Charlotte Independence

The Charlotte Independence were founded in 2014. They acquired the USL Pro franchise rights for Charlotte from the Charlotte Eagles, who moved into the amateur Premier Development League (PDL).{{cite web|title=Queen City Soccer Club to replace Charlotte Eagles in USL PRO in 2015|url=http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-reserves-richmond-kickers/2014/1/24/5343714/queen-city-soccer-club-to-replace-charlotte-eagles-in-usl-pro-in-2015|work=Ben Bromley|publisher=Black and Red United|access-date=September 14, 2014|date=January 24, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Charlotte's USL franchise to change hands Wednesday|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/16/5179264/charlottes-usl-franchise-to-change.html|author=David Scott|work=Charlotte Observer|access-date=September 17, 2014|date=September 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917151922/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/16/5179264/charlottes-usl-franchise-to-change.html|archive-date=September 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=USL PRO Welcomes Independence|url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+L3/Display+E+NDX+NDX+837607|publisher=United Soccer Leagues (USL)|access-date=September 17, 2014|date=September 17, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140917233053/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+L3/Display+E+NDX+NDX+837607|archive-date=September 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}

The Independence took their name from Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Their crest features the year 1775 (the year in which it was purported to have been signed) and a horse-mounted Captain James Jack, who is said to have carried the Declaration to Philadelphia.{{cite web|title=Charlotte now has soccer Independence|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/17/5181847/charlotte-now-has-soccer-independence.html|work=David Scott|publisher=Charlotte Observer|access-date=September 18, 2014|date=September 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074441/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/17/5181847/charlotte-now-has-soccer-independence.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}} Supporters were asked to choose one of twelve designs; all 12 featured the year and Jack. The team is nicknamed "The Jacks," in Jack's honor.

Former Dallas Burn head coach Mike Jeffries was hired as the Independence head coach on December 5, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/850624.html|title=Independence Name Jeffries As Coach|publisher=United Soccer Leagues (USL)|date=December 5, 2014|access-date=December 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210084411/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/850624.html|archive-date=December 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}

The Independence lost their first game to the Charleston Battery 3–2 on March 28, 2015, at Transamerica Field. Jack Thompson scored the team's first ever goal in the 13th minute.{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteindependence.com/charlotte-left-to-rue-first-half-errors/|title=Charlotte Left To Rue First Half Errors|publisher=Charlotte Independence|date=March 27, 2015|access-date=March 28, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330012151/http://www.charlotteindependence.com/charlotte-left-to-rue-first-half-errors/|archive-date=March 30, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

After recording their best season in 2021, finishing second in the Atlantic Division, the club decided to drop down to the third tier USL League One for 2022, with the goal of better serving its youth players, as well as the fact that a new expansion franchise in the city Charlotte FC was joining Major League Soccer that season, with whom several Independence players had signed.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article256298332.html|title=As Charlotte prepares for MLS, Independence moves to lower USL division|first=Alex|last=Andrejev|date=December 2, 2021|work=The Charlotte Observer}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1196847|title=Charlotte Independence to Compete in USL League One Starting in 2022|date=December 2, 2022|work=USL League One}} The Independence signed an affiliation agreement with Charlotte FC for the 2022 season only on April 5. Charlotte FC will loan a minimum of three players.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteindependence.com/news/2022/04/05/charlotte-independence-and-charlotte-fc-announce-club-affiliation-agreement/ |title=Charlotte Independence and Charlotte FC Announce Club Affiliation Agreement |website=charlotteindependence.com |date=April 5, 2022 |access-date=April 5, 2022}} The Independence made the USL League One playoffs in the club's first season in the league in 2022. Charlotte finished with 42 points and one of the best attacks in the league with 48 goals, the third-highest in USL League One.

In 2016, the club began working with Mecklenburg County on a refurbishment of American Legion Memorial Stadium. The club subsequently signed a 10-year lease with the county for Memorial Stadium to become its new home, beginning in 2021.[http://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2018/03/20/qcfc/mecklenburg-commissioners-ok-32m-stadium-upgrades-package/ Mecklenburg commissioners OK $32M stadium upgrades package] The Independence played the first match at the newly renovated stadium on Wednesday, July 7, 2021.

American Legion Memorial Stadium holds 10,500 people and is considered to be one of the best soccer-specific stadiums in the country. The stadium is located in the heart of the Elizabeth neighborhood in Charlotte with an updated concourse, a view of the Charlotte city skyline, and a World War I memorial at the entrance.

American Legion Memorial Stadium has hosted various different events throughout its history, including Presidential addresses, professional wrestling matches, professional and high school football, and Charlotte's first ever professional soccer team, the Carolina Lightnin', during the American Soccer League Championship in 1981 in front of 20,163 fans.

Previously, the Independence played matches in the greater Charlotte region at the Sportsplex in Matthews in Matthews, North Carolina, Ramblewood Soccer Complex, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Transamerica Field and Winthrop University's Eagle Field.

{{updated|April 25, 2025|{{cite web|title=2021 Roster|url=https://www.charlotteindependence.com/roster/|access-date=May 27, 2022 |publisher=Charlotte Independence}}}}

{{fs start|nonumber=|bg=003FA5|color=E4CE9B|border=E4CE9B}}

{{fs player|no=2|nat=CMR|name=Fabrice Ngah|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=3|nat=CMR|name=Pele Ousmanou|pos=DF|other=on loan from Hartford Athletic}}

{{fs player|no=4|nat=USA|name=Nick Spielman|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=5|nat=MEX|name=Javen Romero|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=6|nat=SEN|name=Omar Ciss|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=7|nat=HND|name=Luis Álvarez|pos=FW}}

{{fs player|no=8|nat=COL|name=Juan David Moreno|pos=FW}}

{{fs player|no=9|nat=ESP|name=Jon Bakero|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=10|nat=USA|name=Nathan Gray|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=11|nat=SEN|name=Bachir Ndiaye|pos=MF}}

{{fs player|no=12|nat=USA|name=Drew Romig|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=13|nat=USA|name=Anton Sorenson|pos=DF}}

{{fs mid|nonumber=|bg=003FA5|color=E4CE9B|border=E4CE9B}}

{{Fs player|no=15|nat=USA|name=Rafael Jauregui|pos=MF}}

{{fs player|no=16|nat=NGR|name=Ogenyi Onazi|pos=MF}}

{{fs player|no=17|nat=USA|name=Clay Dimick|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=23|nat=USA|name=Mike DeShields|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=26|nat=CMR|name=Souaibou Marou|pos=FW}}

{{fs player|no=27|nat=USA|name=Miles Rice|pos=FW}}

{{fs player|no=28|nat=USA|name=Matt Levy|pos=GK}}

{{fs player|no=45|nat=USA|name=Iván Bonus|pos=DF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{fs player|no=47|nat=USA|name=Matthew Arango|pos=MF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{fs player|no=48|nat=USA|name=Adrian Renteria|pos=MF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=80|nat=USA|name=Christopher Jaime|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=99|nat=USA|name=Christian Chaney|pos=FW}}

{{fs end|nonumber=|bg=003FA5|color=E4CE9B|border=E4CE9B}}

{{Cnote2 Begin}}

{{Cnote2|A|group=1|n=1|USL Academy Contract}}

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• Jim McPhilliamy – CEO & Managing Partner
• Tim Schuldt – President & COO
• Mike Jeffries – General Manager
• Isaiah (Tito) Villanueva – Director of Operations
• Alex Kantor - Executive Director of Corporate Partnerships
• Ashley Osiecki – Vice President of Marketing and Communications
• Ulises Vega – Creative Director
• Drew Hubbard - Senior manager of Marketing and Broadcasting
• Eric Brown – Team Operations Manager and Director of Game Day Operations
• Edwin Valentin - The Boss Man
• Paulo Nogueira - Inaugural Account Executive
• Jake Kling - Northwest Chicago Native

• Mike Jeffries – Head Coach
• Bradley Johnson – Assistant Coach
• Jay Lockheart – Assistant Coach
• Lindsay Jones – Athletic Trainer

• Includes USL Regular Season, USL Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.

|-

| Jim McGuinness

| {{IRL}}

| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|December|7}}

| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|June|12}}

{{WDL|15|1|8|6|}}

|-

| Mike Jeffries{{cite web |url=https://www.charlotteindependence.com/news_article/show/1027919 |title=Charlotte Independence Part Ways With Head Coach |publisher=Charlotte Independence |access-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727202242/https://www.charlotteindependence.com/news_article/show/1027919 |url-status=dead }}

| {{USA}}

| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|June|12}}

| present

{{WDL|19|8|6|5|}}

|}

Mike Jeffries has been the Independence's head coach for all but 15 games of the team's existence. His first stint was from 2014 to 2018 as head coach. Coach Jeffries was promoted to general manager in 2018. In 2019, he resumed his duties as head coach while remaining the general manager.

A self-described independent, grassroots supporters group, "The Mecklenburg Reserves," was formed in July 2021. The Mecklenburg Reserves occupy section 114 alongside the Independence Ultras. The Ultras and Reserves help create the supporters section atmosphere with Blue Furia, an independent predominantly Hispanic supporters group, and La Femme Footie, a group that works to promote women's soccer and women's involvement in the sport.

The Independence competed for the Southern Derby against their rival, the Charleston Battery while Charlotte was in USL Championship. The derby took place over each team's final home game, and is decided on a points system. If the two games end in a tie, it is then awarded to the team who leads in aggregate goals. The independence won their first Southern Derby in 2021.

The club's original independent supporters' group, "Jack's Militia", was founded in 2012 to promote soccer in Charlotte. When the Charlotte Independence were announced, Jack's Militia became the new team's official supporters group.

The team's games are broadcast on ESPN+.

• USL League One
• Runner Up: 2023
• Quarterfinals: 2022
• USL Championship
• Conference Quarterfinals: 2016, 2017, 2020
• Southern Derby
• Winner: 2021

In April 2019, Carolina Rapids Soccer Club, Discoveries Soccer Club, and Lake Norman Soccer Club merged to create the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club, making it one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the country. The club provides programs for Youth and Adult Recreation, TopSoccer, Boys and Girls Competitive, Boys and Girls ECNL, Boys U.S. Soccer Development Academy, USL2 and WPSL, for its 12,000 members. The youth affiliation with the pro club designates itself as one of the few youth soccer clubs in the area, region and nation to offer a direct pro pathway for its players. CISC operates as 4 Regional locations throughout the Carolinas, North, South, East and West. Serving North Carolina communities such as Belmont, Cabarrus, Cornelius, Davidson, Denver, Gastonia, Huntersville, Matthews, Mooresville, North Meck, South Charlotte, Statesville, and Steele Creek, as well as Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York County in South Carolina.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2019/04/23/qcfc/charlotte-youth-soccer-clubs-merge-under-single-roof/|title=Charlotte youth soccer clubs merge under single roof|website=www.thecharlottepost.com|access-date=2020-02-21}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{official website|https://www.charlotteindependence.com/}}
• [https://www.uslchampionship.com/charlotte-independence Charlotte Independence] at USL Championship

{{Charlotte Independence}}

{{USL League One}}

{{USL Championship}}

{{North Carolina Sports}}

{{USSoccer}}

Category:Former USL Championship teams

Category:Association football clubs established in 2014

Category:2014 establishments in North Carolina

Category:Soccer clubs in North Carolina

Category:USL League One teams