# Annapolis Blues FC

Annapolis Blues FC is an American soccer club. It currently competes in the Chesapeake Division of USL League Two, considered the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system. The team previously played in the National Premier Soccer League.
The team's home field is the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.

## History

In June 2022, the National Premier Soccer League announced a new expansion team would be placed in Annapolis for the 2023 season. The ownership effort was led by former DC United front office member Michael Hitchcock, former United States men's national soccer team player Kyle Beckerman, and former FC Dallas player Alex Yi. The latter two are Maryland locals while Hitchcock owns multiple NPSL teams including Appalachian FC and 2021 national champion Denton Diablos FC. During the summer the team held an online poll where fans could choose between four potential team names and crests; Annapolis Blues FC, Annapolis Kraken SC, Annapolis Seawolves SC, and Annapolis Yard FC. The name Annapolis Blues FC was announced on August 16 after over 1,200 votes had been cast. It was also announced around this time that the team would play its home games at the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Blues announced Colin Herriot as the team's first head coach on December 13.
The team's first game was a pre-season friendly against Philadelphia Union Development Squad on Wednesday, May 10 at Memorial Stadium. The Community Shield match saw 3,915 fans and raised money to support local charity Rebuilding Together Anne Arundel County. Following three away games to start the season, Annapolis played its first regular season home game on Saturday, June 3 against FC Frederick and set an NPSL attendance record with 8,368 fans. The Blues won the match, 4–2. The next home match against Virginia Beach City FC drew 7,665 attendees. The following month they broke the conference championship record again as a crowd of 8,480 watched the Blues defeat the Alexandria Reds in the conference final. They once again set the NPSL attendance record during their 2024 home opener with 11,171 fans watching Annapolis defeat DMV Elite FC 6–2. At the end of the 2024 season Annapolis held the top eight and ten of the top eleven NPSL attendance records.
On December 20th, 2024, it was announced that the club would be joining USL League Two for the upcoming 2025 Season.

## Players & staff
### Coaches

* Colin Herriot (2023–) Head Coach
* Daniel Louisignau (2023–) Assistant Coach

### Front office

* Fred Matthes (2022-) - General Manager
* Steven Hooper (2023-) - Assistant General Manager and Director of Marketing
* Devin Pugh (2024-) - Director of Community Outreach
* Brandon Schwarzman (2024-) - Director of Sales and Ticket Operations

### Current squad

    As of June 24, 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | USA | Aidan Abril |
| — | GK | USA | Owen Allegro |
| — | FW | USA | Gordon Bernlohr |
| — | FW | JPN | Toshi Davis |
| — | MF | ARG | Matias de Jesus |
| — | DF | BRA | Elton De Oliveira Santos |
| — | MF | USA | Luke Dunne |
| — | MF | USA | Luke Eberle |
| — | DF | USA | Liam Giblin |
| — | FW | USA | Eric Gwadz |
| — | MF | USA | Justin Harris |
| — | GK | USA | Griffin Hemmendinger |
| — | MF | USA | Miles Lam |
| — | DF | USA | James Lee |
| — | DF | USA | Brian Lenzer |
| — | MF | USA | Morgan Lussi |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | USA | Nathan Macek |
| — | MF | USA | Myles Mansfield |
| — | MF | RSA | Jade Mesias |
| — | MF | USA | Francis Meyer |
| — | GK | SCO | Lucas Muller |
| — | FW | USA | Jacob Murrell |
| — | MF | USA | Leo Palomo |
| — | MF | USA | Evan Rabush |
| — | MF | USA | Jackson Ruckman |
| — | FW | USA | Manuel Ruiz |
| — | FW | USA | Andrew Schug |
| — | GK | USA | Connor Smith |
| — | DF | USA | Laurence Smith |
| — | MF | USA | TJ Walker |
| — | MF | USA | Ethan Wright |
| — | MF | USA | Webb Kosich |