Fredericksburg Gunners
Encyclopedia
Fredericksburg Gunners was an American soccer team based in Fredericksburg, Virginia
, United States
. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at the Fredericksburg Academy
. The team's colors were royal blue, red and white.
The team had a sister organization, the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners
, who played in the women's USL W-League, and also fielded a team in the USL’s Super-20 League
, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues
umbrella.
defender Paul Williams
. Romanian native Cristian Neagu
took over from Williams prior to the regular season, and as player-manager led the Gunners to a promising debut. They won their first two games in impressive style, demolishing the Northern Virginia Royals
7-0 in only their second competitive game (with Neagu scoring a hat trick), and only a 3-1 defeat to Richmond Kickers Future
stopped them from qualifying for the US Open Cup at the first attempt. As the season progressed, Fredericksburg's results kept them in the playoff hunt: a five game unbeaten streak in mid-June which included consecutive 4-goal hauls in their wins over Virginia Legacy and Northern Virginia Royals
looked to have secured them their slot in the post season. However, a dip in form during August culminated in back-to-back away defeats to Ocean City Barons
and West Virginia Chaos
, and the season ended with the Gunners in fifth place behind divisional champions Hampton Roads Piranhas
. Anthony Andrews was the top scorer with 8 goals, while the Romanian contingent of Neagu and Adrian Bumbut
were the top providers, with 10 goals and 6 assists between them.
2008 began positively for the Gunners with four straight wins: their 4-0 opening day victory over Northern Virginia Royals
was followed subsequent victories over Richmond Kickers Future
, the previously unbeatable Hampton Roads Piranhas, and the Rhode Island Stingrays
. Their magnificent start brought them their first ever berth in the US Open Cup, where they faced USL2 outfit Richmond Kickers
, the senior team of their divisional rivals; unfortunately for the Gunners, their campaign was a short one, as they lost 3-0 first time out. Back in league play, Fredericksburg's form continued strongly through the month of June, in which the team enjoyed another three victories, including another comprehensive takedown of Northern Virginia Royals
. A playoff berth looked almost set in stone but, inexplicably, everything fell apart in July: the Gunners lost five of their final six regular season games - they conceded a last minute goal against Richmond Kickers Future
to lose 1-0, allowed the Brooklyn Knights
to come from behind twice to win 3-2, and lost 4-3 away at the Westchester Flames
on the final day of the season with yet another 90th minute catastophe. They eventually finished second in the Mid Atlantic Division behind Reading Rage
, and missed out on the Eastern Conference playoffs by virtue of Newark Ironbound Express
having a better record. Player-coach Cristian Neagu
was again the Gunners' top scorer, with 6 goals, while Matt Lacey contributed 5 assists.
Cristian Neagu
is affectionately known as 'The Romanian Flounder' by both Gunner's supporters and rival fans due to his habit of falling over too easily.
Henry Kalungi
Cecil Lewis
Tennant McVea
(2006) Cristian Neagu
(2007-2009)
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at the Fredericksburg Academy
Fredericksburg Academy
Fredericksburg Academy, or FA, is a co-educational independent school in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Created in 1992, FA enrolls 550 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.-Curriculum:Fredericksburg Academy is divided into three divisions:...
. The team's colors were royal blue, red and white.
The team had a sister organization, the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners
Fredericksburg Lady Gunners
Fredericksburg Lady Gunners was an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2006. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, and played in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference...
, who played in the women's USL W-League, and also fielded a team in the USL’s Super-20 League
Super-20 League
The United Soccer Leagues Super-20 League is an American-Canadian soccer league for players 17 to 20 years of age. Introduced in 2006 it took the place of the U-19 age bracket in the Super Y-League....
, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
umbrella.
History
Fredericksburg Gunners announced their entrance into the PDL in December 2006, and their pre-season squad was led by former Coventry City and SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
defender Paul Williams
Paul Williams (footballer born 1971)
Paul Darren Williams is an English professional footballer who was an unused substitute for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup final, and played for long periods for Coventry City and Derby County...
. Romanian native Cristian Neagu
Cristian Neagu
Cristian Neagu is a Romanian footballer who currently plays for Northern Virginia Royals in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
took over from Williams prior to the regular season, and as player-manager led the Gunners to a promising debut. They won their first two games in impressive style, demolishing the Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals is an American soccer team based in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
7-0 in only their second competitive game (with Neagu scoring a hat trick), and only a 3-1 defeat to Richmond Kickers Future
Richmond Kickers Future
Richmond Kickers Future was an American soccer team based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2002 as part of the development system of the Richmond Kickers USL Second Division franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
stopped them from qualifying for the US Open Cup at the first attempt. As the season progressed, Fredericksburg's results kept them in the playoff hunt: a five game unbeaten streak in mid-June which included consecutive 4-goal hauls in their wins over Virginia Legacy and Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals is an American soccer team based in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
looked to have secured them their slot in the post season. However, a dip in form during August culminated in back-to-back away defeats to Ocean City Barons
Ocean City Barons
Ocean City Nor'easters is an American soccer team based in Ocean City, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
and West Virginia Chaos
West Virginia Chaos
West Virginia Chaos is an American soccer team based in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
, and the season ended with the Gunners in fifth place behind divisional champions Hampton Roads Piranhas
Hampton Roads Piranhas
Hampton Roads Piranhas is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 1995. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
. Anthony Andrews was the top scorer with 8 goals, while the Romanian contingent of Neagu and Adrian Bumbut
Adrian Bumbut
Adrian Bumbut is a Romanian, American-based soccer player currently playing for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:...
were the top providers, with 10 goals and 6 assists between them.
2008 began positively for the Gunners with four straight wins: their 4-0 opening day victory over Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals is an American soccer team based in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
was followed subsequent victories over Richmond Kickers Future
Richmond Kickers Future
Richmond Kickers Future was an American soccer team based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2002 as part of the development system of the Richmond Kickers USL Second Division franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
, the previously unbeatable Hampton Roads Piranhas, and the Rhode Island Stingrays
Rhode Island Stingrays
Rhode Island Stingrays was an American soccer team based in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The...
. Their magnificent start brought them their first ever berth in the US Open Cup, where they faced USL2 outfit Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, the senior team of their divisional rivals; unfortunately for the Gunners, their campaign was a short one, as they lost 3-0 first time out. Back in league play, Fredericksburg's form continued strongly through the month of June, in which the team enjoyed another three victories, including another comprehensive takedown of Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals is an American soccer team based in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
. A playoff berth looked almost set in stone but, inexplicably, everything fell apart in July: the Gunners lost five of their final six regular season games - they conceded a last minute goal against Richmond Kickers Future
Richmond Kickers Future
Richmond Kickers Future was an American soccer team based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2002 as part of the development system of the Richmond Kickers USL Second Division franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
to lose 1-0, allowed the Brooklyn Knights
Brooklyn Knights
Brooklyn Knights is an American soccer team based in New York, New York, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
to come from behind twice to win 3-2, and lost 4-3 away at the Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames is an American soccer team based in New Rochelle, New York, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games...
on the final day of the season with yet another 90th minute catastophe. They eventually finished second in the Mid Atlantic Division behind Reading Rage
Reading Rage
Reading United A.C. is an American soccer team based in Reading, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference....
, and missed out on the Eastern Conference playoffs by virtue of Newark Ironbound Express
Newark Ironbound Express
Jersey Express is an American soccer team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 2007, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference...
having a better record. Player-coach Cristian Neagu
Cristian Neagu
Cristian Neagu is a Romanian footballer who currently plays for Northern Virginia Royals in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
was again the Gunners' top scorer, with 6 goals, while Matt Lacey contributed 5 assists.
Cristian Neagu
Cristian Neagu
Cristian Neagu is a Romanian footballer who currently plays for Northern Virginia Royals in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
is affectionately known as 'The Romanian Flounder' by both Gunner's supporters and rival fans due to his habit of falling over too easily.
Final roster
as at June 18, 2009Former notable players
Adrian BumbutAdrian Bumbut
Adrian Bumbut is a Romanian, American-based soccer player currently playing for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:...
Henry Kalungi
Henry Kalungi
Henry Kalungi is a Ugandan footballer who currently plays for Proline FC of the Ugandan Super League, on loan from Richmond Kickers of the American USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
Cecil Lewis
Cecil Lewis (soccer)
Cecil Lewis is an American soccer player who last played for Real Maryland Monarchs in the USL Second Division.-Career:...
Tennant McVea
Tennant McVea
James Tennant McVea is a Northern Irish footballer, currently playing for FC Lahti of the Finnish Premier Division.-Early career in Northern Ireland:...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Mid Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Mid Atlantic | Did not qualify | 1st Round |
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Mid Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Head coaches
Paul WilliamsPaul Williams (footballer born 1971)
Paul Darren Williams is an English professional footballer who was an unused substitute for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup final, and played for long periods for Coventry City and Derby County...
(2006) Cristian Neagu
Cristian Neagu
Cristian Neagu is a Romanian footballer who currently plays for Northern Virginia Royals in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
(2007-2009)
Stadia
- Fredericksburg Field House; Fredericksburg, VirginiaFredericksburg, VirginiaFredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
(2007-2008) - Fredericksburg AcademyFredericksburg AcademyFredericksburg Academy, or FA, is a co-educational independent school in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Created in 1992, FA enrolls 550 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.-Curriculum:Fredericksburg Academy is divided into three divisions:...
; Fredericksburg, VirginiaFredericksburg, VirginiaFredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
(2009)
Average attendance
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.- 2007: 306
- 2008: not yet available
- 2009: 168