Shreveport Rafters FC is a soccer team based in

Shreveport, Louisiana Shreveport ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the third most populous city in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge, respectively. The Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area, with a population of 393,406 in 2020, is t ...

. Founded in 2016, the team most recently played in the

National Premier Soccer League The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's association football, soccer league. The NPSL is a semi-professional league, comprising some teams that have paid players and some that are entirely amateur. The league is officially ...

(NPSL), a national semi-professional league at the fourth tier of the

American Soccer Pyramid The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of prom ...

. The team plays its home games at

Independence Stadium Independence Stadium may also refer to: * Independence Stadium (Bakau) in Gambia * Independence Stadium (Namibia) in Windhoek * Independence Stadium (South Africa) in Mthatha, a football stadium in South Africa * Independence Stadium (Tanzania) ...

. 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. The team is named for the infamous

Great Raft The Great Raft was a gigantic log jam or series of "rafts" that clogged the Red and Atchafalaya rivers and was unique in North America in terms of its scale. Origin The Great Raft probably began forming in the 12th century. It grew from its up ...

log jam which clogged the

Red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...

and Atchafalaya Rivers from the 1100s to early 1900s. Rafters FC played their inaugural season in 2016, garnering an 8–7–3 record. Rafters FC debuted a customized jersey that became a viral sensation in soccer media as it featured a printed seersucker jacket and pink bowtie.

Stadium

Rafters FC currently play their home matches at

. They previously played at Graf Orthodontics Field at Messmer Stadium, 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.'' * Head Coach Phil Bohn (2018–present) * Head Coach Greg Palmer (2016–2018) ** Assistant Head Coach Emmett Rutkowski (2016–present) ** Assistant Coach, Opposition Analysis Robert Stults (2016–present) ** Assistant Coach, Goalkeeping Colt Reichl (2016–present) ** Assistant Coach, Sports Science Ian Coyer (2016–present) ** Assistant Coach, Sports Science Scott LeBlanc (2016–present) ** Assistant Coach, Sports Science Todd Zachary (2016–present)

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 Shreveport–Bossier is and has been home to a wide variety of sporting events. American football * Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings – (2001–2009) – AF2, (2010) – AFL *Shreveport Aftershock – (2007–2009) – IWFL *Shreveport-Bossie ...

FC, starting in 2017. The team will be coached by Northern Ireland native Ryan McConville.

Rafters Reserves

In September 2016, the Rafters announced a reserves team, the

Shreveport Rafters FC B Shreveport–Bossier is and has been home to a wide variety of sporting events. American football * Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings – (2001–2009) – AF2, (2010) – AFL * Shreveport Aftershock – (2007–2009) – IWFL *Shreveport-Bossi ...

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

(Official website) Sports teams in Shreveport, Louisiana, Rafters Association football clubs established in 2016 2016 establishments in Louisiana Soccer clubs in Louisiana