Grand Rapids FC was an American soccer club based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, whose senior men's team played in USL League Two. The team was founded in 2014 and ceased operations in 2021. Its first season was in 2015. It was initially funded by a group of supporters who purchased memberships to cover the operating expenses, as well as by local sponsors.

History Grand Rapids FC (GRFC) was started by a group of Grand Rapids residents as a community-funded project along the lines of Nashville FC. Fundraising began on February 14, 2014, by word of mouth and was opened to the public a month later. The team applied to the National Premier Soccer League for the 2015 season but their application was denied. Instead, GRFC and AFC Ann Arbor (also denied an NPSL bid in 2015) founded the Great Lakes Premier League. The new league held its inaugural meeting on January 17, 2015, with six teams.

Following a 2015 season in which GRFC finished in second place, averaging 4,509 fans per game, the team announced on September 25, 2015, that they would leave the Great Lakes Premier League to join the National Premier Soccer League.

The 2016 season resulted in a first-place position in the NPSL Great Lakes West conference and qualification for the playoffs by beating AFC Ann Arbor in a 3–1 victory in front of a club record 6,854 spectators. The club reached the final of the NPSL Midwest Regional playoffs and beat Indy Eleven NPSL in front of a record attendance of 6,912, qualifying the team for the 2017 US Open Cup. The following day GRFC lost against 2016 NPSL champions AFC Cleveland on penalties.

On November 1, 2016, the club announced they would add a women's team under the same GRFC banner, which would begin play in 2017 in a new Midwest division of the United Women's Soccer league. The women's team plays at Grandville High School in Grandville, Michigan. The Grand Rapids FC (women) won the 2017 United Women's Soccer Championship in their inaugural season.

On December 5, 2019 it was announced that the club would be moving from the NPSL to USL League Two. Also during this time, the ownership of the women's side was transferred to Midwest United FC and their name was changed to reflect this change.

Grand Rapids FC ceased operations on October 27, 2021. The club cited that the lack of an adequate home venue and the financial challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the club.

Colors and badge

On March 14, 2014, representatives of the club released their vision for the official club logo and colors. The badge draws inspiration from the early German influence in Grand Rapids' brewing, notably Christoph Kusterer, as well as city design. The combination of royal and navy blue reflects a continuity with West Michigan sports teams and various Grand Rapids imagery.

Stadium

In 2020 and 2021, Grand Rapids FC had used the Midwest United FC Soccer Complex as their home field. Prior to 2020, Houseman Field in the Midtown neighborhood of Grand Rapids had been the home field since the club's inception.

Record attendance 6,912 – July 22, 2016, vs Indy Eleven NPSL at Houseman Field (second game of a doubleheader, attendance counted both games) 6,854 – July 8, 2016, vs AFC Ann Arbor at Houseman Field (single game record)

Head coaches George Moni (2015–2017) Lewis Robinson (2018–2019) James Gilpin (2020) Stuart Collins (2021)

Honors National Premier Soccer League Conference championships (1) Midwest Region – Great Lakes West Conference: 2016 Minor competitions West Michigan Community Cup: 2020

Statistics Year-by-year YearTierLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsU.S. Open CupAverage AttendanceAverage League Attendance20155GLPL2nd of 5 (3–3–2)―Ineligible4,5093,94520164NPSL1st of 7, Midwest – Great Lakes West (7–1–4)Regional finalIneligible4,3154,78420174NPSL3rd of 8, Midwest – Great Lakes (6–6–2)First round2,6912,58820184NPSL2nd of 7, Midwest – Great Lakes (7–3–2)Regional first round――20194NPSL3rd of 8, Midwest – Great Lakes (9–3–2)――20204USL2Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic20214USL24th of 9, Central – Great Lakes (7–2–5)――

Historic record vs opponents Legend 0–0–0Win–loss-draw 0–0Win–loss *No games played

Opponent League Playoffs U.S. Open Amateur Cup Played Total Win % AAFC Lumberjacks * * * * 1–0 1 1–0–0 3 0 +3 1.000 AFC Ann Arbor 4–5–1 * * * * 10 4–5–1 15 13 +2 .450 AFC Cleveland * 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) * * * 1 0–0–1 0 0 0 .500 Ann Arbor FC * * * 1–0 * 1 1–0–0 4 1 +3 1.000 Chicago FC United * * 0–1 * * 1 0–1–0 0 1 −1 .000 Croatian Eagles 1–0–1 * * * * 2 1–0–1 3 1 +2 .750 Dayton Dutch Lions 1–0–0 * * * * 1 1–0–0 6 1 +5 1.000 Dayton Dynamo 2–0–0 * * * * 2 2–0–0 2 0 +2 1.000 Detroit City FC 2–2–4 * * * * 8 2–2–4 13 12 +1 .500 Duluth FC * 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) * * * 1 0–0–1 2 2 0 .500 FC Columbus 1–3–0 * * * * 4 1–3–0 3 8 −5 .250 FC Indiana 6–0–0 * * * * 6 6–0–0 26 2 +24 1.000 Flint City Bucks 1–0–1 * * * 0–1 3 1–1–1 4 4 0 .500 Fort Wayne FC 0–0–2 * * * * 2 0–0–2 1 1 0 .500 Indy Eleven NPSL * 1–0 * * * 1 1–0–0 1 0 +1 1.000 Kalamazoo FC 6–2–2 * * * * 10 6–2–2 20 10 +10 .700 Kings Hammer FC 0–1–0 * * * * 1 0–1–0 2 3 –1 .000 Lansing United 2–1–1 * * * 0–0–1 (0–1 PKs) 5 2–1–2 9 7 +2 .600 Livonia City FC * * * 0–1 * 1 0–1–0 0 1 –1 .000 Michigan Stars FC 3–1–2 * * * * 6 3–1–2 7 5 +2 .667 Milwaukee Torrent 2–0–2 * * * * 4 2–0–2 7 5 +2 .750 Muskegon Risers SC * * * * 2–0 2 2–0–0 5 3 +2 1.000 Oakland County FC 3–1–0 * * * * 4 3–1–0 10 4 +6 .750 RWB Adria 0–2–0 * * * * 2 0–2–0 2 6 −4 .000 South Bend Lions FC 1–0–1 * * * * 2 1–0–1 4 3 +1 .750 Toledo Villa FC 4–0–0 * * * * 4 4–0–0 17 3 +14 1.000Total 39–18–17 1–0–2 (0–2 PKs) 0–1 1–1 3–1–1 (0–1 PKs) 85 44–21–20 166 96 +70 .635 Note: Table includes all competitive matches and does not include friendlies. Updated to end of 2021 season.

Player records

Goals RankPlayerGoalsYears 1 Scott Doney 15 2016–2020 2 Matt Whelan 10 2018–2020 Matty Cornish 2021 4 Noble Sullivan 7 2015–2018 Jalen Rodríguez 2017–2019 Caleb Postlewait 2017–2019 Samuel Biek 2019 TJ Ifaturoti 2019, 2021 9 Anthony Bowie 6 2016–2020 10 Greg Timmer 5 2016–2017, 2019–2020 Joe Broekhuizen 2016–2020 Eric Conerty 2018–2021

Appearances RankPlayerYears 1 Scott Doney 50 2016–2020 2 Tony Deakin 44 2015–2018, 2020–2021 3 Noah Fazekas 42 2016–2018 4 Jack McCarren 40 2018–2021 5 Caleb Postlewait 35 2017–2019 6 Nick Abdoo 34 2015–2018 Eric Conerty 2018–2021 8 Jake VanderLaan 31 2016–2020 9 Noble Sullivan 30 2015–2018 Anthony Bowie 2016–2020 Joe Broekhuizen 2016–2020 Daire O'Riordan 2018–2020

Note: Table includes all competitive matches and does not include friendlies. Updated to end of 2021 season. Reference:

Club culture

Supporters The Grand Army was the supporters group for Grand Rapids FC. Starting in 2015, all pre-game festivities were held at Bob's Bar and a march led through the Midtown neighborhood. In June 2015 a fanzine entitled What if it Rains started publication. The name of the magazine referred to one of the reasons the NPSL originally declined the club's application and celebrated the club's massive support.

References

External links