Wikipedia

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 2026).

Hartford Athletic
Full nameHartford Athletic
FoundedJuly 11, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-07-11)
StadiumTrinity Health Stadium
Capacity5,500
OwnerHartford Sports Group
CEONick Sakiewicz
Head coachBrendan Burke
LeagueUSL Championship
202312th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
Websitehartfordathletic.com
Current season

History

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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

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Trinity Health Stadium in 2021

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

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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

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

Players and staff

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Hartford Athletic players before a 2021 match

Current roster

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As of August 1, 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
4 DF   JAM Jordan Scarlett
5 DF   TRI Triston Hodge
6 MF   COD Beverly Makangila
7 FW   USA Marcus Epps
10 MF   USA Danny Barrera
11 FW   COD Michee Ngalina
12 MF   GHA Anderson Asiedu
15 DF   USA Joe Farrell
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW   VIN Kyle Edwards
21 FW   USA Griffin Tomas
23 DF   GUF Thomas Vancaeyezeele
24 DF   USA Michael DeShields
27 DF   CMR Pele Ousmanou
29 MF   SLE Emmanuel Samadia
31 FW   JAM Deshane Beckford
33 FW   SEN Mamadou Dieng
40 GK   BRA Renan Ribeiro
94 MF   USA Marlon Hairston
  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
8 MF   CAN Jay Chapman (on loan to Charleston Battery)
18 MF   USA Joe Schmidt (on loan to Spokane Velocity)
22 GK   USA Brooks Thompson (on loan to Spokane Velocity)

Players with multiple nationalities

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Team management

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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: [1]

Club captains

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Danny Barrera (pictured in 2021) served as captain from 2020 through 2022.
Years Name Nation
2019 Philip Rasmussen   Denmark
2020–2022 Danny Barrera   United States
2023 Niall Logue   Northern Ireland
2024 Jordan Scarlett   Jamaica

Club culture

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Supporters at a 2021 match

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

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

Team records

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Year-by-year

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As of October 14, 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
2024 34 12 14 8 37 51 44 10th, Eastern Did not qualify Third round   Mamadou Dieng 11

Head coaches

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  • 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 36 9 22 5 025.00
Radhi Jaïdi   Tunisia November 8, 2019 October 19, 2020 17 11 4 2 064.71
Harry Watling   England January 13, 2021 June 25, 2022 49 16 25 8 032.65
Ray Reid (interim)   United States June 25, 2022 August 22, 2022 13 4 6 3 030.77
Tab Ramos   United States August 22, 2022 June 26, 2023 24 6 14 4 025.00
Omid Namazi   United States June 26, 2023 November 1, 2023 18 2 14 2 011.11
Brendan Burke   United States December 12, 2023 present 35 12 15 8 034.29

Average attendance

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Year Reg. Season Playoffs
2019 5,025 —
2020 1,351 2,194
2021 4,640 —
2022 5,178 —
2023 4,089 —
2024 4,055 —

See also

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References

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  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. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  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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