News

Oakland Roots SC: 2020 End of Season Review

Oakland Roots completed the 2020 Season in the NISA Championship Final on October 2nd, where they finished runners up losing the final 2-1. In a year that included an incredible sold out opening night crowd to a long COVID-19 break, Roots showed their mental strength and community pride in a difficult season.

The spring campaign ended with a 1-0-1 record before the pandemic shutdown. Following the shutdown Roots went 4-2-1 in the fall season campaign losing in the NISA Final to Detroit City FC.

Among the highlights was Roots’ first ever league win, a 2-1 victory over Michigan Stars. Jack McInerney and Alex Garuba netted the goals in that match. This followed an opening night 90th minute equaliser by Jack McInerney after playing nearly 60 minutes down a man to Chattanooga FC. Once again Roots featured 5 Oakland raised players in 2020 including two in Tarn Weir and Yohannes Harish who started in the Fall NISA Final.

The Roots end of season awards were given out last week with Angel Heredia picking up Goal of the Year, Matt Fondy picking up the Player of the Year and Oakland’s Own Julio Cervantes picking up the Roots Righteous Award.

Per usual the Roots made the biggest splash off the field in 2020. Roots became the first American Club to join Common Goal in June and played an Inaugural Justice Match on October 10th raising more than 50k for the newly launched Justice Fund.

Season Notes

Goal Leaders

Matt Fondy 5 Goals (3 in the NISA Tournament)
Jack McInerney 4 Goals

Assist Leaders

Matt Fondy 2 Assists
Diego Casillas 2 Assists
Jack McInerney 2 Assists.

Next Season

Oakland Roots 2021 season begins in the spring back at Laney College, with opening day to be announced. The Roots will be joining the USL Championship in 2021.

Roots 2021 Membership Deposits are now available at https://www.oaklandrootssc.com/tickets or by emailing tickets@rootssc.com. Place your deposit today.

Roots Survive 3-2 to Earn Their Spot in the NISA Championship Game

The Oakland Roots scored three goals but needed to fight at the end to earn their spot in the NISA Championship Game. Johnny Rodriguez got the Roots on the board inside of 6 minutes before Angel Heredia doubled the lead with a long range effort in the 19th minute. The Eastern Conference regular season champions, Chattanooga FC, did not go down easy however as they scored off a long throw just seconds into the second half to make it 2-1.

The Roots leading goal scorer from the Fall, Matt Fondy, would settle the nerves as he made it 3-1 to Oakland in the 48th minute. Late in the match Chattanooga’s Ryan Marcano scored a beautiful goal to bring his team to within just one goal. The Roots then held out for more than 10 minutes of stoppage time to secure their place in the final with a historic 3-2 victory.

The Roots will play in the NISA Championship Game on Friday at 3 PM PST. Fans can watch for free with BeIN Sports Xtra on Xumo.tv.

Watch all the highlights from this historic victory below:

Oakland Roots and COPA Soccer Training Center Announce Partnership

Oakland, CA – Oakland Roots announce a partnership with COPA Soccer Training Center located at the Shadelands mall in Walnut Creek. COPA is an innovative Soccer Training Center that strives to combine training methodologies based on sports science with cutting-edge technology to create a truly unique training environment.

“We are very excited to be able to train at COPA’s state-of-the-art soccer facility, and to enter this mutually supportive collaboration,” said Steven Aldrich, Oakland Roots Chair. “COPA Soccer Training Center is one of the most advanced, data-driven, and unique training venues in the entire world, and we are thrilled to be a part of the COPA story.”

The partnership includes an interactive activation space at Oakland Roots home games, a Roots at COPA night, and promotional opportunities on Oakland Roots channels.

“The community will now have a mainstream national profile professional soccer team to help fill the void created by the loss of the Golden State Warriors and the Oakland Raiders,” said Mark Hall, the Owner of COPA Soccer Training Center. “We are excited to see the Roots take their caliber of play to the next level, and to bring USL Championship matches to Oakland. This is the beginning of a winning partnership between the Roots and COPA Soccer Training Center..”

Project 51O Joins USL League Two Ahead of 2021 Season

Oakland Roots’ reserve team Project 51O will join USL League Two in the Spring of 2021. The team will compete in the Southwest Division of the League against NorCal rivals such as SF City FC, SF Glens SC, and the Santa Cruz County Breakers FC.

“League Two has proven to be the premier developmental stage for players wanting to make the jump to the professional level. It provides us with the perfect fit in our player development system.,” said Oakland Roots VP of Soccer Eric Yamamoto. “We are excited to compete locally with the teams in our area who have developed great support for their Clubs at the League Two level. This is a great opportunity for both the Roots and the young soccer players throughout the 51O.”

Founded in 2019, the concept of Project 51O is based on Project 40, a Nike-sponsored program from 1997-2005. Project 40 sought to develop the U.S. national team player pool and helped future stars Tim Howard, Demarcus Beasley, and Carlos Bocanegra grow during the early stages of their soccer careers. Project 51O will mirror parts of that development program, but with a community-based twist.

“Project 51O’s mission and goals align perfectly with the values of League Two,” said USL League Two Vice President Joel Nash. “Helping young players as they strive to become professionals while focusing on local culture and community is what our league is all about. We’re excited to see what this club will bring to the league as part of the Oakland Roots organization.”

Project 51O’s home venue will be announced at a later date. Roots Members will receive free admission to all Project 51O home matches. For more information about Roots Memberships, or to place a deposit, click the button below.

Oakland Roots Joins USL Championship

Oakland, CA – Oakland Roots Sports Club will join the USL Championship, the second division of US Soccer for the 2021 season. The USL is the largest and fastest growing professional soccer organization in North America with teams throughout the United States and Canada. The USL includes three divisions with the USL Championship sitting at the top.

“We are excited to join the USL Championship in 2021,” said club Chair Steven Aldrich. “Playing in the Championship is a great opportunity for Oakland Roots to continue our journey of using soccer as a force for social good. We can’t wait to showcase the passion, pride, and commitment of our players, fans, and The Town to an even wider audience next year.”

The club will continue to play home games in the heart of Oakland at Laney College Stadium. Roots sold out their first five home games in club history, packing Laney with an average of over 5,000 fans per game with 5,723 on hand for the final home match of 2019 last October.

“Oakland Roots Sports Club is one of the most impressive and purpose-driven organizations in the United States. We are thrilled to welcome them into the Championship,” said USL Chief Executive Officer Alec Papadakis. “When we think about the kind of clubs that can help drive our league forward, we look for committed ownership and fantastic community support. Oakland Roots possess those things in abundance, and we have no doubt they will be a huge success in our league going forward.”

The USL Championship will feature 35 teams in the 2021 season that are split into two conferences: East and West. With the move, Roots will play in the Western Conference along with teams like MLS bound Sacramento Republic FC, LA Galaxy II, and current San Jose Earthquakes affiliate Reno 1868 FC. Oakland Roots acquired the franchise rights from the USL East Bay group in order to join USL in 2021.

“This has been a long journey together of nearly 5 years,” said Roots Co-Founders Benno Nagel and Edreece Arghandiwal. “We can’t wait to take another step together as we continue to grow our roots.”

About USL

The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest professional soccer organization in North America, possessing nearly a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing The USL Championship, USL League One, and USL League Two, the organization is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 100 clubs in its membership.

Based in Tampa, Florida, the USL has grown over the past decade into a model organization with strong corporate partnerships, stable organizational leadership, and a dedicated staff that provides outstanding support to member clubs and outside partners. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association, the USL is #UnitedForSoccer, moving the game forward in the United States and Canada.

USL Championship Quick Facts

Affiliate Leagues: USL League One and USL League Two

Number of Teams in 2020: 35

League Start Date: March

League End Date: October with Playoffs running through November

Broadcast: All USL games are on ESPN+

Place Your Deposit Now for the 2021 USL Championship Season

Deposits are available now for the Roots’ USL debut season with an Oakland Roots 2021 Membership. Place your deposit by visiting https://www.oaklandrootssc.com/tickets or by emailing tickets@rootssc.com.

Membership Update

In appreciation of all Oakland Roots’ 2020 Spring Members, you will receive Three (3) bonus game credits in addition to the Six (6) game credits from the cancelled 2020 Spring Season.

The Nine (9) game credits equates to 50% of the 18 game Oakland Roots 2021 Membership package. Your account will be credited automatically, and will be reflected on your Roots Online Ticket Account and applied towards the full value of the 2021 Membership during an exclusive pre-sale.

All other Ticket Holders from the 2020 Spring Season will receive a credit equal to the purchase price of the tickets. Ticket credit can be redeemed via the Roots Online Ticket Account or by contacting the Roots’ Ticket Office.

FAQ’s

Q: When will USL official season play begin in 2021?

A: The USL kicks off each season at the beginning of March.

Q: Will player contracts for your NISA team still be valid in USL?

A: No. New USL player contracts will take its place.

Q: Will you finish out the NISA season.

A: Yes, we intend to finish the fall season in NISA.

Q: What are the benefits of moving to USL?

A: We will have nationally televised matches on ESPN, spreading our brand’s reach in the world. USL is the second division of men’s soccer in the United States as sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and provides our club with more competition across the country and a depth of talent to compete against. In USL, we will have two matches against opponents within a 3-hour drive and 18 west coast opponents to compete against. That can create some local rivalries.

Q: Where will we be able to watch the USL games?

A: All USL games are streamed on ESPN+, with some matches airing on ESPN2 and ESPNDeportes. For international fans, USL partnered with SportFive to seal the first international deal to broadcast USL Championship on Flow Sports across 22 countries.

Q: Where will the Roots play in USL?

A: Roots will continue to play at Laney Football Stadium in the heart of Oakland with a new digital video scoreboard being added ahead of next season.

Q: How is this related to the USL East Bay franchise?

A: The Oakland Roots acquired the franchise rights from the USL East Bay Group.

Q: What was the cost of buying the franchise rights and where do those territory rights cover?

A: The cost was undisclosed with the parties involved.

Q: Will Roots look to join USL Academy?

A: We are continuing to build out our development model with Project 51O and at the same time working closely with the local youth clubs in our area.

Q: Will Project 51O be joining USL League 2 as well?

A: Project 51O consists of a few teams in different leagues. Stay tuned.

Q: What happens if the COVID situation doesn’t get better in the next 6-7 months? Do you still plan on playing in 2021?

A: We plan to play 2021, if health authorities say it’s safe to do so. We will continue to work closely with the health authorities to insure the safety of our players, staff and community.

Q: Will tickets from the cancelled 2020 Spring Season be valid for 2021?

A: All payments made for tickets from the 2020 Spring Season have been converted into ticket credit which can be redeemed for future Roots’ home games. Log in to your Roots Online Ticket Account to view and use your credit options or email Tickets@Rootssc.com for assistance.

Q: What if I had an Oakland Roots 2020 Spring Membership?

A: All 2020 Spring Members will receive a 50% credit towards the Oakland Roots 2021 Membership. The credit can be applied during the Membership presale, details for the presale will be announced at a later date.

Q: I’m interested in becoming a sponsor of the Oakland Roots. Who do I reach out to?

A: Please email partnerships@rootssc.com including your company name, contact info and any other relevant information so our team can review.

Oakland Roots and Bay Area Sports Coalition Unite to Support Historic Prop 16 on California's November Statewide Ballot

Oakland, CA — Today, a coalition of seven Bay Area professional sports teams unite in support of Proposition 16, lending their star power to rally voters this fall. The Oakland Roots, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland A’s, San Jose Sharks and San Jose Earthquakes announced their endorsement of the statewide ballot measure to restore California’s equal opportunity programs like affirmative action, and to combat systemic discrimination in public contracting, employment, and education.

Oakland Roots is currently preparing to return to the field for the first time since lockdown began with the Justice Match, a mixed-gender game to advance the cause of racial and gender equity. Whilst we are happy to be safely returning to play, it’s important we do this mindful of the current state of injustice in our society.

“Oakland Roots was founded with a purpose – to use the power of sports as a force for social good,” said Steven Aldrich, Chair of Oakland Roots. “That includes doing what we can to advance the cause of racial and gender justice and challenge the systemic inequality that still exists in our society. Two things everyone can do are to speak up for what you believe and to exercise your right to vote. Please use those powers this fall to build a more just society and a stronger California by supporting Prop 16.”

“With Proposition 16 coming before voters this November, equal opportunity and justice are on the ballot,” said Rick Welts, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Golden State Warriors. “If we’re going to live up to our reputation as a golden state with golden opportunities, we can and should do more to remove the systemic barriers that shut out Californians from a shot at a better life. Prop 16 is crucial to creating a stronger economic future for women and communities of color, and greater economic prosperity for California as whole.”

“The San Francisco 49ers organization is proud to support Proposition 16 to ensure that California can truly tap into its diverse talent,” said Al Guido, President of the San Francisco 49ers. “The road to equality and equity has been long and exhausting for so many but our organization is determined to push for meaningful action in the direction of progress – supporting Prop 16 is a necessary step to break down systemic racial barriers and level the playing field for all Californians. There is no doubt that a more inclusive California can and will be a stronger California, for all.”

“We are pleased to use our collective voices in support of Proposition 16 which helps reverse systemic inequities that have been in place for far too long,“ said Larry Baer, President & CEO of the San Francisco Giants. “We will become a more equitable and inclusive state with the passage of Prop 16.”

“We unequivocally support Prop 16 because we believe in equal opportunity for all Californians,” said Dave Kaval, President of the Oakland A’s. “This is our collective moment to take purposeful action to build a stronger California for the future.”

“The San Jose Sharks organization is proud to support Proposition 16 and all efforts to bring about real, long-lasting change to our society,” said Jonathan Becher, President of the San Jose Sharks. “Too many Californians are discriminated against based on their race, ethnic origin, or gender identity. Especially in this uncertain time, it’s critical we create a future for California that doesn’t take us back to the status quo but one that puts us on a path to a California that reflects our values. That’s the spirit of #TealTogether.”

“As part of the world’s game, we understand the roles diversity and inclusion play in team success,” said Jared Shawlee, Chief Operating Officer of the San Jose Earthquakes. “The Earthquakes support Proposition 16 as we believe it creates a more level playing field for all.”

If you want to find our more about why Oakland Roots is endorsing Proposition 16, visit: https://voteyesonprop16.org/

Oakland Roots Become First US Soccer Team to Join Common Goal

Oakland, Calif. – Oakland Roots Sports Club has joined the Common Goal movement. Led by some of the world’s top players and coaches, Common Goal participants contribute a minimum of 1% of their salaries to fight social inequality. Oakland Roots was founded with the purpose of using soccer to create positive social change, making this a natural step in the club’s journey.

“Sports teams should show what they stand for through action,” said Roots Chair Steven Aldrich. “Oakland Roots was founded to be a force for good that expressed itself through soccer. Joining Common Goal is a natural step for us and we’re grateful for the leadership of people like Juan Mata and Megan Rapinoe as well as FC Nordsjaelland, the first club globally to join the movement, who are championing this cause. We’re working with our players and community to determine the best way for us to use our 1% in service of the Club’s purpose.”

Common Goal was co-founded by World Cup-winner Juan Mata with the goal of uniting the global soccer community to tackle the greatest social challenges of our time. Since then over 150 players and coaches have joined the movement, including Rapinoe, the 2019 World Player of the Year, fellow USWNT World Cup and Olympic winner Alex Morgan, Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp, Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry, Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini, as well as European clubs FC Nordsjælland of Denmark and Unionistas de Salamanca of Spain.

“It’s really exciting to have Oakland Roots as the first club in the USA to join Common Goal,” said Juan Mata. “The Roots represent a new type of club, one that is driven towards positive social change. At Common Goal, we share the same values and are therefore very happy to have them become part of the movement. It takes a team! Welcome!”

The collected funds are used to support the work of non-profit organizations around the world that use soccer to tackle social issues like health, gender equality, unemployment, and the COVID-19 crisis. Oakland Roots will join in donating 1% of all player and staff salaries and 1% of all ticket revenue to Common Goal.

“It’s great to see Oakland Roots taking the lead as the first US professional football club to join Common Goal,” said World Cup winner Heather O’Reilly. “Hopefully this motivates other clubs to also put social purpose first and join the movement with their 1%. Now is the time to come together in tackling the world’s greatest social challenges.”

FC Nordsjælland of Denmark was the first club globally to join the movement. “You don’t have to visit California to see that Oakland Roots is a special kind of football club,” said FC Nordsjælland CEO Tom Vernon. “Luckily I did and got to see how like FCN we’re both placing a social purpose at the heart of everything we do. We welcome all players and staff to the Common Goal family!”

“Don’t expect to achieve your dream if you’re not willing to help others achieve theirs.”

FC NORDSJÆLLAND

This quote from Denmark’s FC Nordsjaelland embodies the spirit of Oakland – one big community where everyone seems to know each other and looks out for everyone else. This is why this city of over 400,000 people is referred to as ‘The Town’.

Some of the biggest cultural and political movements sprouted from Oakland. The founding of the Black Panther Party by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale is an essential foundation on which Oakland’s culture of community-driven activism was established. Athletes from Oakland are some of the most groundbreaking in sports history. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson became the first Black manager in MLB, and fellow Hall of Famer Bill Russell became the first Black Head Coach in the NBA. The list of accolades stemming from Oakland Athletes is endless.

Oakland’s unique position at the intersection of activism, sports, and arts can be attributed to the city’s diversity, the spirit of inclusivity, and commitment to equality that resonates through all aspects of life and through all the people. The Oakland Roots brand and identity would not exist without the deep history of social consciousness and pioneers of the fight for equality that have gone before us.

Jordan Ferrell Named Head Coach of Oakland Roots SC

Oakland Roots have promoted assistant coach Jordan Ferrell to serve as the Club’s new Head Coach.

“I cannot think of a better person, and professional, to step into this role for us as we prepare for 2020 and beyond,” said Roots President Benno Nagel. “Jordan has long been celebrated as one of the top up-and-coming soccer minds in our region, and his work with us this past fall made clear that he was ready for this next step in his career. In Jordan, we are truly adding someone special to our senior leadership team.”

“This past fall was a great time for us to be able to see how much impact Jordan has on our club,” said Roots Senior Technical Consultant Eric Yamamoto. “We are excited to be able to use his strengths to impact the club in moving forward in our spring season. After establishing a strong base on all aspects of the club, we believe moving forward we are in a great position to further our successes on and off the field.”

Ferrell served as Roots’ top assistant coach in 2019. He has over nine years of coaching experience at both the professional and amateur levels. Ferrell is also the former head coach of MLS-bound Sacramento Republic’s U-17 and U-19 Academy teams, and has been instrumental in building out their club’s scouting network in the Central Valley.

Prior to that, he spent three seasons as a top assistant with University of the Pacific, where he helped put together several impressive recruiting classes as the Tigers reached the NCAA Tournament in 2017. University of the Pacific won their first game in that NCAA Tournament appearance, and took eventual champion Stanford to penalty kicks before bowing out in the second round. Ferrell also spent two years as head coach of San Joaquin Delta College. His playing career included four years as a defender for Cal State East Bay in Hayward from 2005-08.

“I’m excited for the opportunity and responsibility to bring the culture of Oakland to the field for Roots and to lead the club into 2020. The East Bay is where I spent some of the most important years of my life and to have my first job as a professional head coach with a club that is committed to being a beacon for Oakland and its people is a dream come true,” Ferrell said. “My goal is to bring people to the stadium and get them out of their seats with winning, entertaining football. Football is for the people and I want to build a unique style here that represents the Town and allows us to be at our best against the best.”

For more about Jordan and his insights about coaching and development, click here to listen to his appearance on the Path2Pro Soccer Podcast.

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News

Oakland Roots’ reserve team Project 51O will join USL League Two in the Spring of 2021. The team will compete in the Southwest Division of the League against NorCal rivals such as SF City FC, SF Glens SC, and the Santa Cruz County Breakers FC.

“Don’t expect to achieve your dream if you’re not willing to help others achieve theirs.”

FC NORDSJÆLLAND

Oakland Roots have promoted assistant coach Jordan Ferrell to serve as the Club’s new Head Coach.

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