Virginia Beach Mariners
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| Full name | Virginia Beach Mariners Soccer Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Mariners | ||
| Founded | 1994 | ||
| Dissolved | 2007 | ||
| Ground |
Virginia Beach Sportsplex, 2181 Landstown Rd Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA | ||
| Capacity | 10,000 | ||
| League | USL First Division | ||
| 2006 | 9th | ||
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The Virginia Beach Mariners were an American soccer club, who formerly played in the USL First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, the second division in the US Soccer hierarchy behind Major League Soccer. On March 30, 2007 the team folded due to lack of ownership.
The Mariners played at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from 1999 up to their demise in 2007.
The team was founded in 1994 as the Hampton Roads Hurricanes, but they changed their name to Mariners after the first year. For the 2003 season, the team changed their name from Hampton Roads Mariners to the more widely recognizable Virginia Beach Mariners. The team went on a one- year hiatus in 1997, after which they joined the A-League.
In 2006, the Mariners added a USL Premier Development League club, the Virginia Beach Submariners. Shortly after the termination of the Mariners, the Submariners were taken over by the Hampton Roads Piranhas, a women's W-League soccer club, who renamed the team the Hampton Roads Piranhas to reflect the change of ownership.
Year-by-year
| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | USISL | 5th, Atlantic | Divisional Semifinals | Did not enter | |
| 1995 | USISL Pro League | 5th, Atlantic | Divisional Semifinals | Did not qualify | |
| 1996 | USISL Select League | 3rd, South Atlantic | Select Six | Did not qualify | |
| 1997 | On hiatus | ||||
| 1998 | USISL A-League | 3rd, Atlantic | Conference Quarterfinals | 3rd Round | |
| 1999 | USL A-League | 6th, Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | |
| 2000 | USL A-League | 4th, Atlantic | Conference Quarterfinals | 3rd Round | |
| 2001 | On hiatus | ||||
| 2002 | USL A-League | 5th, Southeast | Did not qualify | 3rd Round | |
| 2003 | USL A-League | 2nd, Southeast | Division Finals | 4th Round | |
| 2004 | USL A-League | 6th, Eastern | Did not qualify | 3rd Round | |
| 2005 | USL First Division | 11th | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | |
| 2006 | USL First Division | 9th | Did not qualify | 3rd Round | |
2006 squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
Jim Foley (soccer) (1995)- Jon Busch (1998–2000) as Hampton Roads Mariners
- Roy Lassiter (2003)
Darren Caskey (2005–06) - Trevor Francis (2005-06)
Cornelius Huggins- Mike Kirmse (2004)
- Richard Logan
Shane McFaul (2006)
Darin Lewis (2002)- Darren Warham (2002)
- Joe Herrmann (1994-2000) as Hampton Roads Mariners
Head coaches
- Shawn McDonald (soccer) (1996 - Aug 2005)
- Jay Hoffman (soccer) (Aug 2005-2006)
See also
External links
- Virginia Pilot article announcing the team's March 2007 demise
- Press Release announcing Hampton Roads Piranhas Mens PDL Team
- Virginia Pilot - "No one knew the hope of the tanking Mariners was broke"
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