Tombstone
Born: November 15, 2017 – Re-branded from Harrisburg CIty Islanders
Ceased Operations (professional club): Late 2018
First Match: March 24, 2018 (L 1-0 @ Charleston Battery)
Last Match: October 13, 2018 (T 0-0 vs. Toronto FC II)
USL Championships: None
Stadium
FNB Field
Opened: 1987
Marketing
Team Colors: Blue, White & Black1“Soccer,” http://GeorgeAltirs.com, accessed December 7, 202, georgealtirs.com/soccer/
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: George Altirs & Eric Pettis
Major League Soccer Affiliation:
Background
Long-time U.S. lower division club Harrisburg City Islanders played their final season under the “Penn FC” name in 2018. The re-brand, announced in November 2017, followed the acquisition of majority interest in the Islanders earlier that year by Capelli Sport CEO George Altirs. Capelli is a New York-based soccer apparel and equipment company.
Along with the re-brand came a leadership change for the club. Bill Becher, the only head coach that the Islanders had ever known for fourteen seasons, was replaced as head coach by Raoul Voss. Becher, who had also served as the Islanders GM in recent seasons, had deep ties to the Harrisburg community as a player for the Harrisburg Heat indoor team from 1991 to 1999.
Penn FC had a disappointing performance on the field in 2018, finishing 13th in the United Soccer League’s 16-club table with a record of 9 wins, 15 losses and 10 draws.
Zimbabwean forward Lucky Mkosana, who had previously player for Islanders in 2012-13, was Penn FC’s top scorer with 11 goals.
Status
With two games remaining in the 2018 USL season, Penn FC announced it would go on hiatus for the 2019 season and seek a return in the 3rd Division USL League One in 2020. Club officials cited the team’s lack of a suitable soccer stadium as a key factor.2Pickel, Greg, “Penn FC soccer club won’t play in 2019 as it looks for new stadium, plans 2020 return in new league,” Pennlive.com, accessed December 7, 2021, https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2018/10/penn_fc_soccer_club_wont_play.html (Penn FC shared FNB Field with its primary tenant, the Harrisburg Senators minor league baseball team).
Penn FC still exists as an elite youth club. But with no apparent plans to return to USL play in 2022 three years on, we consider the professional club defunct. Former Islanders coach/GM Bill Becher remains with Penn FC as its youth Director of Coaching as of late 2021.
Penn FC Video
Penn FC hosts North Carolina FC at FNB Field. September 16th, 2018
Downloads
2018 United Soccer League Media Guide
2018 United Soccer League Media Guide
Links
United Soccer Leagues Media Guides
United Soccer Leagues Programs
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