Shreveport Rafters FC
{{update|date = November 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Shreveport Rafters FC
| image = Shreveportraftersfclogo.png
| fullname = Shreveport Rafters Futbol Club
| nickname = Rafters FC
| founded = {{Start date and age|2016}}
| stadium = Independence Stadium
| capacity = 49,565
| chrtitle = Owner
| chairman = Montgomery Cole
| mgrtitle = Head Coach
| manager = Greg Palmer
| league =
| season =
| position =
| American = true
| current =
| website = https://raftersfc.com/
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| rightarm1 = F7E31D
| shorts1 = FFFFFF
| socks1 = FFFFFF
| pattern_la2 =
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Shreveport Rafters FC was a soccer team based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Founded in 2016, the team most recently played in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national semi-professional league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.{{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/faq/|accessdate=October 23, 2016|title=Rafters FC FAQ's|archive-date=March 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328130307/https://raftersfc.com/faq/|url-status=dead}} The team plays its home games at Independence Stadium.{{Cite web | title=Rafters Make Independence Stadium New Home {{!}} Rafters F.C. | url=http://www.raftersfc.com/uncategorized/rafters-make-independence-stadium-new-home/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420074555/http://www.raftersfc.com/uncategorized/rafters-make-independence-stadium-new-home/ | access-date=2024-12-29 | archive-date=2018-04-20}} The team's colors are blue, white, and yellow, based on the city's flag.
History
In 2015, Shreveport-based brothers announced they would be bringing the first professional soccer team in the history of the city.{{cite web|url=http://heliopolis.la/shreveport-to-field-first-professional-soccer-team-since-the-90s/|title=Shreveport to Field First Semi-Professional Soccer Team Since the 90s|first=Chris|last=Lyon|date=17 October 2015|publisher=}} The team is named for the infamous Great Raft log jam which clogged the Red and Atchafalaya Rivers from the 1100s to early 1900s.
Rafters FC played their inaugural season in 2016, garnering an 8–7–3 record.{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/2016/07/08/inaugural-season-success-sets-bar-higher-rafters/86877886/|accessdate=October 23, 2016|title=Inaugural season success sets bar higher for Rafters}}
Rafters FC debuted a customized jersey that became a viral sensation in soccer media as it featured a printed seersucker jacket and pink bowtie.{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2016/05/30/shreveport-new-orleans-soccer-seersucker-jersey-photo|title=Soccer team unveils seersucker jerseys|first=Extra|last=Mustard|newspaper=Sports Illustrated |publisher=}}
Stadium
Rafters FC currently play their home matches at Independence Stadium. They previously played at Graf Orthodontics Field at Messmer Stadium,{{cite web|url=http://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/2016/03/08/rafters-unveil-jerseys-announce-plans-new-stadium/81499722/|title=Rafters unveil jerseys, announce plans for new stadium|publisher=}} a local stadium used primarily for high school sporting events and community events. Max capacity of the stadium is estimated at 3,500 with the Rafters averaging 2,000–3,000 in attendance each match for the 2016 season.
Year-by-year
Coaches
As of October 23, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/staff/|title=Rafters F.C. – Shreveport/Bossier's NPSL Soccer Team! » Staff|publisher=}}
- Head coach{{flagicon|USA}} Phil Bohn (2018–present){{Cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/2018/03/13/shreveport-rafters-get-new-coach/422537002/|title=Shreveport Rafters get new coach|website=shreveporttimes.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}
- Head coach{{flagicon|ENG}} Greg Palmer (2016–2018){{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/staff/greg-palmer/|title=Rafters F.C. – Shreveport/Bossier's NPSL Soccer Team! » Greg Palmer|publisher=}}
- Assistant Head coach{{flagicon|USA}} Emmett Rutkowski (2016–present){{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/staff/emmett-rutkowski/|title=Rafters F.C. – Shreveport/Bossier's NPSL Soccer Team! » Emmett Rutkowski|publisher=}}
- Assistant Coach, Opposition Analysis {{flagicon|USA}} Robert Stults (2016–present){{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/staff/robert-stults/|title=Rafters F.C. – Shreveport/Bossier's NPSL Soccer Team! » Robert Stults|publisher=}}
- Assistant Coach, Goalkeeping {{flagicon|USA}} Colt Reichl (2016–present){{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/staff/colt-reichl/|title=Rafters F.C. – Shreveport/Bossier's NPSL Soccer Team! » Colt Reichl|publisher=}}
- Assistant Coach, Sports Science {{flagicon|USA}} Ian Coyer (2016–present){{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/staff/ian-coyer/|title=Rafters F.C. – Shreveport/Bossier's NPSL Soccer Team! » Ian Coyer|publisher=}}
- Assistant Coach, Sports Science {{flagicon|USA}} Scott LeBlanc (2016–present){{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/staff/scott-leblanc/|title=Rafters F.C. – Shreveport/Bossier's NPSL Soccer Team! » Scott LeBlanc|publisher=}}
- Assistant Coach, Sports Science {{flagicon|USA}} Todd Zachary (2016–present){{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/staff/todd-zachary/|title=Rafters F.C. – Shreveport/Bossier's NPSL Soccer Team! » Todd Zachary|publisher=}}
Associated Clubs
=Lady Rafters FC=
In July 2016, the Rafters announced they would be fielding a Women's Premier Soccer League team, the Shreveport Lady Rafters FC, starting in 2017. The team will be coached by Northern Ireland native Ryan McConville.{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/2016/10/04/northern-ireland-native-coach-lady-rafters/91516376/|accessdate=October 23, 2016|title=Northern Ireland native to coach Lady Rafters}}
=Rafters Reserves=
In September 2016, the Rafters announced a reserves team, the Shreveport Rafters FC B team, would play in the Gulf Coast Premier League.{{cite web|url=https://raftersfc.com/rafters-reserves-announce-coach-schedule-and-tryouts|accessdate=October 30, 2016|title=Rafters Reserves Announce Coach, Schedule and Tryouts}}
References
External links
- [https://raftersfc.com] (Official website)
Category:Association football clubs established in 2016