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Penn FC
Full name	Penn Football Club
Nickname(s)	Penn
Founded	September 24, 2003; 15 years ago (2003-09-24) (as Harrisburg City Islanders);
Stadium	; FNB Field; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania;
Capacity	6,187
Owner	George Altirs; Eric Pettis; ;
Head Coach	Raoul Voss
League	; USL League One (2020)
2018	13th, Eastern Conference; Playoffs: DNQ
Website	Club website
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Home colors;	; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Away colors;
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	; Current season;

Penn FC (formerly the Harrisburg City Islanders) is an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2003, the team most recently played in the United Soccer League (since renamed the USL Championship), the second tier of the United States soccer league system.^[1] In October 2018, the club announced it will not participate in the 2019 season and resume play as a member of the new USL League One, in the third tier, starting in 2020.^[2]

On November 15, 2017 the team was rebranded as Penn FC.^[3] The rebrand served in conjunction with a partnership with Rush Soccer youth development program. Penn FC served Rush Soccer's professional team and the club's most important piece to their extensive network. The team plays its home games at FNB Field. The team's colors are blue, black and grey corresponding to Rush Soccer's branding established in 1997.

History

League

USL Pro Soccer League – inaugural season (2004)

The Harrisburg City Islanders were announced as a new professional soccer team on September 24, 2003 as a member USL Pro Soccer League’s Atlantic Division on the third tier of the American soccer pyramid. As the team prepared for its inaugural season, Bill Becher was named the first head coach of the club and forward David Bascome was signed as the first player. The City Islanders won their first match 5–2 on the road against the Northern Virginia Royals with Steve Fisher scoring the club's first ever goal.^[4]

The City Islanders were powerful contenders in the USL second division, finishing second the Atlantic Division and fifth overall in their inaugural season and qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the Atlantic Division Finals by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

USL Second Division and USL Pro (2005–2014)

The 2005 season saw the City Islanders continue to be contenders in the league, now organized in a single table as the USL Second Division (USL-2), finishing third in the table and qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the Atlantic Division Finals by the eventual champions, Charlotte Eagles. The season's success was recognized as Bill Becher was named USL-2 Coach of the Year, while Chad Severs was named Rookie of the Year who led the scoring with 13 goals and 5 assists.^[4]

In 2006, the club failed to reach the playoffs, but regained form in 2007. The City Islanders would win their first championship in USL Second Division Championship, defeating the Richmond Kickers on penalty kicks. Dustin Bixler was named the match's Most Valuable Player.^[4]

The City Islanders qualified for the playoffs in 2008 and 2009 but were unable to recapture the title. Danny Cepero played for Harrisburg on loan from the New York Red Bulls in 2008, and upon returning to New York, became the first goalkeeper in Major League Soccer history to score from open play.^[5] In 2009, Ty Shipalane became the second City Islander to win Rookie of the Year and became the first City Islander to jump directly to Major League Soccer after signing with D.C. United at the conclusion of the season.^[4]

The 2010 season would be the second time in the club's history missing the playoffs. On March 1, 2010, the City Islanders entered into an agreement to become the official USL affiliate of Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union. The affiliation would soon have City Islanders defender, Sheanon Williams sign with the Union and become an immediate insertion in the first tier club's starting eleven.^[6]

The 2011 season saw the USL Second Division be reorganized into the USL Pro with Harrisburg competing in the National Division. The City Islanders won the USL Pro National Division title over the Rochester Rhinos advancing to the first USL Pro final against the newly formed, and regular-season champion, Orlando City. Similar to the last championship appearance, the City Islanders would play to a draw (2–2) in regulation time, only this time falling on penalty kicks 3–2.^[4]

The City Islanders would have successful seasons in 2012 and 2013, but would earn a spot in the USL Pro final during the 2014 season after a dark horse run through the playoffs, having finished in the last remaining qualifier spot. The final was, again, played at a newly formed club, and regular-season champion, Sacramento Republic FC. Sacramento would win the title 2–0, with Harrisburg earning their second runner-up in four seasons.

USL and rebrand (2015–2018)

Undergoing massive expansion and vying for second division status in the American soccer pyramid, the USL Pro was rebranded as simply "USL." The re-branding and additional teams intended to increase the quality of play and infrastructure throughout the league, as well as provide better player development in cooperation with Major League Soccer. Since the league restructured, the City Islanders have struggled to keep pace, missing out on the playoffs for both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

On January 5, 2017, the United States Soccer Federation granted USL provisional Division II status; making the 2017 season the first time the City Islanders would compete as a Division II team.^[7] Shortly before the 2017 season, George Altirs was announced as new majority owner of the club so as to "stay in Harrisburg and build an international developmental base that is unique and exciting." As majority owner, Altirs "will oversee the technical side of the club, including player and staff selections, transfers, and outside, non-local partnerships for the Harrisburg City Islanders." The ownership addition was intended to allow the City Islanders to keep pace with the growth of the USL.^[8]

On November 15, 2017, it was announced that the City Islanders would be rebranded as Penn FC starting with the 2018 season. The rebrand was announced as a focus on player and product development, situating the team as the top of a development pyramid for the existing Rush Soccer program.^[3] The rebranding saw wholesale changes with the team's personnel, retaining only five players from the 2017 roster. Bill Becher was appointed technical director, leaving his role as the club's first and only head coach. In February 2017, Raoul Voss was announced as the first head coach for Penn FC.^[9] Ahead of the 2018 season, Penn FC made some key signings including the return of former City Islander standouts Ken Tribbett and Lucky Mkosana, and forward Tommy Heinemann.^[10]^[11]^[12]

Penn FC's inaugural season started off with mixed results, going 6-4-7 through their first 17 matches. Conflicts with baseball operations and schedule at FNB Field required the team to have an to have long away stints until a final 9-match home stand.^[13] The team's poor away form mid-season carried into the home-stand with Penn FC going 1-2-6 in their remaining 9 matches. The team finished 13th in the Eastern Conference, their lowest position since joining the USL.

Prior to the conclusion to the 2018 season, the Penn FC officially announced the team would be on hiatus for the 2019 season and return play in 2020 as part of the newly formed USL League One in the third tier of American soccer.^[14]

U.S. Open Cup

Penn FC also competes in the U.S. Open Cup, where they developed a reputation as "giant killers" for defeating several teams from Major League Soccer. Harrisburg boasts an overall record of 12–5–3 in the competition, including a perfect 5–0 mark against teams from the Premier Development League and 5–6 record against MLS clubs. The City Islanders first competed in the U.S. Open Cup in 2007, defeating two amateur squads before upsetting D.C. United 1–0 to reach the quarterfinals. They subsequently lost to the New England Revolution 1–2, but in 2009 exacted revenge by beating the Revolution 2–1 before losing to D.C. United 1–2 in the quarterfinals. The City Islanders repeated the feat in 2010, knocking off Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls 1–0 in the round of 16 and claiming a cash prize for advancing furthest of any USL Pro team in the tournament. The City Islanders again dispatched the New England Revolution in the 2012 edition of the U.S. Open Cup, prevailing on penalty kicks after a 3–3 draw in the round of 32. Harrisburg next defeated the Red Bulls 3–1 to advance to the quarterfinals, where they lost to the Philadelphia Union by a 5–2 scoreline. In 2012, the City Islanders again won the cash prize for advancing further than any USL Pro team in the tournament by virtue of a tie-breaker.

Friendlies

The City Islanders hosted several exhibition matches, or friendlies, against international and top-flight competition. A partnership with D.C. United of Major League Soccer created the "Clash of the Capitals," annual matches between the two capital cities held in 2005–06. In the inaugural edition of the competition in 2005, D.C. United won 1–0 in front of over 4,000 fans at the Skyline Sports Complex. The following year's matchup was staged at Cumberland Valley High School, where 5,133 fans turned out to witness Freddy Adu and United prevail 2–1. That same year included the City Islanders' first international exhibition, as the club defeated Jamaica's Village United F.C. 5–1 at Hersheypark Stadium.

In 2009, the City Islanders played Crystal Palace F.C. of the Football League Championship, England's second division, at Lancaster's Clipper Magazine Stadium. A crowd of 5,099 witnessed the match, a 3–1 Crystal Palace win that included goals by Palace stars Darren Ambrose, Neil Danns, and Freddie Sears. Brandon Swartzendruber scored the lone goal for the City Islanders.

Affiliation with Philadelphia Union

On March 1, 2010, the City Islanders entered into an agreement to become the official USL affiliate of Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union. As part of their affiliation, the City Islanders host annual friendly matches against the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. As of the 2014 season, the Islanders have only won one match against their top flight affiliate.

In 2010, the teams played to a 1–1 draw, with Danny Mwanga giving the Union a lead in the 30th minute before an own goal allowed Harrisburg to equalize a minute later. J.T. Noone appeared for both clubs in the match, playing the first half for the City Islanders before switching jerseys and completing the second half for Philadelphia.

The Union prevailed in the 2011 edition by a 5–3 scoreline.^[15] The City Islanders carried a 2–0 lead into halftime behind goals by Nelson Becerra and Andrew Welker, but heavy substitutions allowed the Union to demonstrate their superior depth, and they scored five times in thirty minutes before Jose Angulo pegged one back.

With both teams fielding numerous reserves, the City Islanders won the 2012 rematch, which was played at Hersheypark Stadium. Jorge Perlaza and Kai Herdling scored for the Union, while a brace by Garret Pettis and goal by Yann Ekra carried the USL-PRO outfit to the 3–2 victory.^[16]

After five years of cooperation, it was announced on August 19, 2015 that the affiliation would dissolve at the conclusion of the 2015 season as the Union would develop their own USL team, Bethlehem Steel FC, in the Lehigh Valley starting in 2016.^[17] The final friendly between the two teams as affiliates took place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in front of a record crowd of 6,546 attendees. The Union won the match 3–1.

The table below summarizes the results of the annual contests between the Islanders and Union.