AC Connecticut is an American amateur soccer team based in Newtown, Connecticut, playing in

USL League Two USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional developmental soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United States soccer league syst ...

, the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. The team colors are blue, black and white.

History

CFC Azul was founded as a

USL PDL USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional developmental soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United States soccer league syste ...

team on December 21, 2011, and launched its inaugural season in 2012. The club is the pinnacle for a 70-plus youth team organization and is Connecticut's only professional organized soccer franchise. In its first season of play, CFC Azul finished mid-table tied for 4th place with fellow expansion team Worcester Hydra. In 2013, CFC finished in 6th place with a record of 2 wins, 6 losses and 6 draws. In time for the start of the 2014 season, Peter D'Amico became the primary owner and managing partner of the Azul. Additionally, CFC teamed up with WXCI 91.7 FM to broadcast play-by-play of Azul's home games. The team split off from its Connecticut Football Club (CFC) parent and was renamed AC Connecticut on September 5, 2014. In 2021, AC Connecticut announced a partnership with

Hartford Athletic 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. It is the only pro soccer team in Connecticut. History On June 8, 2021, Ha ...

to identify potential players and create a pathway to pro soccer.

Stadium

The team was originally scheduled to play their home games at

Reese Stadium Reese Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. It is home to the Yale Bulldogs soccer and lacrosse teams. Reese Stadium is also the home of the Elm City Express Elm City Express is ...

on the campus of

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

. However, due to scheduling conflicts, CFC Azul ended playing their 2012 home games at various locations throughout Connecticut including

Veterans Stadium Veterans Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The seating capacities were 65,358 for foo ...

New Britain, CT New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford. According to 2020 Census, the population of the city is 74,135. Among the southernmost of the communities encompassed wi ...

. For the 2013 season, CFC Azul played their home games at

Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State University (Central Connecticut, CCSU, Central Connecticut State, or informally Central) is a public university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1849 as the State Normal School, CCSU is Connecticut ...

. CFC Azul signed a muti-year contract to play their games the Westside Athletic Complex at

Western Connecticut State University Western Connecticut State University (WCSU and WestConn) is a public university in Danbury, Connecticut. It was founded in 1903 as a teacher's college and is part of the Connecticut State University System. WCSU consists of four schools: the An ...

. AC Connecticut now plays their home games at Dillion Stadium in Hartford, CT the home of the

USL Championship The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a Division II league since 2017, p ...

team, the

. They also have facilities in

Newtown, CT Newtown is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the Greater Danbury metropolitan area as well as the New York metropolitan area. Newtown was founded in 1705, and later incorporated in 1711. As of the 2020 cens ...

North Yarmouth Academy North Yarmouth Academy (also known as "NYA") is an independent, co-ed, college preparatory day school serving students from early childhood education to postgraduate. NYA was founded in 1814, in what was then North Yarmouth, Maine, prior to the 184 ...

Sports & Fitness.

Year-by-year

Players and staff

Notable former players

* Steve Covino * Ryan Kinne * Jannik Eckenrode *

Gianluca Catalano Gianluca Catalano (born May 6, 2000) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario. Youth career He began playing soccer at age three with Kleinburg Nobleton SC. As a youth, he was a member of the ...

* Henry Kessler

Current staff

* Robin Schuppert – General Manager * Alex Harrison – Head Coach * Joe Mingachos – Head Coach * Joe Falstoe – Assistant Coach * Sean Weir – Fitness Coach * Paul Winstanley – Goalie Coach

References

External links

* Soccer clubs in Connecticut Sports in New Haven, Connecticut 2011 establishments in Connecticut USL League Two teams {{Connecticut-footyclub-stub