Hartford_Athletic

Hartford Athletic

Hartford Athletic

American soccer team


Hartford Athletic is an American professional soccer team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and started play in the USL Championship in 2019.[1][2] It was the only pro soccer team in Connecticut from their inaugural season in 2019 until 2025, when Connecticut United FC will make its debut in MLS Next Pro.

Quick Facts Full name, Founded ...

History

On June 8, 2021, Hartford Athletic announced they will be fielding a women's side to compete in the new USL W League beginning in 2022.[3]

Stadium

Trinity Health Stadium in 2021

The club plays on the grounds of Trinity Health Stadium, with a capacity of 5,500.[4] The 1935 stadium was renovated and reopened on July 13, 2019, despite the fact the stadium was not completely finished.[5] Lights were completed and first used for the stadium's first night game on September 14, 2019 (Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City FC).[6]

During the construction of Trinity Health Stadium, Athletic played home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. They played their first home game in front of more than 11,000 supporters.[7]

Hartford's first U.S. Open Cup match in 2019, which was also the first win in club history, was played at Al-Marzook Field in West Hartford.[8]

Colors and badge

Hartford Athletic's official colors are green and blue, chosen because of their strong association with the sports teams of Hartford.[9][10] The team's crest and colors were first unveiled in a video on December 6, 2018.[11]

Sponsorship

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Players and staff

Hartford Athletic players before a 2021 match

Current roster

As of March 9, 2024[14]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract

Players with multiple nationalities

Team management

More information Front office, Coaching staff ...

Last updated: January 7, 2021
Source:

Club captains

Danny Barrera (pictured in 2021) served as captain from 2020 through 2022.
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Club culture

Supporters at a 2021 match

The supporters for Hartford Athletic are split between five groups based on their geographical location within the state of Connecticut:

  • The 19th Regiment – The first supporters group founded in early 2019 shortly after the announcement of the club. Today, it represents supporters based in the Greater Hartford area and Northern Connecticut.
  • Mad Hat Massive – Independent supporters group representing members from Fairfield and Litchfield counties, with their home pub hosting the official supporters away days watch parties at TK's American Cafe in Danbury where the Jell-O Shot tradition began. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
  • The Boonies – Members of the Mad Hat Massive in the greater Torrington area.
  • Elm City Casuals – Independent supporters based out of the Greater New Haven area. They’re independent. They like pizza and riding trains. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
  • East Side Rising – Supporters group founded in 2020 to represent Eastern Connecticut, nicknamed "A Family of Fans."
  • Raza Brava – Latino-centric supporters group representing the greater Hartford area.

Each group is separately managed but they stand and chant together on the east end of Trinity Health Stadium for home matches.

Starting in the 2022 season, the 19th Regiment, Mad Hat Massive and the Elm City Casuals will unite as one group, called The Bonanza

Among the notable chants used is the "Brass Bonanza," a melody sung by the supporters groups after scoring a goal, which was also used for the former NHL team in the city, the Hartford Whalers, for the same circumstances. The groups also use Bob Marley's classic "Three Little Birds" for the beginning of matches and when the opposing team scores. [15]

Under-19 team

The Hartford Athletic U19 team plays in the United Premier Soccer League New England Conference.

Team records

Year-by-year

As of October 14, 2023
More information Season, USL Championship ...

Head coaches

  • Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
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Average attendance

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See also


References

  1. "Hartford Joins USL For 2019 Season at Dillon Stadium". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  2. "USL announces return of the W League from 2022 – SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  3. Anthony, Mike (July 14, 2019). "Mike Anthony: Hartford had it Saturday, and our new soccer team had a lot to do with it". courant.com. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  4. Hartford Athletic (September 14, 2019). "RECAP: Hartford Athletic Falls in First Dillon Stadium Match Under the Lights". Hartford Athletic.
  5. "Hartford Athletic unveils crest, teases apparel and player signings". Hartford Courant. December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  6. Arlia, John (December 11, 2018). "Behind the Brand: Revitalizing Hartford's Proud Tradition". USL Championship. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  7. "Hartford Athletic Unveils Official Club Crest". USL Championship. December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  8. Athletic, Hartford (February 27, 2019). "Hartford Athletic Announces Trinity Health of New England as Title Partner". Hartford Athletic | Connecticut's Professional Soccer Team.
  9. "Player Numbers". Twitter.com. Hartford Athletic. Retrieved May 10, 2022.

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