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{{short description|Association football team}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Fort Wayne FC
| image = File:Fort Wayne FC logo.svg
| upright = 0.72
| fullname = Fort Wayne Football Club
| founded = {{Start date and age|2019|9|9}}
| stadium = Shields Field [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]
| capacity = 3,200
| owntitle = Owners
| owner = {{Collapsible list|[[DaMarcus Beasley]] Mark Music John Bellio Drew Little Tom Lapsley Michael Khorshid}}
| mgrtitle = Sporting director
| manager = [[Mike Avery]]
| coach = Mike Avery
| league = [[USL League Two]]
| season = [[2022 USL League Two season|2022]]
| position = 3rd, Valley Division Playoffs: DNQ
| website = https://www.fortwaynefc.com
| pattern_la1 = _pumaglory22eb
| pattern_b1 = _pumaglory22eb
| pattern_ra1 = _pumaglory22eb
| pattern_sh1 =
| pattern_so1 = _color_3_stripes_dark_blue
| leftarm1 = FFFFFF
| body1 = FFFFFF
| rightarm1 = FFFFFF
| shorts1 = 0000FF
| socks1 = FFFFFF
| pattern_la2 = _pumaglory22w
| pattern_b2 = _pumaglory22w
| pattern_ra2 = _pumaglory22w
| pattern_sh2 = _skybottom
| pattern_so2 = _3_sky_stripes
| leftarm2 = ff0000
| body2 = ff0000
| rightarm2 = ff0000
| shorts2 = ffffff
| socks2 = ff0000
| American = true
}}

'''Fort Wayne Football Club''' is a pre-professional [[association football|soccer]] club in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]], United States. The club currently competes in the Valley Division of the [[USL League Two]], the fourth tier of the [[United States soccer league system|American Soccer Pyramid]]. Fort Wayne FC played home games in its first two seasons at Shields Field Stadium at [[Bishop Dwenger High School]]. On January 10, 2023, the club announced it would play home games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Bishop
John M. D’Arcy Stadium on the campus of the University of Saint Francis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bishop Dwenger making progress on new stadium|url=https://wpta21.com/2019/03/27/bishop-dwenger-making-progress-on-new-stadium/|last=Groth|first=Zach|date=March 28, 2019|website=WPTA21|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bishop Dwenger students, parents check out new football stadium for first time|url=https://fortwaynesnbc.com/2019/08/31/bishop-dwenger-students-parents-check-out-new-football-stadium-for-first-time/|last=Tran|first=Louie|date=August 31, 2019|website=Fort Wayne's NBC|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

== History ==

Fort Wayne FC was founded by a group of local business people who wanted to provide a stepping stone for young and talented soccer players. In 2019, the club applied to and joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as an expansion team for the 2020 season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC Joins the NPSL for the 2020 Season|url=https://www.npsl.com/13198/|date=September 9, 2019|website=National Premier Soccer League|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> In a public announcement on September 9, 2019, City of Fort Wayne Mayor [[Tom Henry]] introduced the club to the city and Fort Wayne FC's president Dr. Erik Magner introduced Greg Mauch as the club's general manager.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MAYOR HENRY WELCOMES FORT WAYNE FC; ANNOUNCES NEW SOCCER EXPANSION FOR 2020 SEASON - City of Fort Wayne|url=https://www.cityoffortwayne.org/latest-news/4564-mayor-henry-welcomes-fort-wayne-fc-announces-new-soccer-expansion-for-2020-season.html|website=www.cityoffortwayne.org|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne adds pro soccer team|url=https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/fort-wayne-officials-to-make-major-sports-announcement/|date=September 9, 2019|website=WANE|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Professional soccer team coming to Fort Wayne|url=https://wpta21.com/2019/09/09/professional-soccer-team-coming-to-fort-wayne/|last=Burbrink|first=Jacob|date=September 9, 2019|website=WPTA21|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> On December 19, 2019, the club announced Nick Potter and Russ Lawson as the club's assistant coaches.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC Welcomes Nick Potter and Russ Lawson as Assistant Coaches|url=https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/fort-wayne-fc-welcomes-nick-potter-and-russ-lawson-as-assistant-coaches|website=Fort Wayne FC|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

On January 29, 2020, the club introduced Jeff Richey as the goalkeeper coach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Goalkeeper Coach: All About Jeff Richey|url=https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/jeffrichey|website=Fort Wayne FC|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> Two weeks later, FWFC announced [[Mike Avery]] as the club's head coach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Goalkeeper Coach: All About Jeff Richey|url=https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/jeffrichey|website=Fort Wayne FC|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ex-Valpo coach to lead local soccer club {{!}} Sports {{!}} Journal Gazette|url=https://www.journalgazette.net/sports/20200215/ex-valpo-coach-to-lead-local-soccer-club|website=www.journalgazette.net|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC names head coach, inaugural schedule|url=https://fortwaynesnbc.com/2020/02/14/fort-wayne-fc-names-head-coach-inaugural-schedule/|last1=Cr|first1=Kayla|last2=all|date=February 14, 2020|website=Fort Wayne's NBC|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

On March 26, 2020, the NPSL announced the cancellation of the 2020 summer session due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Message from Kenneth Farrell, NPSL Chairman of the Board|url=https://www.npsl.com/14023/|date=March 26, 2020|website=National Premier Soccer League|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Soccer club sees season canceled {{!}} Professional {{!}} Journal Gazette|url=https://www.journalgazette.net/sports/professional/20200327/soccer-club-sees-season-canceled|website=www.journalgazette.net|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC season canceled amid COVID-19 pandemic|url=https://www.wfft.com/content/sports/Fort-Wayne-FC-season-canceled-amid-COVID-19-pandemic-569149631.html|website=WFFT News|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

On October 28, 2020, [[USL League Two]] announced its addition of Fort Wayne FC into their league for the 2021 and 2022 season. It was also announced that Fort Wayne native and former [[United States men's national soccer team]] and Major League Soccer (MLS) player [[DaMarcus Beasley]] would be a co-owner of the club. <ref>{{Cite web|last=mlssoccer|title=Former MLS and USMNT legend DaMarcus Beasley officially joins Fort Wayne FC ownership {{!}} MLSSoccer.com|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/former-mls-and-usmnt-legend-damarcus-beasley-officially-joins-fort-wayne-fc|access-date=2021-06-16|website=mlssoccer|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC To Join USL League Two For 2021 Season|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/news_article/show/1129987|website=[[USL League Two]]|date=October 28, 2020|access-date=October 28, 2020}}</ref><ref name=onetwo>{{cite web|url=https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/fwfc-joins-usl2|title=Club Joins USL League Two for 2021 With Plans for USL League One in 2023|date=October 28, 2020|work=Fort Wayne FC}}</ref> The club plans to join [[USL League One]] by 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC To Join USL League One In 2023|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1130002|website=[[USL League One]]|date=October 28, 2020}}</ref><ref name=onetwo />

On May 9, 2021, the club played their first-ever match, a 3–0 loss to [[Oakland County FC]].

On May 23, 2021, the club played their first-ever home match in a 2–1 loss to [[Toledo Villa FC]], where the club's first goal was scored by forward Noe Garcia in front of a crowd of over 2,700.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-24|title=Fort Wayne FC draws huge crowd for club’s first-ever home match|url=https://www.wane.com/sports/local-sports/fort-wayne-fc-draws-huge-crowd-for-clubs-first-ever-home-match/|access-date=2021-06-16|website=WANE 15|language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 23, 2021, the club won their first-ever match, a 1–0 friendly win over [[Erie Commodores FC]], the goal being scored by forward Max Amoako.

On June 11, 2021, the club won their first [[USL League Two]] match, and first ever away match with a 3–1 win over [[Toledo Villa FC]], with goals being scored by Pep Casas, Joe Kouadio and Breno Boccoli.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC picks up first league win over Toledo|url=https://www.wfft.com/content/sports/Fort-Wayne-FC-picks-up-first-league-win-over-Toledo-574617461.html|access-date=2021-06-16|website=WFFT News|language=en}}</ref>

On June 25, 2021, the club hosted its first international-friendly match, welcoming the Chivas Guadalajara's U19 Reservas.

On August 31, 2021, the Club announced that Head Coach Mike Avery signed a contract extension for 2022 while also being appointed as sporting director for the club. Avery reports directly to and works alongside part-owner, DaMarcus Beasley.

On September 22, 2021, the Club announced that Laurie Perolio-Bullinger would be leading Club Operations with DaMarcus Beasley leading Football Operations.

== Colors and badge ==

In 2022, Fort Wayne FC signed a multi-year agreement with global sports company, PUMA, as their official apparel partner.

The 2022 PUMA CUP branded home kit featured a bold design that incorporated a wavy design in royal blue and the away featured PUMA's Team Liga 25 red kit.

Fort Wayne FC's 2021 home kit was white, away kit was blue, and the goalkeeper's kit was red. The three-wave lines on the club's uniform jersey sleeves, shorts and socks represent the three rivers, [[St. Marys River (Indiana and Ohio)|St. Mary's River]], [[St. Joseph River (Maumee River tributary)|St. Joseph River]] and [[Maumee River]], of Fort Wayne.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC Crest Explained|url=https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/aboutcrest|website=Fort Wayne FC|access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> Symbols of the [[flag of Indiana]], the flaming torch and its stars, can be found in front of the Fort Wayne FC uniform jersey.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fort Wayne FC Uniforms Explained|url=https://www.fortwaynefc.com/news/uniforms|website=Fort Wayne FC|access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

==Year-by-year==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Division
!League
!Regular Season (W–L–T)
!Playoffs
!Open Cup
|-
|[[2021 USL League Two season|2021]]
|4
|[[USL League Two|USL2]]
|8th, Great Lakes (1–8–5)
|''did not qualify''
|''Ineligible''
|-
|[[2022 USL League Two season|2022]]
|4
|USL2
|3rd, Valley (9–3–2)
|''did not qualify''
|''Ineligible''
|}

== Coaching staff ==
=== Front office and technical staff ===
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Laurie Perolio-Bullinger]], Operations Director
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[DaMarcus Beasley]], Football Operations Director
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mike Avery]], head coach, sporting director

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2019]]
[[Category:2019 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:USL League Two teams]]
[[Category:Soccer clubs in Indiana]]
[[Category:Sports in Fort Wayne, Indiana]]

== External links ==
* {{official website|https://www.fortwaynefc.com/}}

{{USL League Two}}
{{Soccer in the United States}}
{{Indiana Sports}}

Fort Wayne FC - Revision history

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