finished 10–7–2 overall and 8–2–0 in the NPSL Midwest, claiming its third regional championship. The 56ers lost to [[Chattanooga FC]] 2–0 in the NPSL national semi-finals on July 29, 2010, and lost to [[FC Sonic Lehigh Valley]] 3–1 in the third-place match on July 30, 2010. Brazilian Werebetth Rocha, known as Betinho, led the team with eight goals. Midfielder Trevor Banks was named to the All-Midwest team for the third time, while midfielder Keenan Newallo, defender Brian Bultman and goalkeeper Jon Szafranski were honored for the second time. Defender Sean Ronnekleiv-Kelly, in his first season with the team, also was an all-region selection. The 56ers finished 0–1–1 at the USASA Region II Amateur Cup, tying [[Detroit United]] 1–1 and losing to Illinois' Inferno SC 3–0; their scheduled finale against [[St. Louis Kutis S.C.|St. Louis Kutis SC]] was canceled due to field conditions with both teams out of contention for advancement.

In 2011, the 56ers made their first appearance in the [[U.S. Open Cup]] since starting the NPSL team. An earlier men's amateur team from the club qualified for the tournament in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

In 2015, after winning the Midwest conference of the NPSL, the club switched to the second-year [[Premier League of America]].

==Alumni==
Jed Hohlbein, who starred at nearby [[Middleton High School (Middleton, Wisconsin)|Middleton High School]] and played two seasons at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], led the team in goals in each of its first three seasons, scoring 10 in 2005 and 13 in both 2006 and 2007. He scored three goals in 2008 and one in 2010 and is the team's career leading scorer with 40 goals.

Hohlbein had the 56ers' first hat trick in a 3–2 home victory over the [[St. Paul Twin Stars]] on May 20, 2006, then added another in a 4–1 home friendly win over German side [[SC Wiedenbrück 2000|SC Wiedenbruck]] on June 23, 2007. Andre Francois also had a hat trick in a 9–1 home win over the Madison Latino League All-Stars in a friendly on July 2, 2006. Henry Aiyenero had the fourth three-goal game in team history on July 12, 2008, in a 7–0 win over the [[Milwaukee Bavarians]] and Betinho posted the fifth on June 28, 2010, in a 9–1 victory over [[Eau Claire Aris FC]]. The nine goals against the Madison Latino League All-Stars in 2006 and [[Eau Claire Aris FC]] in 2010 stand as the team record for goals in a match.

Eight 56ers players have gone on to professional careers. Defender [[Aaron Hohlbein]], like his older brother a former standout at [[Middleton High School (Middleton, Wisconsin)|Middleton High School]] and the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], was selected by the [[Kansas City Wizards]] with the third pick of the [[2007 MLS Supplemental Draft]]. He signed a senior contract with the Wizards on March 1, 2007, and made his MLS debut on April 14, 2007. He spent time on loan with Miami FC Blues of the U.S. Soccer Federation Division-2 Pro League in 2010 and signed with the team in 2011, when it was renamed the [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2006–2016)|Fort Lauderdale Strikers]] and joined the [[North American Soccer League (2011)|North American Soccer League]]. Midfielder-defender Noah Goerlitz, a native of [[Neenah, Wisconsin]] who also played at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], played with [[Canterbury United]] in the [[New Zealand Football Championship]] in the 2006–2007 season. [[Brad Ring]], a midfielder for the team in 2007 and 2008, was selected by the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] with the 17th pick of the [[2009 MLS SuperDraft]]. Jed Hohlbein played with VfR Süsterfeld Kassel in Germany in 2009, helping the team earn promotion from the Seventh Division in the process. Midfielder Andy Adlard was selected by the [[Columbus Crew]] in the third round of the [[2011 MLS Supplemental Draft]] and signed with the club on February 21, 2011. [[Scott Lorenz]] and [[Alex Horwath]], also former [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] standouts, were free agents who signed with MLS teams in 2011, Lorenz with [[Sporting Kansas City]] and Horwath with [[New York Red Bulls]]. Forward [[J. C. Banks]] signed with the [[Rochester Rhinos]] in the [[USL Professional Division]] and currently plays for Forward Madison Football Club in the USL League One.

==Supporters==
Founded in 2014, the Capitol City Supporters, or "Cap City" for short, is the independent supporters club for the Madison 56ers SC. Cap City prides itself creating a culture that shows passion for the 56ers and the city of Madison. The Red Rebels were an earlier supporters group dedicated to the 56ers and Wisconsin Badgers.

==Players==

===2018 Roster===
''Source:'' [http://upsl.madison56ers.org/]

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player | no=1   | nat=USA | pos=GK   | name=[[Austin Salazar]]}}
{{Fs player | no=2   | nat=USA | pos=DF   | name=[[Caleb Walters]]}}
{{Fs player | no=3   | nat=MEX | pos=DF   | name=[[Dejesus Herrera]]}}
{{Fs player | no=4   | nat=USA | pos=DF   | name=[[Chris Brown (footballer, born 1971)|Christopher Brown]]}}
{{Fs player | no=5   | nat=USA | pos=DF   | name=[[Samba Kawsu]]}}
{{Fs player | no=6   | nat=USA | pos=MF   | name=Vital Nizigiyimana}}
{{Fs player | no=8   | nat=ESP | pos=MF   | name=[[Alieu Camara]]}}
{{Fs player | no=9   | nat=USA | pos=FW   | name=[[Bachirou Lo]]}}
{{Fs player | no=10   | nat=ENG | pos=MF   | name=[[George Morris (footballer)|George Morris]]}}
{{Fs player | no=11   | nat=USA | pos=FW   | name=[[Ali Barry]]}}
{{Fs player | no=13   | nat=USA | pos=GK   | name=[[Noah Heim]]}}
{{Fs player | no=14   | nat=USA | pos=MF   | name=[[Ally Diaby]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player | no=15   | nat=USA | pos=MF   | name=[[Keenan Newallo]]}}
{{Fs player | no=18   | nat=USA | pos=MF   | name=[[Keegan Thompson]]}}
{{Fs player | no=19   | nat=USA | pos=DF   | name=[[Henry Aiyenero]]}}
{{Fs player | no=20   | nat=TUR | pos=MF   | name=[[Erdi Engin]]}}
{{Fs player | no=21   | nat=USA | pos=FW   | name=[[Sam Novak]]}}
{{Fs player | no=22   | nat=USA | pos=DF   | name=[[Noah Herkert]]}}
{{Fs player | no=24   | nat=USA | pos=DF   | name=[[Brian Bultman]]}}
{{Fs player | no=25   | nat=USA | pos=FW   | name=[[Samuel Tazifua ]]}}
{{Fs player | no=27   | nat=USA | pos=GK   | name=[[Scott Sibik]]}}
{{Fs player | no=29   | nat=USA | pos=DF   | name=[[Aaron Negron]]}}
{{Fs player | no=30   | nat=USA | pos=MF   | name=[[Victor Lombardino]]}}
{{Fs player | no=34   | nat=USA | pos=GK   | name=[[Dominick Laporte]]}}
{{Fs end}}

==Season-by-season==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Division
!League
!Reg. Season
!Playoffs
!Open Cup
|-
|2005
|4
|NPSL
|3rd Midwest
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2006
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st, Midwest
|National Runners-up
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2007
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st, Midwest
|National Third place
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2008
|4
|NPSL
|3rd, Midwest
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2009
|4
|NPSL
|3rd, Midwest
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not enter''
|-
|2010
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st, Midwest
|National semi-finals
|''Did not enter''
|-
|2011
|4
|NPSL
|3rd, Midwest
|''Did not qualify''
|2nd round
|-
|2012
|4
|NPSL
| style="background:#b3b7ff;"|1st, Midwest-Central
|National Third place<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/home/649222.html|title = Earning Bronze&nbsp;– Madison holds off Bay Area for 3rd Place|date = 28 July 2012|website = National Premier Soccer League|url-status = usurped|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121204130322/http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/home/649222.html|archive-date = 4 December 2012}}</ref>
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2013
|4
|NPSL
|3rd, Midwest-Central
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2014
|4
|NPSL
|3rd, Midwest-Central
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2015
|4
|NPSL
|1st, Midwest
|Regional semi-finals
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2016
|4
|PLA
|6th, West
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2017
|4
|PLA
|3rd, West
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not qualify''
|-
|2018
|4
|UPSL
|2nd, Midwest-North
|''Did not qualify''
|''Did not qualify''
|}

==Honors==

===Domestic===
*'''[[National Premier Soccer League]]'''
*'''Midwest Division (NPSL):'''
** '''Winners (4):''' 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/home/648565.html|title = Back Again&nbsp;– 56ers making another trip to the finals|date = 25 July 2012|website = National Premier Soccer League|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091150/http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/home/648565.html|archive-date = 18 May 2015|url-status = usurped}}</ref>

==Head coaches==
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jim Launder]] (2005–present)

Launder coached the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] men's soccer team to its only [[NCAA]] championship in 1995 and was an assistant coach for the [[Columbus Crew]] of [[Major League Soccer]] from 2002 to 2004. From 2005 to 2007, their assistant coach was [[Danny van Mol]], who also was a player-assistant coach for the team in 2005. [[Enzo Fuschino]] served as assistant coach in 2008. [[Henry Aiyenero]] was a player-assistant coach in 2010 and 2011. [[Jed Hohlbein]] took over that role in 2012.

==Stadia==
* [[Breese Stevens Field]]; [[Madison, Wisconsin]] (2005–2007, 2009–present)
* [[Warner Park]]; [[Madison, Wisconsin]] (2008)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://madison56ers.org/ Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120413204644/http://npsl.madison56ers.org/ Madison 56ers NPSL]

{{NPSL Midwest}}
{{USSoccer}}
{{Wisconsinsports}}

[[Category:United Premier Soccer League teams]]
[[Category:National Premier Soccer League teams]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2005]]
[[Category:Soccer clubs in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Wisconsin]]