Full name | North Carolina Football Club |
---|---|
Founded | 2006 |
Stadium |
WakeMed Soccer Park Cary, North Carolina |
Capacity | 10,000 |
Owner | Stephen Malik |
Head Coach | Colin Clarke |
League | North American Soccer League |
2016 | Spring Season: 7th Fall Season: 7th Combined: 8th Playoffs: DNQ |
Website | Club home page |
North Carolina FC (formerly the Carolina RailHawks) is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The record attendance for a North Carolina FC home game was broken in 2016, when 10,125 attended a match between the RailHawks and West Ham United of the English Premier League.
The team plays its home games at WakeMed Soccer Park, where they have played since 2007. The team's colors are Atlantic blue, cardinal red, and Southern gold. The current head coach is Colin Clarke.
On December 6, 2016, the RailHawks announced a name change to North Carolina Football Club along with plans for a Major League Soccer franchise.
The expansion of the USL to Cary, North Carolina was announced on January 26, 2006 at a press conference at SAS Soccer Park, since renamed WakeMed Soccer Park. After a few changes in the 2008 off season the RailHawks ownership group consisted of: Wellman Family Limited partnership (Selby and Brian Wellman), HTCFC. INC (Bob Young former CEO of Red Hat, presently founder and CEO of LULU.com), Singh Holdings (Dr. H. Paul Singh) and Boris Jerkunica. After the 2010 season, Traffic Sports USA took ownership.
On October 11, 2006, former Rochester Rhinos defender Scott Schweitzer was named the first head coach of the RailHawks. Schweitzer played collegiately at North Carolina State University and retired from play prior to the 2006 season. On December 5, 2006, the RailHawks named the first players to sign with the franchise. Among the signings were two former UNC Tar Heel players, Chris Carrieri and Caleb Norkus, as well as several other players with Major League Soccer, United Soccer Leagues, and foreign playing experience.