Real Maryland F.C., commonly known as the Real Maryland Monarchs, was an American
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
team based in
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is a city that serves as the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, and is part of the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 census tabulated Rockville's population at 67,117, making it the fifth-largest community in ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. Founded in 2007, the team played in the
USL Premier Development League
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 ...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, having voluntarily self-relegated from the
USL Second Division
The USL Second Division (commonly referred to as USL-2) was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL). It was at the third tier of soccer in the United States, behind Major League Soccer (t ...
at the end of 2010. The team suspended operations after the 2012 season.
From 2009 to 2012, the team played its home games at Roy Lester Stadium on the campus of
Richard Montgomery High School
Richard Montgomery High School (RMHS) (#201) is a secondary public school located in Rockville, Maryland.
Academics
The school houses Montgomery County's first International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB). This competitive-entry magnet pro ...
. The team's colors are white, gold and black. The team's nickname, the Monarchs or "Los Monarcas", is intended to reflect the state of Maryland's colonial roots under Lords Calvert and
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
.
In addition to the professional team, the club 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
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...
umbrella. The club also fielded four teams in the USL's Super Y-League, with teams in the U14, U15, U16, and U17 divisions.
History
Real Maryland was launched in July 2007 as an expansion franchise joining the
USL Second Division
The USL Second Division (commonly referred to as USL-2) was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL). It was at the third tier of soccer in the United States, behind Major League Soccer (t ...
in 2008. The club's majority owner, Victor Moran, named the club Real Maryland because he intended "to create a REAL event, not just a soccer game", and hired former
Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia FC (formerly Northern Virginia Royals and Evergreen FC) is an American soccer club from Leesburg, Virginia competing in USL League Two, USL W League, Eastern Premier Soccer League and the Major Arena Soccer League 3.
The clu ...
head coach Silvino Gonzalo to lead his team in its inaugural campaign.
The Monarchs played their first official game on April 20, 2008, a 1–0 loss to the
Western Mass Pioneers
Western Mass Pioneers is an American soccer team based in Ludlow, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The team plays its home games at Lusitano Stadium ...
, but secured their first ever victory the following week with a 2–0 win over the
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1999 and beginning play in 1999, the club plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American so ...
; the first goal in franchise history was scored by
Bill Brindley
William Brindley (born December 25, 1982 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former American soccer player.
Career
College and Amateur
Brindley played college soccer at Palm Beach Atlantic University from 2003 to 2006. During his college years ...
. Unfortunately, the Monarchs' first season in USL2 was a difficult one, despite the on-field presence of former Salvadoran internationals
Dennis Alas
Dennis Jonathan Alas Morales (born 10 January 1985 in San Salvador) is a Salvadoran former association football player. He was banned for life in 2013, for match fixing while playing for the El Salvador national football team.
He is the olde ...
and
Ronald Cerritos
Ronald Osvaldo Cerritos Flores (born January 3, 1975, in San Salvador) is a Salvadoran former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Cerritos is the all-time leader in assists of the Major League Soccer team, the San Jose Earthquakes ...
. They secured two more victories in May, 3–2 over the
Cleveland City Stars
The Cleveland City Stars were an American professional soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL First Division (USL-1), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid in 2009. The club folde ...
and 2–1 over the
Wilmington Hammerheads
Wilmington Hammerheads FC was a semi-professional American soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded in 1996, the team last competed in the Premier Development League, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid in 2017.
History ...
, but after conceding a last minute goal to lose 2–1 at home to Cleveland on June 8, fell apart thereafter, and by mid-season were already adrift at the bottom of the standings. Head coach Gonzalo was replaced by
Antonio Carlos Vieira
Antonio Carlos Vieira (born 7 February 1956) is a former Brazilian football player and manager.
References
External linksAntonio Carlos Vieira profile Harrisburg City Islanders
Penn FC (formerly the Harrisburg City Islanders) was an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2003, the team most recently played in the USL Pro, the second tier of the United States soccer ...
, 5–2 to the
Wilmington Hammerheads
Wilmington Hammerheads FC was a semi-professional American soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded in 1996, the team last competed in the Premier Development League, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid in 2017.
History ...
Charlotte Eagles
The Charlotte Eagles are an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The team plays its home games at ...
, their worst result of the season. A 1–1 tie with the
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1999 and beginning play in 1999, the club plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American so ...
on the last day of the regular season did little to brighten the mood at the Maryland Soccer Plex, as the Monarchs finished dead last in the division; to make matters worse, the team was then docked a point by the league for rules infringement, leaving them seven points adrift of their closest rivals, the
Bermuda Hogges
Bermuda Hogges were a Bermudian football team based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern ...
. Nilson Perez was the team's top scorer in its debut season, with six goals.
In 2010, it was announced that the Monarchs would move from the USL Second Division to the USL Premier Development League (PDL).
In November 2012, the team announced that it was suspending operations for both the PDL team and the youth programs.
Players
2012 roster
Staff
* David Noyes - ''General Manager''
* Silvino Gonzalo - ''Head Coach''
* David Edlow - ''Assistant Coach''
* Val Teixeira - ''Assistant Coach''
* Edward Brown - ''Assistant/Goalkeeper Coach''
* Jordan Friedlander-Tapia - ''Assistant U-20s and U-17s''
Notable former players
''This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.''
*
Dennis Alas
Dennis Jonathan Alas Morales (born 10 January 1985 in San Salvador) is a Salvadoran former association football player. He was banned for life in 2013, for match fixing while playing for the El Salvador national football team.
He is the olde ...
*
David Bulow
David Bulow (February 4, 1980 – May 6, 2021) was an American soccer player and coach. A midfielder, his playing career spanned 14 years and included three stints with the Kickers, as well as stints in Ireland and elsewhere in the United State ...
*
Ronald Cerritos
Ronald Osvaldo Cerritos Flores (born January 3, 1975, in San Salvador) is a Salvadoran former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Cerritos is the all-time leader in assists of the Major League Soccer team, the San Jose Earthquakes ...
*
Rod Dyachenko
Rodion Sergeyevich "Rod" Dyachenko (; born 22 September 1983 in Georgiyevsk) is a retired Russian footballer who played in Vietnam for Than Quảng Ninh.
Career
Youth and college
Dyachenko was born in the Russian SFSR in the Soviet Union pri ...
Brian Levey
Brian Levey (born April 11, 1984 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American soccer player who previously played for the Real Maryland Monarchs in the USL Second Division.
Career
College and Amateur
Levey attended North Allegheny Senior High ...
Nicki Paterson
Nicholas Stephen "Nicki" Paterson (born 19 January 1985, in Lanark) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder.
Career
Early career in Scotland
Paterson grew up in Motherwell, and was a member of the academy at Scottish football club ...
Antonio Carlos Vieira
Antonio Carlos Vieira (born 7 February 1956) is a former Brazilian football player and manager.
References
External linksAntonio Carlos Vieira profile Anthony Hudson (2009–2010)
Stadium
*
Maryland SoccerPlex
The Maryland SoccerPlex is a sports complex in Germantown, Maryland, although its mailing address is Boyds, Maryland. The facility, completed in 2000 and operated by the Maryland Soccer Foundation (MSF), has 21 natural grass fields, 3 artificial ...
Richard Montgomery High School
Richard Montgomery High School (RMHS) (#201) is a secondary public school located in Rockville, Maryland.
Academics
The school houses Montgomery County's first International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB). This competitive-entry magnet pro ...
;
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is a city that serves as the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, and is part of the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 census tabulated Rockville's population at 67,117, making it the fifth-largest community in ...
(2009–2012)
Average attendance
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive a here
*2009: 608
*2010: 798
*2011: 923
*2012: 1,051