AFC Cleveland

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AFC Cleveland is an American semi-professional soccer team based in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, Ohio. Founded in 2011 and playing its first season in 2012, the team spent six years in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League. It is currently searching for a new league after being expelled from the NPSL at the end of the 2017 season.

Video AFC Cleveland

History

Following the folding of the Cleveland City Stars in 2009, the city of Cleveland was without a soccer team. On November 11, 2011, AFC Cleveland announced that they would join the National Premier Soccer League.

AFC stands for A Fans' Club signifying that the organization is for the fans and created by the fans.

Maps AFC Cleveland

Stadium

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Kit supplier and sponsorship

From 2012-13, the kit sponsor of the club was Admiral Sportswear. In the 2014 season, Givova took over as the kit sponsor.

src: afccleveland.com

Club culture

Supporters

6th City Syndicate is the supporters' group for Cleveland soccer.

Rivalries

Supporters of AFC Cleveland, Detroit City FC, and FC Buffalo formed the 'Rust Belt Derby' modeled after the Cascadia Cup. The winner of the Derby is based on the head to head record of the midwestern clubs during regular season NPSL matches. Cleveland won the initial Rust Belt Derby on June 23, 2012 following a 1-1 draw with Detroit.
AFC Cleveland has also participated in in-state rivalry matches against Dayton Dynamo and Zanesville Athletic FC.