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.[1][2] They are the only pro soccer team in Connecticut.

Hartford Athletic
Full nameHartford Athletic
FoundedJuly 11, 2018 (2018-07-11)
StadiumDillon Stadium
Capacity5,500
OwnerHartford Sports Group
Head coachHarry Watling
LeagueUSL Championship
20202nd, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals
WebsiteClub website

Stadium

The club plays on the grounds of Dillon Stadium, with a capacity of 5,500.[3] The 1935 stadium was renovated and re-opened on July 13, 2019, despite the fact that the stadium was not completely finished.[4] Lights were completed and first used for the stadium's first night game on September 14, 2019 (Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City FC).[5]

During the construction of Dillon Stadium, the Athletic played their home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. They played their first home game in front of more than 11,000 supporters. [6]

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2019–present Adidas Trinity Health of New England[7]

Players and staff

Current roster
As of January 27, 2021[8]
No. Position Player Nation
2 Defender Alex Lara  United States
6 Midfielder Arthur Rogers  England
10 Midfielder Danny Barrera  United States
16 Midfielder Gabriel Torres  Brazil
17 Forward Alfonso Vazquez  United States
28 Midfielder Conor McGlynn  United States
— Midfielder Nii Armah Ashitey  Ghana
— Defender Younes Boudadi  Morocco
— Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell  United States
— Defender Thomas Janjigian  United States
— Goalkeeper Carlos Merancio  Mexico

Team management
Front office
Owners Joseph Calafiore
Bruce Mandell
Scott Schooley
Coaching staff
Head coach Harry Watling
Assistant coach Luiz Silva
Goalkeeper coach Eric Weingarten
Technical advisor Paul Buckle

Last updated: January 7, 2021
Source:

Club captains
Years Name Nation
2019 Philip Rasmussen  Denmark
2020 Danny Barrera  United States

Club culture

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 out of 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 stand and chant together on the east end of Dillon Stadium for home matches.

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 a goal. [9]

Team records

Year-by-year
As of November 5, 2020
Season USL Championship Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top Scorer
P W L D GF GA Pts Position Player Goals
2019 34 8 21 5 49 80 29 17th, Eastern Did Not Qualify Third Round Wojciech Wojcik 7
2020 16 11 3 2 31 24 35 1st, Group F Conference Quarterfinals Not played Alex Dixon 6

Head coach record
  • Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
Coach Nationality Start End Games Win Loss Draw Win %
Jimmy Nielsen  Denmark September 5, 2018 October 27, 2019 36 9 22 5 025.00
Radhi Jaïdi  Tunisia November 8, 2019 October 19, 2020 16 11 3 2 068.75
Harry Watling  England January 13, 2021 Current 0 0 0 0 !—

Average attendance
Year Reg. Season Playoffs
2019 5,025 ––
2020 1,351 2,194

See also

References
  1. "Hartford Joins USL For 2019 Season at Dillon Stadium". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  2. "Pro Soccer Team Announced For Hartford, Set To Begin Play In 2019". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  3. "What's next for Dillon Stadium and Hartford Athletic? A turf field, players and more". Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  4. Anthony, Mike. "Mike Anthony: Hartford had it Saturday, and our new soccer team had a lot to do with it". courant.com. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  5. "RECAP: Hartford Athletic Falls in First Dillon Stadium Match Under the Lights".
  6. "Hartford Athletic Hosts First Home Game". Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  7. https://www.hartfordathletic.com/news_article/show/999232
  8. "Roster". HartfordAthletic.com. Hartford Athletic. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  9. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Athletic-Supporters-Make-Their-Mark-During-Inaugural-Season_Hartford-559873612.html


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