News

And it looks pretty nice. Check it out for yourself at detcityfcstore.com.

In celebration of the historic 2017 Detroit City FC season, DCFC is proud to host its first-ever photo exhibition opening at Hamtramck’s Oloman Cafe on Friday, November 10 from 6-9 PM.

‘This is City: Detroit Soccer Rises’ will feature photos from DCFC team photographers and supporters. Limited edition prints will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the recovery of DCFC supporter Amanda Jaczkowski, who was critically injured in a biking accident this summer.

‘This is City: Detroit Soccer Rises’ will run at Oloman Cafe until November 15.

The opening is free to attend and open to the public. There will be free food and drinks.

In six seasons, Detroit City FC has established itself as one of the nation’s great soccer organizations and has caught the attention of the global soccer community.

The 2017 season was Detroit City FC’s most successful and memorable season to date. DCFC achieved new heights on the field, including a Midwest Region Championship and hosting the National Semifinal in front of a record crowd of 7,533 at Keyworth Stadium.

What: ‘This is City: Detroit Soccer Rises’ gallery show opening

Who: Open to the public

Where: Oloman Cafe (10215 Joseph Campau Ave)

When: Friday, November 10 from 6-9 PM

Whether you blame it on the Midwest Region title celebrations or the ensuing post-playoffs, Stroh’s-induced hangovers, we have one thing to confess: We forgot to have a Labor Day sale.

The ‘Oops, We Forgot to have a Labor Day Sale’ Sale starts today at detcityfcstore.com. 

Enjoy a new City discount each day online:

• 50% off DCFC pennants on Thursday, Sept. 21
• 70% off Detroit Cougars gear on Friday, Sept. 22
• 50% off travel mugs and koozies on Saturday, Sept. 23
• 25% off 2017 scarves on Sunday, Sept. 24

Online sales run from 12:01 a.m. to midnight each day. Stock is limited and items go quickly, so plan accordingly.

Oh, and did we mention all orders over $50 will receive free standard shipping?

Shop the deals at detcityfcstore.com. 

Kick it with Detroit City FC at Open Streets Detroit! 

Le Rouge is excited to partner with Open Streets Detroit for the second consecutive year. Open Streets, which will take place on Sunday, October 1, promotes free, safe and inclusive activities and community building through public spaces. 

Open Streets features local activity partners who focus on fitness, recreation and community programs along 3.5 miles of open road on Michigan Avenue and West Vernor Highway in Detroit.

Attendees are encouraged to enjoy the streets in a new way, with walking, running, biking, and other health and wellness activities, including street soccer with DCFC.

The DCFC tent will be located on the corner of Vernor and Michigan Avenue.

The streets will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 1. The event is free to attend. View the entire route and get more information here. 

See you in the streets!

Join Detroit City FC at Detroit’s largest community street fair, Dally in the Alley!

Live music, good eats, art and shopping encapsulate the annual festival in Cass Corridor. And for the fourth year in a row, DCFC will be there with the latest City merchandise from 11 AM to 11 PM on Saturday, September 9.

Learn more about Dally in the Alley here.

City gear can also be purchased online at detcityfcstore.com and at the DCFC club shop located at 2750 Yemans St. in Hamtramck. 

The second annual Detroit City FC Soktoberfest is coming to Keyworth Stadium.

Join Le Rouge on Saturday, September 30 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for an all-day extravaganza, featuring beer, food and 3v3 soccer.

In the spirit of Oktoberfest, the best local brews from Stroh’s, Axle Brewing Co. and Blake’s Hard Cider Co. will be flowing in the Keyworth biergarten all day and night.

Soktoberfest presented by Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers will also include music, fowling courtesy of Fowling Warehouse and more! 

Alongside Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers, DCFC will also be collecting used soccer equipment donations at Soktoberfest. Players and guests are encouraged to bring gently used soccer gear to benefit community organizations.

Soktoberfest admission is FREE to attend and open to the general public.

SOKTOBERFEST 3v3 TOURNAMENT

The Soktoberfest co-ed 3v3 tournament will be comprised of four separate tournaments for the following age groups: ages 9 and under; ages 10-13; ages 14-17; and ages 18+. 

Players aged 18+ may select either the competitive division (optional co-ed) or the recreational division (mandatory co-ed). For the recreational co-ed division, one female per team must be on the field at all times.

Each team is guaranteed three matches, followed by playoffs. Maximum seven players per team. Players are encouraged to bring one light shirt and one dark shirt. 

The cost to play is $60 per team. 

Registration for each tournament is online only. No walk-ups allowed. The deadline to register is midnight on Thursday, September 28. In order to play, every participant must sign a waiver upon arrival on the day of the event. If you are an individual in need of a team, please contact info@https://www.detcityfc.com. 

Age groups 9 and under, 10-13, and 14-17 will play from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For these age groups, each team must have at least one responsible parent/guardian at Keyworth on Sept. 30.

The co-ed tournaments for ages 18+ will begin at 4 p.m. 

Register your teams here. 

2017 will go down in history as Detroit City FC’s most successful and memorable season to date.

Despite a slow start, Detroit went on a tear, winning nine National Premier Soccer League games in a row – as well as two victories over professional European clubs – to advance to the 2017 postseason, where Le Rouge captured its first Midwest Region title and advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in club history.

From reaching a record home crowd of 7,533, to building and strengthening lasting partnerships with local organizations, to prolific performances from the Boys in Rouge – 2017 had it all. 

Let’s take a walk through the summer of 2017 for Detroit’s soccer team.

DCFC welcomed a crop of new players before the season got underway. It was the youngest team in the club history, with top collegiate players from around the nation suiting up for City in 2017. 

City finished the 2017 preseason with a 2-1-0 (W-T-L) record. City defeated Saginaw Valley State University, 3-1, and Lawrence Technological University, 2-0, and finished with a 2-2 draw against Dayton Dynamo in front of 4,168 supporters at Keyworth Stadium.

DCFC opened the regular season on May 12 against divisional newcomers Milwaukee Torrent. A total of 5,041 supporters attended the home opener, which resulted in a 3-3 draw after a dramatic Max Todd equalizer in the 96th minute.

The next two matches ended in disappointment for Le Rouge. After going up 2-0 on the Michigan Stars on the road on May 14, the match ended in a 2-2 draw. City then traveled to Ann Arbor on May 22, where it was handed a 2-0 defeat.

Off to a disappointing 0-2-1 start, City found a spark. On May 27, the team hosted its first international friendly of the year when it welcomed Belfast-based Glentoran FC to honor the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Detroit Cougars, Detroit’s first soccer team made up of players from Glentoran.

DCFC recorded a 1-0 victory over Glentoran thanks to Tyler Moorman’s heroic goal in the 86th minute.

The win was a jolt to Le Rouge’s confidence and spirit, and proved to be the turning point in the season.

DCFC took down Grand Rapids FC, 3-1, at home on June 2 to earn its first league win of the season. Though Grand Rapids struck first, City bounced back with three unanswered goals from Louis Dargent, Shawn Lawson and Derrick Otim.

The win over Grand Rapids marked the beginning of Le Rouge’s nine game win streak in the league. Two days after defeating Grand Rapids, the Boys in Rouge took care of business on the road against FC Indiana, winning 3-1, with goals from Lawson and Bakie Goodman.

Improved to 2-2-1 and gaining steam in the division, City briefly resigned from league play, welcoming the Columbus Crew College Program to town on June 7. City marched to a 3-2 victory – its first-ever win over the Crew College Program – with goals from Seb Harris, Roddy Green and Lawson.

Le Rouge had put together a nice string of wins going into a weekend matchup away versus Kalamazoo FC on June 11. Lawson struck the only goal in the 18th minute and City was able to hold off Kalamazoo successfully for the remainder of the match.

Next for DCFC was a critical road match in Grand Rapids. The match was played at Fifth Third Ballpark on June 17, with City hitting a homerun against its divisional rivals, winning 2-0 and extending its NPSL win streak to four games in the league.

Though both teams played rather coy in the first half, Lawson and Goodman were able to score in the second half to propel City to victory. Goalie Nathan Steinwascher’s clean sheet and stop on a first-half Grand Rapids penalty kick were critical to DCFC taking all three points.

City’s announced Alternative for Girls, a Detroit nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk girls and young women in Detroit, as its 2017 charity partner. The Boys in Rouge wore special charity kits for its home match against Kalamazoo FC on June 23, and club and its supporters raised $3,500 for AFG through a silent auction of the jerseys during the match.

Roddy Green scored first, but Kalamazoo was able to tie it in the second half, opening the door for Elijah Rice, who buried the game winner in the 67th minute in his City debut to propel Le Rouge to a 2-1 win. 

Detroit couldn’t be stopped. The team won its next three league matches away at Milwaukee, and at home against Indiana and the Stars. After defeating the Stars 3-1 at home, City moved into first place in the division for the first time all season.

Moving into July, DCFC stayed red hot after defeating Lansing United on the road, 2-1. The victory, the club’s first ever in Lansing, clinched a spot in the NPSL playoffs and extended the team’s win streak to nine games.

The win streak was snapped when City met Ann Arbor for the second time of the season. In front of 6,972 supporters at Keyworth Stadium, City was vying to win the division outright. However, their 1-0 lead at halftime wasn’t enough, as Ann Arbor came back to win 3-1.

Until that loss on July 11th, City hadn’t lost nor tied since May 22. City’s next challenge was to bounce back from the defeat, and it did so with an impressive comeback draw against Lansing just a few days later in the regular season finale at home.

At the 68th minute mark, Lansing held a commanding 3-0 lead. But ten-men City charged back with goals from Shawn Lawson, Seb Harris and Owain Hoskins, earning a hard-fought draw in front of yet another crowd of over 6,300 supporters.

With the draw, Detroit finished the regular season 9-3-2 as Great Lakes Division runners-up with 30 points.

Before the playoffs, Le Rouge hosted Serie B Italian club Venezia FC on July 18 or its second international friendly. Two first-half goals from Roddy Green and Elijah Rice, as well as a clean sheet from goalie Fernando Piña, were the difference in City’s 2-0 victory.

Managed by Filippo Inzaghi and aiming for Italy’s top league, the Winged Lions were no easy task for DCFC. The historic victory served as a momentum boost before the first-round playoff match against Dakota Fusion on July 22.

Detroit routed the Fusion, 5-1, earning a date with Duluth FC in the Midwest Region Semifinals. Led by a first-half hat trick from Tyrone Mondi, DCFC downed Duluth, 5-2, on July 28 to meet Ann Arbor in the Midwest Region Final the following day.

In the dramatic and classic final, City went on top 2-0 only to watch Ann Arbor tie it at two in the second half. City, alongside a crowd of over 6,400, kept fighting, and Mondi (with the right foot!) scored four minutes into stoppage time to seal the Midwest championship for the first time in club history.

The victory also earned Le Rouge a spot in the National Semifinals against Midland-Odessa FC. City hosted the Midland, Texas, team on August 5, in what ended in a heartbreaking loss in penalty kicks (4-2 PKs). The largest crowd in club history was in attendance, with 7,533 supporters on hand to watch DCFC’s final match of the season.

City’s average attendance in 2017 was 5,498, up from 5,225 in 2016. 

The national semifinal loss was a bitter way to end such a historic season. Looking back, though, the season will be one to remember for many years, especially for head coach Ben Pirmann and his staff.

“This was a summer to remember,” Pirmann said. “We achieved some great accomplishments: Winning the Midwest Region trophy, defeating two European professional clubs and picking up several individual accolades. What I cherish most are the bonds we made within this family – from the players, to the technical and support staff, to the supporters.”

And indeed, the individual accolades were aplenty for the Boys in Rouge. Shawn Lawson and Tyrone Mondi led the way in goals with nine and six, respectively. Mondi, Saydee and Goodman led in assists with ten, five and five, respectively.

The unsung heroes all year for Detroit were on the backline. Defenders Zach Bock, Stephen Carroll, Spencer Glass, Kervin Kenton, Omar Sinclair and Troy Watson were all critical in lifting Detroit throughout the season.

Carroll and Bock led in time on the backline with 1,335 and 1,041 minutes, respectively. David Edwardson, Goodman and Saydee led the way in the midfield all season, too.

After a fan vote for the team’s most valuable player, Mondi earned himself the annual Black Arrow MVP award. The South African led the team in assists, was second in goals and scored the most important goal of the season in the playoffs against Ann Arbor.

Several players were also recognized by the league. The NPSL named Cyrus Saydee and Seb Harris to the NPSL Midwest Region Best XI.

Saydee led the team in minutes played this season with 1,351. He also recorded 15 starts in 16 games played, with three goals and five assists. Veteran centerback Harris had three goals in seven games played, with two of his goals coming against the Fusion.

The NPSL also awarded Bock and Saydee First Team All-NPSL honors. Lawson was named to the Second Team All-NPSL, and Piña was named to the Third Team All-NPSL.

“The memories made this season will last a lifetime,” Pirmann said. “We have a very bright future because of all the amazing people involved with City.”

Moving on, one thing is certain for every Le Rouge supporter, coach and player: next spring can’t come soon enough.

Detroit City FC is proud to announce the club and its supporters have raised a total of $3,500 in support of DCFC’s 2017 charity partner, Alternatives For Girls.

Proceeds were raised through a silent auction of player-worn charity jerseys at City’s home match against Kalamazoo FC on June 23, 2017.

Le Rouge players wore the special Alternatives For Girls jerseys in its 2-1 victory over Kalamazoo, and supporters were able to participate in a silent auction during the match at Keyworth Stadium.

Founded in 1987, Alternatives For Girls provides a range of critical services to girls and young women, including safe shelter, street outreach and educational support, vocational guidance, mentoring prevention activities and counseling.  

Each year, AFG serves more than 4,000 homeless and at-risk girls and women in the city of Detroit.

The AFG mission “is to empower the girls and young women we serve to make positive choices.”

Detroit City FC is proud to be a partner in this cause.

Each season, Detroit City FC has a designated charity partner that the club and its supporters raise funds for, as well as whose work they highlight. Past partners have included Freedom House, Detroit PAL, and the Ruth Ellis Center.  

“We couldn’t be happier to highlight the amazing, and all too often unheralded, work Alternatives For Girls is doing to improve the lives of Detroit’s young women,” DCFC co-owner Sean Mann said. “They work with some of Detroit’s most vulnerable residents and give them the support and the personal tools and skills necessary for a better life.”

Roddy Green and Elijah Rice scored goals for City in the win over Kalamazoo in front of 5,345 supporters. 

Le Rouge would like to everyone who contributed to the fundraiser in support of Alternatives For Girls.

The second annual Detroit City FC golf outing is Friday, August 25! 

Spend a day golfing, drinking, eating and not working with fellow City supporters, players, owners and staff at Chandler Park Golf Course (12801 Chandler Park Dr, Detroit, MI 48213).

Proceeds from the charity outing presented Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers will benefit inner-city youth athletics. Golfers of all skill levels are welcome.

Play begins at 10 a.m. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Dinner is at 4 p.m.

The outing is a two-person scramble format. 

Prices include 18 holes of golf (cart included), lunch at the turn, two drink tickets, dinner and a gift bag. There will also be opportunities to win DCFC prizes and giveaways.

1 golfer: $100
2 golfers: $175

Golfers who register as a single player will be paired with another golfer.

Space is limited – register now!

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) today announced its 2017 All-NPSL teams, with City’s Zach Bock, Cyrus Saydee, Shawn Lawson and Fernando Piña earning honors. 

Bock and Saydee were named to the First Team All-NPSL; Shawn Lawson was named to the Second Team All-NPSL; and Fernando Piña was named to the Third Team All-NPSL. 

The All-NPSL Teams were voted on by league staff, fans, supporters, and media members from July 28th – July 30th. The award includes First Team, Second Team, Third Team, and Fourth Team. Full teams are listed below. 

First Team All-NPSL

GK Andrew Weber, FC Arizona
D Jamal Lis-Simmons, Kingston Stockade FC
D Danny Dunleavy, Inter Nashville FC
D Zach Bock, Detroit City FC
D Ricardo Guerra, CD Aguiluchos USA
M Isaac Nana Addai, Boston City FC
M Cyrus Saydee, Detroit City FC
M Liam Collins, Inter Nashville FC
F Jade Johnson, Dakota Fusion FC
F Alessandro Canale, Orange County FC
F Amani Walker, Albion SC PROS

Second Team All-NPSL

GK Steve Skonieczny, Kingston Stockade FC  
D Jon Guse, FC Arizona
D Gonnie Ben-Tal, Duluth FC
D Arian Lekaj, Elm City Express
D Tendai Jirira, AFC Ann Arbor
M Connor Gordon, Orange County FC
M Tate Robertson, Dayton Dynamo
M Alex VonHolle, Midland-Odessa FC
F Simon Rawnsley, CD Aguiluchos USA
F Kyle Farrar, Duluth FC
F Shawn Lawson, Detroit City FC

Third Team All-NPSL

GK Fernando Piña, Detroit City FC
D Paulo Henrique, Boston City FC
D Soren Yuhaschek, Chattanooga FC
D Jimmy Fiscus, AFC Ann Arbor
D Joseph Cervantes, Fort Worth Vaqueros
M Michael Bryant, Orange County FC
M Luis Mendoza, TSF FC
M  Ezequiel Tejera, Miami United FC
F Victor Cardoso, Miami Fusion FC
F Tavoy Morgan, Elm City Express
F Jonathan Evans, New Orleans Jesters

Fourth Team All-NPSL

GK William Banahene, Rochester Lancers
D Daniel Navarro, Miami United
D Jordan Dunstan, Chattanooga FC
D Jacob Schindler, Rochester Lancers
D James Togbah, FC Wichita
M Martin Browne, Minneapolis City SC
M Fabian Lifka, Brooklyn Italians SC
M Gabriel Viola, Little Rock Rangers
F Shaquille Saunchez, Elm City Express
F Raphael Araujo, New Jersey Copa FC
F Jamie O’Grady, Midland-Odessa FC