The Mighty Oak 2016 Schedule Announced!

AFC Ann Arbor enters the club’s second season as its first in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). The Mighty Oak will compete in the Great Lakes West Conference of the Midwest Region in the NPSL. The Great Lakes West Conference is comprised of seven teams total. Six of the teams are from the state of Michigan including Grand Rapids FC, Detroit City FC, Lansing United, Kalamazoo FC and the Michigan Stars. The seventh team, the Dayton Dynamo, will be AFC Ann Arbor’s only match outside of the mitten state this upcoming season.

In total, the Mighty Oak will play a total of 16 matches, 10 of which will be played at the home pitch, Hollway Field at Pioneer High School.

Some notable home matches include:

-Season opener on Friday, April 29th, Arbor Day vs. Oakland County FC

-Second Memorial Day Classic against Grand Rapids FC on May 30th

-July 3rd league match against Detroit City FC

-Friendly against the Columbus Crew CP on July 15th

Supporters can purchase their 2016 season membership by visiting http://bit.ly/2016AFCAAMembership.

Keep up with all of the action and download the NPSL mobile app today. (Android) (Apple)


AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School.  For questions and comments please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.



AFC Ann Arbor Announces Open Tryouts!

On Friday February 19th, AFC Ann Arbor will host an open tryout at High Velocity Sports in Canton, MI.

The tryouts are open to anyone who is interested in playing soccer at a higher level, but space is limited and pre-registration is required.

When: Friday, February 19th, 2016
Time: Player Check-in at 7:30pm / Tryout will take place 8-10pm
Where: High Velocity 11v11 Dome: 46245 Michigan Ave, Canton, MI 48188
How: Registration is first come-first serve and can be completed here.

The cost is $39 and includes an AFC Ann Arbor training top.

After your registration & payment is received you will receive a follow-up email from the club which will require you to submit supplemental information prior to the try out.

Questions about the open tryouts can be directed to info@afcannarbor.com.

 

Top 10 Moments of 2015 Powered by Bank of Ann Arbor

Our inaugural year as club was an exciting one and to commemorate some of our accomplishment we've put together a Top 10 Moments of 2015 list powered by Bank of Ann Arbor. Each day until New Year's Eve, we'll be announcing one of the Top 10 moments counting down from 10 to 1.

10. Last minute win over Muskegon at Hollway Field

On May 31st, the Mighty Oak played host to the independent Muskegon Risers. The highly anticipated match up did not disappoint as possession bounced back and fourth between the two clubs throughout the match. While the game was knotted at 1 entering the final minutes, it looked as if this friendly was set to end as a draw. At time trickled away in stoppage play, the energy and momentum was controlled by AFC Ann Arbor and the amazing home crowd supporting them. In the 94th minute, the Mighty Oak drew a penalty kick giving them an opportunity to walk way with the win. Jay McIntosh was denied on his initial PK attempt but calmly found the back of the net as he put his own rebound past the keeper. The Mighty Oak held off a few final attempts by the Risers to hang on to a thrilling 2-1 victory earning the No. 10 spot in the #AFCTop10 of 2015.

9. USASA Region II National Amateur Cup win over RWB Adria in Kansas

RWB Adria was quite dominant in the inaugural season of the Great Lakes Premier League finishing at the top of the table and going unbeaten throughout league play.

AFC Ann Arbor actually faced RWB Adria (3) times in total in 2015, the first of which was in Overland Park, Kansas for the USASA Region II National Amateur Cup on Saturday, June 13th (did not count towards league play).

The game started off as everyone expected, with high intensity and great soccer by both sides, each looking to take control of the match. It was RWB Adria that broke the scoring open and took at 1-0 lead just past the midpoint of the first half.

The Mighty Oak were on their heels early in the match but responded after the first goal and upped the intensity and took control of the match. The Mighty Oak struck first in the second half with an unbelievable volley from striker Vaughn Frederick nearly 30 yards out from the goal. Former head coach David Hebestreit called it “the teams best goal of the year.”

“He controlled a failed clear with a chest trap and struck it before it hit the ground, beautifully and gracefully, so relaxed looking, but such a perfect volley,” added Hebestriet.

The 1-1 tie held for most of the second half with physicality of play increasing along with pace of play. But the synergy between Breitmeyer, Belhart and McIntosh was starting to come together and the three were able to put together a play that allowed Belhart to find the back of the net with what would eventually become the game winning goal.

Although the Mighty Oak weren’t able to beat the best in the league during regular season play, the 2-1 win over Adria in Kansas will always be a fond memory for the club.

8. Title Sponsor Announcement and Jersey unveiling at Michigan Theatre

7. Youth Club Walkout and Halftime Matches

One of the funnest things all year was the walkouts and halftime matches for our Little Hooligans. We invited the Ann Arbor Rec & Ed, Canton Celtic, Saline Area Soccer Association, Michigan Tigers and more to participate in our actual match experience. It provided a one of kind opportunity for the youth players in our community and was just as special for the Mighty Oak players as it was the youth players.

 

6. Winning league opener at home 4-0 over Oakland United FC

In his debut for the club, Ade Adeniyi chipped in two goals to lead the Mighty Oak to a 4-0 victory over Oakland United FC for the first league match of the season.

 

5. Post Match Autographs

One of the fan favorites, especially for our Little Hooligans was the post match autographs presented by Audi of Ann Arbor. Getting to meet and interact with the players after the match was almost surreal to a lot of the kids in attendance. A special thanks to Audi of Ann Arbor for supporting the Mighty Oak and making post match autographs possible.

 

4. Skydiving the game ball in.

 

3. Joining the NPSL

Making the move to the NPSL was huge for the club in terms of providing an elite level of competition on a national platform while strengthening the clubs roots in the community.

Competing in the Great Lakes West conference of the Midwest Region, the Mighty Oak will be one of seven teams in the West, 6 of which are Michigan based teams including Detroit City FC and Grand Rapids FC.
For more information on the NPSL: http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/

 

 2.  Hiring Eric Rudland

The hiring of Coach Rudland will allow the Mighty Oak to compete at a high level immediately. The leadership and experience he brings to the table will make AFC Ann Arbor a real competitor in the NPSL Midwest Region this year.

 1.  The Inaugural Game at Hollway Field!

#Strength in the Oak



AFC Ann Arbor Hires Eric Rudland as Head Coach & Sporting Director

AFC Ann Arbor has hired Eric Rudland to be the Head Coach and Sporting Director of the Mighty Oak.

Rudland joins Ann Arbor after two seasons with Lansing United of the NPSL. In his first year with LanU, he led the club to a 10-3-4 record and a Midwest Region championship.

Rudland, having coached in the US and UK, brings a great deal of experience with him and is thrilled to take the helm for the Mighty Oak.

“First & foremost I want to thank Jeremy Sampson & Lansing United for the opportunity to manage a team in the NPSL. I wouldn’t be where I am today professionally if it weren’t for that opportunity,” said Rudland.

Co-owner and player, Knox Cameron led the coaching search efforts for AFC Ann Arbor and couldn’t be more excited about the new direction for the club.

“Eric is very knowledgeable, a proven leader and has great experience in building championship teams. He’s an excellent recruiter and developer of talent- the ownership group is excited about the product that will be on display for our fans,” said Cameron.

As this new chapter unfolds for both AFC Ann Arbor and new Head Coach Eric Rudland, he won’t be wasting any time to settle into his new role.

“I’d also like to thank the AFCAA ownership group for offering me the opportunity to be a part of a growing and passionate organization who are strategically positioning themselves for success both on and off the pitch. The transition to AFCAA is exciting for a number of reasons. Ann Arbor is the community that my family and I live in and we are looking forward to giving back to the local soccer scene & the city of Ann Arbor. The AFC ownership group is very committed to growing a high level club and has the resources & intellectual capital to do so. Their commitment to invest in the football side of the organization is attractive & will position the club for future success on the pitch.”

He added, “In the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to connecting with returning & prospective players and initiating dialogue with the supporters in an effort to build towards the club’s second season.”

AFC Ann Arbor recently completed the inaugural season competing in the Great Lakes Premier League finishing in third place.

AFC Ann Arbor Joins the NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that AFC Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI) has joined the league as an expansion team. The club will compete in the Midwest Region.

“We are thrilled to have another NPSL team in Michigan,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone commented. “The state and the entire Midwest Region has become a soccer hotbed and the rivalries between clubs there are some of the best in the country.”

AFC Ann Arbor, also known as “The Mighty Oak,” was founded in 2014 by a group of residents with a desire to have a soccer team in the diverse and passionate sporting city of Ann Arbor. The club is comprised of nine owners, including former Columbus Crew striker Knox Cameron. The ownership group guides the club in a number of business operations including marketing, sponsorships, merchandising, and community outreach.

“The ownership group felt joining a national and well-established league positioned the club for greater long-term success,” Cameron added. “We are passionate about furthering the competitive landscape within Michigan. Having the opportunity to compete against the likes of Detroit and Lansing bodes well for the growth of the game”

Ann Arbor’s technical staff is led by Head Coach and Sporting Director Eric Rudland, who spent the last two seasons at the helm of Lansing United. He led Lansing to a Midwest Region championship in his first season and finished with a 16-6-6 record. Rudland gained further head coaching experience with Spring Arbor University, Madonna University, and Albion College. He also spent time as an assistant coach with Crewe Alexandra FC in England.

“We bring a lot of excitement following a very successful inaugural season,” AFC Ann Arbor Co-Owner Bilal Saeed added. “Our community has shown strong support for our club as we averaged over 1,200 fans per game in the 2015 season. Our matchday experience creates an exciting atmosphere at Hollway Stadium for soccer fans young and old.”

AFC Ann Arbor also experienced success off the field, securing shirt sponsorships with the Bank of Ann Arbor and Audi of Ann Arbor. The club expects to immediately compete at a high level and contend for a Midwest Region championship.

More information about AFC Ann Arbor can be found at www.afcannarbor.com or by following the club on Twitter (@afcannarbor), Instagram (@afcannarbor), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/afcannarbor).

ABOUT THE NPSL 

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL remains one of the largest national leagues in North America.