Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1998[7] and beginning play in 1999,[8] the club plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.[9] Since 2013, the Riverhounds have played their home games at the 5,000-seat Highmark Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium located in Station Square.[10] Their current head coach is Bob Lilley.[11] Saint Lucian international David Flavius currently holds the club records for most appearances and goals which he set over his eight seasons with the Riverhounds between 1999 and 2006.[12] In June 2017, the Riverhounds entered into a developmental partnership with the Ocean City Nor'easters of the Premier Development League, running through the 2018 season.[13]

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Full namePittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer Club
Nickname(s)The Hounds[1]
FoundedMarch 11, 1998 (1998-03-11)[2][3]
StadiumHighmark Stadium
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[4]
Capacity5,000[4]
OwnerTuffy Shallenberger[5]
Head coachBob Lilley
LeagueUSL Championship[6]
20191st, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
WebsiteClub website

In 2013, the Riverhounds organization announced its intentions to join Major League Soccer by 2023 (however, as of 2019, the MLS has not listed Pittsburgh in a list of possible expansion cities). Highmark Stadium initially seated 3,500 spectators, though the stadium is designed to be capable of being expanded to 18,500.[14][15]

History
Main article: History of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Colors and badge

Originally, the Riverhounds' colors were predominantly red with smaller amounts of black and white. The original logo was designed by Pittsburgh-based BD&E. The firm made a strategic decision to not make the club's colors black and gold. The choice meant the Hounds would not align with the region's established professional sports identity, but would allow the soccer fans' jerseys to stand out in a Pittsburgh crowd.[16] The club adopted new colors, predominantly blue with white and black added, before the start of the 2008 season to honor their academy and training partnership with Everton. The use of blue was also an allusion to the blue collar populace of Pittsburgh.[17][18] Beginning in 2014, the Riverhounds began wearing black and gold uniforms more regularly, aligning the club with the colors representative of Pittsburgh's other professional sports teams. Blue and black kits continued to be worn as an alternate third version.[19]

On February 16, 2018, the Riverhounds unveiled a new crest as part of its rebranding.[20] The new crest incorporates traditional Pittsburgh sports colors with important symbols of the city such as bridges and rivers. The crest was designed by Oregon-based graphic designer Brian Gundell.[21]

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC logo evolution
  • 1999–2004
  • 2005–2006
  • 2008–2016
  • 2017

Stadium

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has played at Highmark Stadium, a 5,000 seat soccer-specific stadium in Station Square, since 2013. The stadium is owned and operated by the Riverhounds organization.[22]

  • Highmark Stadium as seen from Mount Washington
  • Highmark Stadium main stand
  • Highmark Stadium

Supporters

In November 2007, the first supporters group of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds was formed, The Steel Army. The Steel Army held their first meeting at Piper's Pub in Pittsburgh's South Side. The group started as 5–10 local people interested in supporting the reorganized Riverhounds Soccer Club and to support the efforts of growing the sport of soccer in Western Pennsylvania as well.[23]

Members are not only from Pittsburgh but also from states as close as Ohio to states as far away as Oregon and Florida. Membership in the Steel Army is now even international with members joining the group from Sunderland and Surrey in the U.K., as well as Bray, in the Republic of Ireland, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil who will be following the Riverhounds from abroad.[23]

The section of Highmark Stadium where the Steel Army stands and supports the Riverhounds is located at the South Gate end of the stadium. The terrace there holds 1,000 supporters. On August 1, 2015, the supporters' section was renamed the Paul Child Stand in honor of Pittsburgh soccer legend Paul Child.[24] The Steel Army had fierce rivalries with United Soccer League clubs Penn FC (Sons of Susquehanna) and the Rochester Rhinos (Oak Street Brigade) before both clubs moved to USL League One.[23][25]

  • Steel Army during first match at Highmark Stadium
  • Steel Army in 2013
  • Steel Army during friendly with Wigan Athletic
  • Rob Vincent tifo during 2015 US Open Cup

Players and staff

Current roster
As of August 5, 2020[26]
No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello  United States
2 Defender Mark Lindstrom  Sweden
3 Forward Ropapa Mensah  Ghana
4 Defender Dani Rovira  Colombia
5 Defender Jordan Dover  Guyana
6 Defender Xhelil Asani  North Macedonia
7 Defender Ryan James  Canada
8 Midfielder Dakota Barnathan  United States
9 Forward Albert Dikwa  Cameroon
10 Forward Steevan Dos Santos  Cape Verde
11 Midfielder Kenardo Forbes  Jamaica
12 Midfielder Danny Griffin  United States
14 Midfielder Robbie Mertz  United States
15 Midfielder Anthony Velarde  United States
16 Forward Mark Forrest  England
17 Midfielder Thomas Vancaeyezeele  French Guiana
18 Goalkeeper Tomas Gomez  United States
20 Defender Tony Walls  United States
21 Defender Patrick Bunk-Andersen  Denmark
22 Defender Hunter Ashworth  New Zealand
23 Defender Ray Lee  United States
24 Goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia  France
33 Forward Lukas Fernandes  United States
34 Defender Skylar Thomas  Canada

Team management
Front Office
Owner and interim president Tuffy Shallenberger
General manager Kim Robson
Coaching Staff
Head coach Bob Lilley
Assistant coach Dan Visser
Goalkeeping coach Ross Cain
Riverhounds Development Academy
Academy director Scott Gibson
Academy East director James Meara
Director of goalkeeping Hunter Gilstrap
Director of coaching, East Sterling Flunder
RDA coaches Greg Annan
Nikola Katic
Kevin Kerr
Dave Nicholas
Stephen Okai
Rob Vincent
RDA East coaches Ryan Bradley
Denny Marzano
Brad Smith

Last updated: October 4, 2019
Source:

Honors

Record
Year Division League Record (W–L–D) Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. Attendance
1999[27]
2
 USL A-League
16–12–0
 4th, Northeast Quarterfinals Not eligible
4,178[28]
2000[27]
2
 USL A-League
10–14–4
 7th, Atlantic Did not qualify 2nd Round
3,808[29]
2001[27]
2
 USL A-League
10–12–4
 3rd, Northern Quarterfinals Quarterfinals
3,226[28]
2002[27]
2
 USL A-League
8–15–5
 4th, Northeast Did not qualify Did not qualify
2,274[29]
2003[27]
2
 USL A-League
15–9–4
 3rd, Northeast Did not qualify 3rd Round
1,783[29]
2004[27]
3
 USL Pro Soccer League
17–2–1
 1st, Atlantic Semifinals Did not qualify
1,475[30]
2005[27]
3
 USL Second Division
6–11–3
 7th Did not qualify 1st Round
2,236[30]
2006[27]
3
 USL Second Division
8–6–6
 3rd Semifinals 1st Round
2,232[30]
2007 On Hiatus[31][27]
2008[27]
3
 USL Second Division
4–10–6
 8th Did not qualify 2nd Round
1,258[30]
2009[27]
3
 USL Second Division
6–10–4
 8th Did not qualify 1st Round
1,178[30]
2010[27]
3
 USL Second Division
7–8–5
 3rd Semifinals 2nd Round
941[30]
2011[27]
3
 USL Pro
7–11–6
 10th Quarterfinals 2nd Round
1,127[30]
2012[27]
3
 USL Pro
4–15–5
 10th Did not qualify 2nd Round
984[30]
2013[27]
3
 USL Pro
10–8–8
 7th Quarterfinals 2nd Round
3,273[30]
2014[27]
3
 USL Pro
9–14–5
 11th Did not qualify 4th Round
2,686[32]
2015[27]
3
 USL
11–9–8
 5th, Eastern Conference 1st Round 4th Round
2,630[30]
2016[27]
3
 USL
6–17–7
 13th, Eastern Did not qualify 2nd Round
2,494[30]
2017[27]
2
 USL
8–12–12
 13th, Eastern Did not qualify 2nd Round
2,639[33]
2018[27]
2
 USL
15–5–14
 3rd, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 3rd Round
2,401[34]
2019[27]
2
 USL Championship
19-4-11
 1st, Eastern Conference Semifinals 4th Round
3,729[35]
2020[27]
2
 USL Championship
2-0-0
 1st, Group F TBD TBD
TBD
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See also

References
  1. "Hounds Look To Bounce Back vs. Wilmington". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  2. "awarded a Professional A-League Soccer Franchise". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on May 29, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  3. "Cup Clash Brings D.C.'s Kasper Home To Face Hounds". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  4. "Stadium". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  5. "NEW OWNER ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD TO 2014 SEASON". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  6. "USL Profile". United Soccer League. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. Dulac, Gerry. "Outdoor pro soccer team coming in 1999". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  8. "Club Overview". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  9. "2015 Standings". USL. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  10. "Highmark Stadium". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  11. "Coaching Staff". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  12. "Pittsburgh Riverhounds-Stats". Soccerstats.us. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  13. "Nor'easters form exciting developmental partnership with Pittsburgh Riverhounds of USL". Ocean City Nor'easters. June 14, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  14. Kilpatrick, David (November 29, 2012). "A New Stadium in Pittsburgh". New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  15. "A Perfect Pitch to Lure MLS". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  16. Lindeman, Teresa. "Riverhounds scratch, claw for recognition". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  17. Zeise, Paul (July 13, 2007). "Riverhounds kick up ante". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  18. McLeod, Scott (August 10, 2007). "Blues Partner Riverhounds". EvertonFC.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  19. "OFF-SEASON SPECULATION: 2015 KITS". Steel Army. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  20. "Riverhounds SC Unleashes New Era". United Soccer League. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  21. "Riverhounds SC Unleashed New Era for Club". Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  22. Camerato, Tim. "Pittsburgh Riverhounds Find Permanent Home with New Stadium". wesa.fm. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  23. "Steel Army". Steel Army. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  24. Krysinky, John. "VINCENT HAT TRICK HELPS HOUNDS END THREE-GAME SKID". Pittsburgh Soccer Report. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  25. Dykhoff, Johan. "Intervju med Dan Yost, styrelsemedlem i Pittsburgh Riverhounds-supporterklubben Steel Army" (in Swedish). www.svenskafans.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  26. "Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC roster". Riverhounds.com. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  27. "Pittsburgh Riverhounds Media Guide". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  28. Poole, Eric. "Leashed 'Hounds-Riverhounds Look To Better Performance On And Off Field". Pittsburgh Sports Report. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  29. "USL Attendance Archive". USLFans.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  30. "Attendance Project: Div. III". kenn.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  31. "USL Second Division 2008: Pittsburgh back, Real Maryland joins". Soccer America. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  32. "2014 Team Stats". USL. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  33. "2017 USL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  34. "2018 USL Attendance".
  35. "2019 USL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest.
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