Following a 2-1 friendly win against Northshore United FC of Covington, LA, coach Nate Nicholas spent the week preparing his team for the New Orleans Jesters.
Getting to Know You: New Orleans Jesters
After a 6-0 loss to the NPSL Southeast’s Atlanta Silverbacks and a 2-1 victory over the GCPL Central’s Northshore United FC, AFC Mobile will complete its preseason schedule with a home match against the NPSL Southeast’s New Orleans Jesters. This is the club’s final chance to shift formations and work on tactics prior to the start of the Gulf Coast Premier League Eastern Division season starting on May 12th against Pensacola FC. Saturday, May 5th will mark an anticipated showdown between teams representing the birthplace of Mardi Gras and the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the country.The Jesters were highly successful last season and will feature a slew of professional prospects as they enter Mobile to take on the Azaleas for their first match of the year prior to the start of their NPSL Southeast schedule and their first round match in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
CLUB: New Orleans Jesters
NICKNAME: Jesters
The New Orleans Jesters are fresh off the best season in the club’s history. They went undefeated in the NPSL Southeast regular season (8-0-4) and won its crown. But they saw their 2017 postseason end prematurely on a controversial red card in the NPSL Southeast playoff finals against Inter Nashville FC.
Formerly playing in the Professional Development League (PDL), the Jesters now play in the National Premier Soccer League, which is the fourth tier of soccer in the United States. Producing players such as Patrick Mullins (DC United) and Andrew Tarbell (San Jose Earthquakes), the club has had several players move on to play professionally in MLS and abroad. There have also been recent discussions about the club making a jump to the professional level in the near future.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Jesters’ roster is laden with many returning stars from last year’s team, including Mason Walsh, Chad Collins, and Curtis Thorne. Walsh, the captain, is the team’s star midfielder who pushes the team forward, setting up the style and pace of play that head coach Kenny Farrell demands. Collins was arguably the best goalkeeper in the region last year, making several spectacular saves. Defender Curtis Thorne was voted the team MVP last year and should give the Jesters’ back line some much need stability.
The club can be found online at www.nolajesters.com and on twitter @nolajesters.
Tickets to Saturday’s game are just $5 each, and all kids 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. All AFC Mobile home games are played at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex located at 3610 Michael Boulevard in Mobile. Finish off your Cinco de Mayo properly with tacos from the El Milagro Taqueria Y Pupuseria food truck that will be on site inside the stadium!
AFC Mobile – Man of the Match vs Northshore United FC (4/28)
AFC Mobile struck twice in the first half in order to hold off Northshore United for their first win at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex. On a night with several notable debuts for Mobile, here are the nominees for the Man of the Match.
22 – Ibrahima Ndaw – FWD
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and what an impression Iba Ndaw made for the home fans in Mobile. Ndaw combined well throughout the game with Chisom Ogbonna before a brilliant free kick gave him his first goal in Mobile colors in the 17th minute. He struck for the game-winning goal in the 28th minute with his left foot. It was a spectacular debut for the 6’5” Spring Hill College alumnus.
16 – Markos Mallis – DF
Shifting from left back to centerback, Mallis found himself involved less in the attack than he had been last year, but defensively he was strong dealing with a quick NUFC attack.
11 – Martin Fiemawhle – MF
Fiemawhle’s contributions cannot be measured on the stats sheet. While he did have a fantastic set piece in the second half, the calmness that he brought to the pitch was immeasurable. The team just looked better in both the attack and defense when he set foot on the field.
9 – Erik Aispuro Vidaña – MF
Speaking of debut performances, the Robertsdale High School product proved to be crafty on the right side of the midfield. Combining well with Ogbonna and Sherman Winchester in the attack, Aispuro truly made his mark.
Who is your Man of the Match? Vote in the poll below or write your own nominee in the comment section.
AFC Mobile’s last preseason friendly at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex is on Saturday, May 5th against the National Premier Soccer League’s New Orleans Jesters. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. All tickets are only $5.00 and, as always, kids 12 and under are admitted with no charge. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more information.
New addition shines in first home win against Northshore United
Smiles and good times were in abundance at Archbishop Lipscomb Stadium as AFC Mobile opened up its 2018 defense of The Lip with a 2-1 defeat of Covington, Louisiana’s Northshore United FC in preseason friendly action.
Coach Nate Nicholas fielded a slightly depleted side as several anticipated starters are not scheduled to see action until next week’s visit by the NPSL South Region Conference’s New Orleans Jesters in the final match before the start of the 2018 GCPL season.
The opening minutes of the match had the roughly even, tentative start that one would expect of two sides still working on their chemistry, but it did not take long for AFC Mobile Forward Iba Ndaw to find a breaking Chisom Ogbonna in the fourth minute for the first of what would be many combinations and close scoring opportunities.
By the tenth minute, the Azaleas started to gain confidence and momentum in their possession, culminating in an insightful pass from Martin Fiemawhle to a breaking Ogbonna, who teamed with Ndaw to work through the Northshore defense before being taken down 24 yards from goal. On the ensuing free kick, Iba Ndaw uncorked a blistering, curling shot that evaded the outstretched arms of the keeper and smacked into the back of the net to give Mobile a 16th minute 1-0 lead.
Ndaw would be rewarded again when Matt Merrill lofted a 40 yard cross-field pass to a streaking Brantton Greene, whose squaring pass found Ndaw at the top of the penalty area. Ndaw circled to create space and fizzed a low shot with his weaker foot, which bounced off the far post and across the line to give the Senegalese native his second goal of the match.
After securing the lead, Coach Nicholas took advantage of the unlimited substitutions agreed upon for the friendly match to experiment with different options and player combinations. Northshore continued to work on shutting down AFC Mobile’s attack and began to test the depth of their defense with increasingly consistent possession that persisted until halftime.
The second half saw a determined Northshore side continue to mount pressure, which was rewarded in the 47th minute when United standout Salim Yillah slipped free of his marking and headed home a corner kick to cut the margin in half. Northshore continued to apply pressure to get an equalizer against a Mobile side that was focusing on defending their lead. The Azaleas’ line held strong until the 61st minute, when a cutting through ball led to a Northshore attacker alone against the keeper. The shot was well taken and was headed toward the top corner of the net, but an acrobatic effort from Mobile keeper Elijah Gibson deflected the ball to preserve AFC Mobile’s lead. AFC Mobile held on to win its first home match 2-1 in front of an ecstatic preseason crowd of 765.
AFC Mobile’s next match is against the New Orleans Jesters on Saturday, May 5th at 7:00 pm at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex located at 3610 Michael Boulevard in Mobile. Tickets are only $5 and kids 12 and under get in free. You will be able to finish off your Cinco de Mayo properly with the El Milagro Taqueria Y Pupuseria food truck serving tacos inside the stadium! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat!
Getting to Know You: Northshore United FC
The return of AFC Mobile to the Archbishop Lipscomb Stadium is upon us. On Saturday, April 28th, the Azaleas open up the Lip as they take on GCPL debutant Northshore United FC at 7:00 pm. After facing off against one of the more historic amateur sides in the country, AFC Mobile will meet a fellow GCPL team in preseason action. This will be Northshore United’s first match after their inaugural year in which they competed in friendly matches against several GCPL teams.
CLUB: Northshore United FC
NICKNAME: United
Northshore United will look for a productive start in its inaugural GCPL season. United is setup up like a traditional PDL team with more college players than local talent. The club was created with hopes to fill the gap between the end of youth club competitive play and the professional level. The Covington, Louisiana based team played seven friendlies last summer finishing with a 6-1 record in friendlies including against several GCPL and GCPL reserve sides.
The club held its final open tryout on Saturday, April 21, leaving one week of preparation for this weekend’s match. “My expectations are just for continued growth,” said Head Coach Nick Chetta. “To give an opportunity for some guys to show their abilities and hopefully find some to help us to be successful this year,” Chetta added.
NUFC will also get its first taste of a large GCPL crowd. “I don’t know if any of our players have experienced an environment like AFC Mobile,” said NUFC Captain Sal Bavido. “It should be exciting and a bit nerve-racking for us. I’m sure we’ll settle in after ten minutes of playing, but definitely looking forward to the atmosphere and the experience.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sal Bavido, who serves as the team captain, will be pulling strings for the Northshore attack in the midfield. Meanwhile, the defensive prowess and leadership of NUFC’s 2017 MVP Pat Rye will prove invaluable as they enter Sweet Lunacy’s County Seat for the 2018 home debut of AFC Mobile.
The club can be found at www.northshoreutd.com and on twitter @northshoreutd.
Tickets to Saturday’s game are just $5 each, and all kids 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. There is still time to purchase season tickets giving you admission to all seven home games for only $27! All AFC Mobile home games are played at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Conference located at 3610 Michael Boulevard in Mobile.
AFC Mobile falls to NPSL’s Atlanta Silverbacks in preseason
ATLANTA–AFC Mobile dropped a 6-0 decision to the Atlanta Silverbacks of the National Premier Soccer League in its first game-action of the year on Saturday night.
“When you start your preseason off with a level above what you are, and without your full complement, it shows the difference in the level and something for our boys to aspire to,” coach Nate Nicholas said. “[Atlanta Silverbacks FC] has been around for a long time, and this is our second year. Even though the scoreline’s not great, it served its purpose. We wanted to learn about ourselves, and we learned about ourselves, and we learned some things we need to work on.”
The Silverbacks took an early lead when a free kick taken while the referee reached for his pocket beat goalkeeper Elijah Gibson. The host team’s speed and physicality overwhelmed a Mobile squad missing several of its starters, and it wasn’t long before the Azaleas fell behind 3-0, courtesy of a chipped goal down the left wing and long-range effort from the right. A curled free kick just before half-time sent Atlanta into the interval with a 4-0 advantage.
“They were speedy all over the field,” Nicholas said. “They beat us early on with that, and exploited some of our weaknesses. We gave up three early goals, but after that we started to grow into the game and find our own. But that’s what good teams do. They find a weakness and they exploit it, and it took us a while to adjust to it.”
An experimental second half saw Mobile concede twice more on the break. The best chances for the visitors came from set pieces and some well-worked play by AFC Mobile debutant and former Savannah Clovers midfielder Tomas Lopez.
“I hadn’t seen him in a game situation, and I think he showed that he can raise his level and contend well with their quality,” Nicholas said. “I also though [right back] Brantton Greene had a great game for us. He’s young but he’s a player that will be great now and in the future.”
AFC Mobile will host Northshore United on April 28 at 7 p.m. at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex in another friendly, its first against the GCPL newcomers.
“We’re probably not going to play a team in our league that’s better than they are. We learned that we can play and hold our own, but that there’s a lot to work on. It’s important to be at training and working hard and working on those things while we have the time to do it. We’ve got to get in shape and get our first touches down. We’ve had one training session with some of these guys, so we’ll improve.”
AFC Mobile is Mobile’s minor league soccer team. It plays its home matches at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex in Mobile. Tickets are $5 for each match, and children 12 and younger are admitted free. Season tickets are available online at afcmobile.net/shop.
Getting to Know You: Atlanta Silverbacks FC
Saturday, May 14th, AFC Mobile kick off their preseason with a trip to the confines of Silverback Park to take on the Atlanta Silverbacks of the National Premier Soccer League. This will be a tough test for the Azaleas as they begin on their path towards the Gulf Coast Premier League regular season. There are few teams in the southeastern United States like the Silverbacks. In fact, there are few teams in American soccer like them. Atlanta Silverback supporter Paul F. Scanling breaks down why the Silverbacks are special in American soccer and what AFC Mobile can expect to see when they make the trek to historic Silverback Park.
CLUB: Atlanta Silverbacks FC
NICKNAME: Silverbacks
HOME: Atlanta Silverback Park, 3200 Atlanta Silverbacks Way, Atlanta, GA 30340
HISTORY: The Atlanta Silverbacks trace their history back to the Atlanta Ruckus, which began play in 1995. The name change came in the fall of 1998 to honor longtime Zoo Atlanta icon Willie B., a silverback gorilla named after former Atlanta Mayor William B. Hartsfield. The club has participated in the A League, the USL and the NASL in the past and now competes in the NPSL. The club plays at Silverbacks Park, located at the intersection of I-75 and I-285, also known as Spaghetti Junction.
Twice losers to the Seattle Sounders in the championship round, the Silverbacks have also made it to the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup, beating both Colorado and Real Salt Lake in that competition. USMNT Legend Eric Wynalda managed the Silverbacks during that run. The current version of the club has won trophies the last two seasons in the NPSL.
The Silverbacks have reached an agreement with the Silverbacks Trust to facilitate fan ownership, making the Silverbacks one of only a few teams in America that are focused on and supporting fan ownership.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Keka Kamara – the United Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year and first team All-American, will undoubtedly be a player climbing the American soccer pyramid. Meanwhile, new captain Sheriff Suma, returning players Abdul Bangura, and Mohammed Issahaku will also test the Azaleas early and often. In goal, Bryce Billington returns to the Backs after a year playing with the Georgia Revolution.
The club can be found at www.atlantasilverbacksfc.com, on twitter @atlsilverbacks and has a YouTube channel. The Trust can be found online at asfctrust.org and on Twitter at @asfctrust.
AFC Mobile to host NPSL’s New Orleans Jesters on May 5th
Mardi Gras 2018 may be over, but the friendly sibling rivalry between Mobile and New Orleans will roll on this summer.
After a parade season filled with teasing and debate over the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the U.S., the two capitals of Carnival will face off on the pitch this season when AFC Mobile hosts the New Orleans Jesters of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5th at the Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb Complex (“The Lip”) in Mobile.
“We’ve dreamt of a matchup with the Jesters since day one of this project,” AFC Mobile cofounder Sean Landry said. “New Orleans and Mobile have been neighbors and competitors for 300 years, so this is the natural extension of that history. I’m grateful to Kenny Farrell for his work in finalizing this matchup, and I know we’re both excited to offer The Royal Court, the Causeway Rebellion, and all the fans of both teams an event to remember.”
The match will mark the first ever appearance by an NPSL team in Mobile, and will be the highest level of soccer talent on display in the Port City in at least 20 years. Last season, the Jesters went undefeated to finish in first place in the West Division of the Southeast Conference of the NPSL.
AFC Mobile is Mobile’s minor league soccer team, competing in the Gulf Coast Premier League. Our season begins in April and runs through July. All home games will be played at the Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb Complex – “The Lip.” Tickets begin at just $5, and children 12 and under are free with adult admission. Season tickets are available now at afcmobile.net. Follow AFC Mobile on all your favorite social media platforms to keep up-to-date on additional information about the 2018 season!
AFC Mobile 2018 Season Passes Now On Sale
The 2018 AFC Mobile season will soon begin and now is your chance to get season passes to the party!
The 2018 season includes seven home games at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex. Home games will be played April 28th against Northshore United (of Covington, LA), the weekend of May 4th-6th against a soon-to-be-announced opponent, May 12th against Pensacola FC, June 2nd against Real United FC (of Moss Point, MS), June 9th against Gulf Coast Rangers FC (of Foley, AL), June 23rd against Alexandria FC (of Alexandria, LA), and July 14th against Port City FC (of Gulfport, MS).
Season passes will be available for pickup at Will Call on game day. Three season pass options are available:
- A high quality, embossed, silicone AFC Mobile Season Pass Wristband, which gives you access to ALL 2018 regular season home games and friendlies
- 10% discount code for purchases made at the online store
- Pre-sale priority for any playoff match
- Invitation to the jersey release party
Season Pass B ($40.00) – Available through 12:00 pm (CT) on Sunday, April 8, 2018
- A high quality, embossed, silicone AFC Mobile Season Pass Wristband, which gives you access to ALL 2018 regular season home games and friendlies
- 10% discount code for purchases made at the online store
- An exclusive AFC Mobile 2018 t-shirt OR the 2018 “Sweet Lunacy’s County Seat” supporter’s scarf
- Pre-sale priority for any playoff match
- Invitation to the jersey release party
Season Pass C ($65.00) – Available through 12:00 pm (CT) on Sunday, April 8, 2018
- A high quality, embossed, silicone AFC Mobile Season Pass Wristband, which gives you access to ALL 2018 regular season home games and friendlies
- 10% discount code for purchases made at the online store
- Replica 2018 AFC Mobile home jersey
- Pre-sale priority for any playoff match
- Invitation to the jersey release party
Season Pass Packages may be purchased online through our shop or by clicking one of the above links. Scarves ordered with Package B will ship soon after you place your order. Exclusive T-Shirts ordered with Package B and Jerseys ordered with Package C are pre-sale only, and will be shipped at a later date.
Package B-Exclusive T-Shirt and Package C are only available through 12:00 pm (CT) on Sunday, April 8, 2018. Shop now to take advantage of these great deals!
We look forward to seeing you at the Lip this season!
AFC Mobile Announces its 2018 GCPL Schedule
The 2018 AFC Mobile schedule is finally here! After months of anticipation, we now know the path the Azaleas will take as they attempt to bring home the Gulf Coast Premier League Cup.
AFC Mobile will return to the pitch for its second season on April 14th for an away friendly against the Atlanta Silverbacks of the National Premier Soccer League. After shattering Gulf Coast Premier League attendance records last season, the club will return to the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex (“the Lip”) on April 28th to face GCPL newcomers Northshore United (of Covington, Louisiana) in preseason action. The club will host another preseason friendly at the Lip on the weekend of May 5th. That opponent will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We are looking forward to a more robust schedule of games this year,” stated AFC Mobile Sporting Director Zach Taylor. “There are some great sides in the GCPL, and the non-GCPL friendlies that we will announce later will also give us highly challenging opponents to measure ourselves against. I’m looking forward to seeing how we perform.”
The GCPL regular season begins on May 12th, as the Azaleas welcome Eastern Conference rivals Pensacola FC to the Lip.
The following weekend, the team travels to Lafayette, Louisiana to take on last year’s GCPL Cup Runner-Up Cajun Soccer Club. Cajun’s front line is lead by the 2017 GCPL Golden Boot winner Mickey Ledger.
On May 26th, the club will travel to Gulfport, Mississippi to face newly re-branded Port City FC (formerly known as Biloxi City FC) in the first Forgotten Coast Cup match of the season.
AFC Mobile will return to the Lip for a two-game homestand against Riverhawks FC out of Moss Point, Mississippi on June 2nd and Baldwin County’s GCPL newcomers Rangers FC on June 9th. The team will make the quick trip east on I-10 to Pensacola on June 16th. On June 28th, AFC Mobile will get its second cross-division matchup against Louisiana’s Alexandria FC “Pool Boys.”
The Azaleas will then head to Foley, Alabama on June 30th to play Rangers FC once more. The final road game of the season sees AFC Mobile traveling to Moss Point to play the Riverhawks on July 7th.
AFC Mobile will conclude the 2018 regular season with the second-leg of the Forgotten Coast Cup against Port City FC back home at the Lip on July 14th.
This season, AFC Mobile will compete in the GCPL Eastern Conference which, in addition to AFC Mobile, includes Port City FC (Gulfport, MS), Riverhawks FC (Moss Point, MS), Pensacola FC, and Rangers FC (Foley, AL). The top two clubs from the East will join the top two clubs from the West and Central Conferences in a single-elimination knockout tournament for the GCPL Cup Championship.
Information about season ticket sales coming soon!
You must be logged in to post a comment.