Huntsville City FC

Huntsville City FC
Full nameHuntsville City Football Club
NicknameBoys in Blue
FoundedJuly 12, 2022 (2022-07-12)
StadiumJoe W. Davis Stadium
Huntsville, Alabama
Capacity6,000
OwnerNashville SC
Head coachChris O'Neal
LeagueMLS Next Pro
20255th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
Websitemlsnextpro.com/huntsvillecityfc

Huntsville City FC is an American professional soccer team based in Huntsville, Alabama. It is the reserve team of Nashville SC and plays in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of American soccer. The team plays its games at Joe Davis Stadium, a former minor league baseball stadium.

History

On July 12, 2022, Nashville SC announced that it would start an MLS Next Pro team based in Huntsville, Alabama.[1] On August 4, 2022, Huntsville was named as one of seven MLS-affiliated clubs that would field teams in the MLS Next Pro league beginning in the 2023 season.[2] The team name and logo was announced on November 9, 2022. Huntsville City will be the only MLS reserve side that plays outside its parent team's home market.[3]

On December 19, 2022, midfielder Isaiah Johnston from York United was announced as the club's first official signing. Transfer details were not disclosed.[4]

On May 19, 2023, Huntsville City FC played their first ever home at Joe Davis Stadium. They defeated Crown Legacy FC in front of a sold-out crowd.

On April 10, Huntsville announced the sacking of Head Coach Jack Collison and the appointment of former Scottish international Christophe Berra in his place.[5] On July 8, the club announced Berra would be leaving the team after the club's match against New England Revolution II on July 10 in which the team would go onto win 2-1.[6]

On August 5, the club announced the appointment of former Inter Miami U17 manager, Chris O'Neal. This hiring would make O'Neal the second full-time Head Coach in club history.[7]

Colors and badge

The club's colors are dark blue and white, with light blue and yellow accents on the crest.

The club's crest features a checkerboard pattern and a shooting star around the club's initials, both alluding to the importance of the space industry in Huntsville's history.[8]

Players and staff

Roster

As of January 23, 2025
No. Pos. Nation Player
4 MF  GHA Patrick Amarh
8 MF  PAN Moisés Véliz
9 FW  NGA Light Eke
10 FW  USA Maximus Ekk
11 MF  USA Jayvin Van Deventer
12 DF  JAM Nigel Prince
14 FW  USA Alioune Ka
14 MF  USA Angel Iniguez
18 MF  USA Nicklaus Sullivan
21 DF  FRA Kessy Coulibaly
23 FW  GHA Shakur Mohammed
24 MF  USA Nick Pariano
26 FW  CHI Zidane Yanez
28 DF  USA Zach Barrett
29 DF  USA Julian Gaines
70 MF  JPN Misei Yoshizawa
73 FW  JAM Fabian Reynolds
88 MF  ATG Aiden Jarvis (on loan from New York Red Bulls)
89 DF  USA Leo Christiano
95 GK  USA Will Mackay
— DF  ECU Maikel Caicedo
— MF  ECU Mattheo Zambrano
  1. ^
    Nashville SC first team player.
    2.
  2. ^
    Signed to Nashville SC Academy contract.
    3.

Staff

Coaching & Technical Staff
Director of Soccer Operations England Matt Cairns
Head coach United States Chris O'Neal
Assistant coach United States Zach Herold
Assistant coach United States Alex Kuehl
Goalkeeping coach Fabio Hernandez
Head Athletic Trainer United States Luis Rodas
Performance Coach & Sports Scientist United States Josh Stewart
Video Analyst/Scouting Brazil Matt Bautista
Head Equipment Manager United States Sam Gibson

Records

Year-by-year

Season MLS Next Pro Playoffs Top Scorer
P W D L GF GA Pts Conference Overall Player Goals
2023 2897124845389th, Eastern17thDid not qualifyUnited States Azaad Liadi12
2024 28851539532914th, Eastern27thDid not qualifyUnited States Jonathan Bolanos
Haiti Woobens Pacius		8
2025 2814685632525th, Eastern6thConference SemifinalsUnited States Alan Carleton12

Head coaches record

As of August 23, 2026
NameNationalityFromToPWDLGFGAWin%
Jack Collison[9]  Wales January 18, 2023 April 9, 2024 3299145554028.13
Christophe Berra (Interim)[10]  Scotland April 9, 2024 August 8, 2024 153391729020.00
Chris O'Neal[11]  United States August 8, 2024 Present 6329122211189046.03

Supporters

The club currently has 1 officially-recognized Supporters' Group called HuntsVillains.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Nashville Soccer Club to Launch MLS NEXT Pro Team in Huntsville, Ala". Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  2. ↑ "SEVEN MLS-AFFILIATED CLUBS TO JOIN MLS NEXT PRO IN 2023". Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  3. ↑ Hills, Drake (November 9, 2022). "Nashville SC's MLS Next Pro team in Alabama now has a name — Huntsville City Football Club". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ Jacques, John (December 19, 2022). "Huntsville City FC Inks Isaiah Johnston". Northern Tribune.
  5. ↑ Banks, Ben (April 10, 2024). "West Ham hero sacked in shock circumstances with former Hearts and Wolves star replacing him as boss". Edinburgh Evening News.
  6. ↑ Easterling, Mike (July 7, 2024). "Huntsville City FC in market for third head coach this season". 256 Today. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  7. ↑ mlsnextpro. "Huntsville City FC appoints Inter Miami CF U-17 Coach Chris O'Neal as Head Coach | MLSNEXTPro.com". mlsnextpro. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ https://www.mlsnextpro.com/huntsvillecityfc/club/
  9. ↑ Hills, Drake (January 18, 2023). "Huntsville City FC taps former English Premier League midfielder Jack Collison as coach". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Huntsville City Football Club Announces Coaching Staff Changes". Huntsville City FC Communications. April 9, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ Denton, Trevor (August 8, 2024). "Huntsville City FC introduces new head coach". WAAYTV. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ HNT. "Huntsville City FC | HuntsvilleCityFC.com". HNT. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
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