Memphis 901 FC
ClubnameMemphis 901 FC
Upright0.7
FullnameMemphis 901 FC
FoundedJanuary 8, 2018 (age 8)
DissolvedNovember 13, 2024 (age 1)
StadiumAutoZone Park
Memphis, Tennessee
Capacity10,000
OwnerPeter B. Freund
Craig Unger
Tim Howard
MgrtitleSporting director
ManagerCaleb Patterson-Sewell
LeagueUSL Championship
Season2024
Position3rd, Western Conference
Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals
Websitememphis901fc.com
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Leftarm 1003087
Body 1003087
Rightarm 1003087
Shorts 1003087
Socks 1003087
Pattern la 2_tijuana2223a
Pattern ra 2_tijuana2223a
Leftarm 2FFFFFF
Body 2FFFFFF
Rightarm 2FFFFFF
Shorts 2FFFFFF
Socks 2FFFFFF
Americantrue

Memphis 901 FC was an American professional soccer team based in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 2018, the team made its debut in the USL Championship in 2019.[1][2]

On November 13, 2024, it was announced that the team would be folding after they were unable to secure funding for a new soccer-specific stadium at the fairgrounds site. The USL Championship franchise rights were transferred to Santa Barbara Sky FC, based in Santa Barbara, California.[3][4]

Colors and badge

The club's name referred to the local area code for the Memphis area.[5] On September 1, 2018, Memphis 901 FC unveiled their logo, which uses concentric lines styled like neon signs to form a LP record; the lines are a reference to Beale Street, which has several buildings that use neon signage.[6]

Sponsorship

SeasonKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2019–2021NikeTerminix[7]
2022–2023Puma
2024Charly[8]Cancer Kickers[9]

Stadium

The club played at AutoZone Park, a baseball stadium that is also home to the minor league Memphis Redbirds. For its matches, the stadium's dirt infield was replaced with sod, and a pitch was laid along the first baseline.[10] The club also played at Mike Rose Soccer Complex for a U.S. Open Cup game against Hartford Athletic on May 29, 2019, and for a U.S. Open Cup game against Orlando City SC on June 12, 2019.[11]

On October 18, 2022, the club announced plans for a new soccer-specific stadium with a capacity of 10,000. The stadium was planned to open in time for the 2025 USL Championship season and would have been constructed at the current site of the Mid-South Coliseum, which closed in 2006.[12][13]

Ownership

The club was owned by Peter B. Freund, principal owner of Trinity Sports Holdings, Craig Unger, and former United States men's national soccer team goalkeeper Tim Howard.[14] Trinity Sports Holdings' portfolio includes minor league baseball clubs Memphis Redbirds, the Charleston RiverDogs and the Williamsport Crosscutters. Unger also served as president, general manager, and part owner of the Redbirds. The consortium also purchased a majority holding in English fifth-tier club, Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.[15]

Club culture

Rivalries

Memphis competed in the Southern Harm derby against rivals Birmingham Legion.[16]

Supporters

The Bluff City Mafia supported Memphis 901. Founded in August 2018, before Memphis' inaugural season, they were known for their march from a local Irish pub to AutoZone Park before every home game.[17][18]

Before every home game, the Bluff City Mafia invited local celebrities and officials to take part in what had become known as the Guitar Smash, an homage to Memphis' musical roots.[19]

Players and staff

Final roster

Staff

Technical staff

Team records

Year-by-year

SeasonUSL ChampionshipPlay-offsU.S. Open CupTop scorerHead coach
PWLDGFGAPtsPosPlayerGoals
201934918737523415th, Eastern
30th, Overall		Did not qualify4th RoundBrandon Allen10Tim Mulqueen
20201547424311611th, Eastern
4th, Group G		Did not qualifyCancelledCal Jennings9Tim Mulqueen (2–6–4)
Ben Pirmann (2–1–0)
202132141084742507th, Eastern
4th, Central		Conference QuarterfinalsCancelledKyle Murphy20Ben Pirmann
20223421856733682nd, Eastern
3rd, Overall		Conference Semifinals2nd RoundPhillip Goodrum21Ben Pirmann
2023341410105953524th, Eastern
5th, Overall		Conference QuarterfinalsRound of 32Rodrigo da Costa15Stephen Glass
202434149115241513rd, Western
8th, Overall		Conference QuarterfinalsRound of 32Bruno Lapa11Stephen Glass

1. Top scorer includes statistics from league matches only.

Head coaches

  • Includes USLC regular season, USLC playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
CoachNationalityStartEndGamesWinLossDrawWin %
Tim MulqueenUnited StatesAugust 15, 2018September 15, 2020
Ben Pirmann (Interim)[20]United StatesSeptember 15, 2020April 8, 2021
Ben Pirmann[21]United StatesApril 8, 2021November 17, 2022
Stephen Glass[22]ScotlandNovember 22, 2022November 13, 2024

Average attendance

YearReg. seasonPlayoffs
20196,623—
2020N/A—
20214,075—
20223,6346,037
20233,3443,587
20242,951—

[23][24] Attendance records taken from USL Championship match reports and collated by Soccer Stadium Digest, 2022.

References

  1. ^ "Memphis Joins the USL for 2019 Season". United Soccer League (USL). Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  2. ^ "USL awards Memphis expansion team for 2019". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Moore, Raven & Davis, Deja (November 13, 2024). "901 FC leaving Memphis for Santa Barbara: USL". WREG.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  4. ^ "United Soccer League announces transfer of Memphis 901 FC's USL Championship rights to Santa Barbara SKY FC". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  5. ^ Burgess, Katherine (September 1, 2018). "Pro soccer team reveals new, Memphis-focused identity". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  6. ^ Nichols, Meagan (September 1, 2018). "Memphis pro soccer club unveils 901-centric name, sells out AutoZone Park". Memphis Business Journal. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  7. ^ "Terminix Announced As Memphis 901 FC Front-Of-Jersey Sponsor". www.memphis901fc.com. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  8. ^ "Memphis 901 FC Partners with CHARLY as Club's Exclusive Apparel Provider"
  9. ^ "Memphis 901 FC Unveils 2024 Home Kit with Cancer Kickers Soccer Club as Front Jersey Sponsor"
  10. ^ Giannotto, Mark (August 31, 2018). "Memphis, AutoZone Park get set for first 'test run' with pro soccer". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "2019 Schedule". memphis901fc.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  12. ^ "Memphis 901 FC Announces Plans for a New Soccer Specific Stadium". Memphis 901 FC. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  13. ^ Davis, Corey (February 13, 2023). "City seeks designer for proposed $52M stadium for Memphis 901 FC, with Mid-South Coliseum torn down". Memphis Business Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "Front Office". Memphis 901 FC. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  15. ^ "Trinity Sports Holdings Adds East London Football Club". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  16. ^ "A brief introduction to Birmingham vs. Memphis, AKA Southern Harm". uslchampionship.com. June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "About". Bluff City Mafia. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  18. ^ "Bluff City Mafia readies for return to Memphis 901 FC match traditions". localmemphis.com. June 15, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  19. ^ Arila, John (July 16, 2019). "901 FC Enlists Local Hoops Legend Hardaway for Guitar Smash". USL Championship. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  20. ^ "Memphis 901 FC Dismisses Head Coach Tim Mulqueen". memphis901fc.com. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  21. ^ "Memphis 901 FC Names Ben Pirmann Head Coach". memphis901fc.com. April 8, 2021. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  22. ^ "Memphis 901 FC Tabs Former MLS, Scottish Premiership Manager Stephen Glass as new Head Coach". memphis901fc.com. November 22, 2022.
  23. ^ "2022 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  24. ^ Morrissey, John. "USL Championship Attendance Tracker". www.usltactics.com. Retrieved 2024-11-14.