Houston Hurricanes FC

For other similarly named teams, see Houston Hurricanes (disambiguation).
Houston Hurricanes FC
The Houston Hurricanes FC crest, with the team's name across a green shield with a Hurricane devouring a soccer ball and four-leaf clovers.
Full name Houston Hurricanes FC
Nickname(s) The Hurricanes, The Canes, The Hoops
Founded 24 December 2012[1]
Stadium Lutheran South Academy[2]
Houston, Texas
Ground Capacity 2,000
Owner Brendan Keyes
Head Coach Brendan Keyes[3]
League Texas Premier Soccer League
2014/15 1st
Website Club home page

Houston Hurricanes FC is an American soccer club based in Houston, Texas which debuted in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2013 and left the NPSL after the 2013 season. Hurricanes FC was established in December 2012 as an NPSL relocated team, when the league announced that team owner Brendan Keyes was moving his Galveston franchise to Houston.[1]

The Houston Hurricanes took the place of the Galveston Pirates in the NPSL’s South Region-South Central Conference.[1] Keyes, a former player of the defunct Houston Hurricanes, received the blessing of former Hurricanes owner Joey Serralta to rebrand the club.[1]

The Hurricanes' regular kit colors are green and white horizontally striped shirts with white shorts and socks which derive from the iconic Celtic F.C. uniform. The club's crest was designed by Vectorious Creative Media (www.vectoriousmedia.com), a graphic design firm from nearby Porter, Texas.

History

National Premier Soccer League (NPSL)

On December 24, 2012, the National Premier Soccer League released an announcement on its website that Galveston Pirate SC team owner Brendan Keyes would relocate and rebrand his franchise for the 2013 NPSL season. The Pirates, who won the South Central Conference crown as an expansion team in 2012, will continue to play in local leagues and tournaments in Texas, while the new Houston Hurricanes will take the place of the Galveston team in the NPSL.

"The Houston Hurricanes were always my first choice and dream name. I was with the Hurricanes back in my playing days. I worked as a trainer with the team, doing tryouts, and helping out the team in any way I could. So it was always my dream to have the Houston Hurricanes in the NPSL."

Brendan Keyes, Team Owner[1]

Keyes played for the USL Houston Hurricanes and his boyhood idol Bobby Lennox played for the NASL's Hurricane club, two factors that played into Keyes resurrecting the Hurricane brand. The move received the blessing of NPSL Chairman Andy Zorovich and former Hurricane owner Joey Serralta.

On the same day of the announcement of their founding, the club also revealed their first player signing, which was 19-year-old Mercer University player Justin Ross. The Hurricanes then held tryouts in order to fill the rest of their roster before their NPSL debut in May 2013. The Hurricanes finished the 2013 NPSL season in last place in the South Central Conference.[4]

On November 11, 2013, owner Brendan Keyes announced that the club would not be participating in the NPSL the following season.[5]

Texas Premier Soccer League

In September 2013 six clubs (Houston Leones FC, Houston Hurricanes FC, Houston Regals SCA, Houston Dutch Lions, Galveston Pirate SC, and BCS Bearkatz FC) participated in the Texas Premier Soccer League inaugural season.

In season 2014, the Hurricanes and Pirates remained the only sides to stay on board for the second season. They were joined by Austin Real Cuauhtemoc, Twin Cities FC (Eagle Pass), Texas Timberz FC (Diboll) and Ranchero King FC (Houston).

The TPSL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer, an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) with the league being operated and managed solely by Brendan Keyes. Each team is owned and operated individually and are responsible for maintaining the league's minimum standards and for raising its own operating revenue.

Year on Year

Year League Position Playoffs US Open Cup Texas Cup
2013 NPSL 4th DNQ DNQ DNQ
2013/2014 TPSL 5th DNQ DNQ Runner-up[6]
2014/2015 TPSL 1st Runner up DNQ 5th

Coaching and playing staff

Coaching Staff

Position Name Nationality
Head Coach Brendan Keyes Republic of Ireland
Assistant Coach Gary Doherty Republic of Ireland

Playing Squad

{-} Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of Jan 9, 2013.[1]

No. Position Player Nation
1 Rabago, CarlosCarlos Rabago      United States
2 Ruiz, PetePete Ruiz      United States
3 Vela, JorgeJorge Vela      Mexico
4 Charo, OscarOscar Charo      United States
5 Botting, DustinDustin Botting      United States
6 Agurrie, EloyEloy Agurrie      United States
7 Castaneda, MarkMark Castaneda      United States
8 Alford, NickNick Alford      United States
9 Umon, EkomobongEkomobong Umon      United States
10 Calderon, OmarOmar Calderon      United States
11 Garza, JuanJuan Garza      United States
12 Fuentes, LuisLuis Fuentes      United States
13 Ramirez, RobertoRoberto Ramirez      United States
14 Peralta, LucioLucio Peralta      United States
15 Rodoza, CesarCesar Rodoza      United States
16 Thompson, PaulPaul Thompson      United States
17 Emoh, EkomobongEkomobong Emoh      United States

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Former Pro Brings Hurricanes Back to Houston". NPSL. 2012-12-24.
  2. ↑ "Houston Hurricanes sign deal with Lutheran South Academy to play games there for next five years". Houston Hurricanes FC. 2013-01-17.
  3. ↑ "Hurricanes Keyes takes over from Reis". Houston Hurricanes FC. 2013-01-07.
  4. ↑ "NPSL Standings". Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Hurricanes leaving NPSL". Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "Texas State Cup 2013". Retrieved 12 November 2014.

External links

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