TSJ FC Virginia
The St. James FC Virginia (TSJFCV), commonly known as TSJ FC Virginia and formerly known as F.C. Virginia, is an American boys' and girls' youth soccer club founded in 2005.
History
F.C. Virginia was founded, owned, and directed by Christian Cziommer as a girls' soccer academy.[1]
In May 2019, Springfield, Virginia-based sports and fitness complex The St. James acquired F.C. Virginia and rebranded the club as The St. James FC Virginia.[1][2][3]
Youth
F.C. Virginia fielded teams in the girls' Elite Clubs National League until the creation of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in 2017, when the club joined the new league as founding members and added a boys' team.[2] As of June 2, 2023[update], it fields teams in the Girls Academy, Elite Development Program (EDP), Super Y League, National Capital Soccer League, and Club Champions League.[4]
Former players
Adult
Women's Premier Soccer League
The club fielded a team in the Women's Premier Soccer League, the third tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada, for the 2006 WPSL season, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.[6]
The team's coach was Jeff Nesbit. Members of the 2006 WPSL team included:
- Aly Pont
- Melissa Krnjaic
- Lindsay Alexander
- Megan Saunders
- Katie Bunch
- Rachel Young
- Lindsey Miller
- Melissa Somadelis
- Gina Om
- Katie Somadelis
- Jasmine Riley
- Meghan Flesch
- Meghan Lenczyk
- Rebecca Zimmerman
- Jessica DeStefano
- Christina Papageorge
- Stephanie Croghan
| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | WPSL | 3rd, East South | DNQ |
Futsal
The St. James FC Virginia added a futsal team in 2017.[2]
Washington Spirit controversy
In January 2019, Spirit owner Steve Baldwin hired former FC Virginia coach Richie Burke as its head coach, and FC Virginia owner and director Christian Cziommer as tactical analyst and team performance coach.[7]
In February 2019, a report in The Washington Post publicized allegations made by the mother of a former player against Burke of abusive language and behavior. The club defended the hiring by citing an anonymous survey of FC Virginia players' parents which suggested none had issues with Burke.[8][9]
In 2020, Spirit assistant coach Tom Torres left the team. In April 2021, The St. James FC Virginia hired Torres as senior staff coach for its girls' academy. An August 2021 report in The Athletic alleged that Torres' exit was linked to inappropriate behavior at a party following the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.[10]
In August 2021, Burke was reassigned to the Spirit front office. Following the reassignment, The Washington Post published a report containing allegations by former players, including Kaiya McCullough, of racist and abusive behavior by Burke.[11] The Spirit subsequently suspended and launched an investigation into Burke's behavior.[10] The suspension would incite the 2021 NWSL abuse scandal, leading to the permanent banning of Burke and three other NWSL coaches in 2023.[12]
The scandal led to Baldwin announcing that he would sell the Spirit in October 2021.[13][14] In November 2021, F.C. Virginia owners The St. James submitted a bid with the participation of billionaire sports owner Todd Boehly, to purchase the Spirit at a valuation of $16 million.[3][15] Boehly, an investor in The St. James,[16] withdrew from the bid in January 2022[17] and minority owner Y. Michele Kang completed her purchase of the team in March.[18]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The St. James acquires FC Virginia, launches soccer academy". SoccerWire (Press release). The St. James. May 7, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "SoccerWire Club Profile: The St. James FC Virginia". SoccerWire. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Yang, Steph; Maurer, Pablo (November 3, 2021). "Washington Spirit in exclusive sale negotiations with The St. James, sources say". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ↑ "HOME". FC Virginia. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lenahan, Jim (April 12, 2022). "Local soccer star soars to new heights". Ashburn Magazine. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ "USA - Women's Premier Soccer League". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ↑ "Washington Spirit announces technical staff for 2019 season". Washington Spirit (Press release). January 8, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ Goff, Steve (February 25, 2019). "Washington Spirit defends new coach against allegations of verbal abuse". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Yang, Stephanie (February 26, 2019). "Virginia youth player accuses Spirit head coach Richie Burke of mental, verbal abuse". Black And Red United. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Linehan, Meg; Maurer, Pablo; Yang, Steph (August 11, 2021). "Washington Spirit suspend Richie Burke, launching investigation". The Athletic. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ Hensley-Clancy, Molly (August 11, 2021). "'He made me hate soccer': Players say they left NWSL's Spirit over coach's verbal abuse". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ Radde, Kaitlyn (January 10, 2023). "4 former NWSL coaches are banned permanently following an abuse investigation". National Public Radio. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ Young, Ryan (October 15, 2021). "Washington Spirit owner Steve Baldwin selling team after calls from players, scandal". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ Hensley-Clancy, Molly (October 14, 2021). "Washington Spirit owner Steve Baldwin says he plans to sell stake in club as NWSL fallout continues". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ Goff, Steven; Hensley-Clancy, Molly (October 29, 2021). "Billionaire part-owner of Lakers, Dodgers in talks to buy NWSL's Washington Spirit". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ Eshleman, Tina (May 3, 2019). "Strong Bonds". W&M Magazine. College of William & Mary. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ↑ Linehan, Pablo Maurer, Steph Yang, Meg (January 12, 2022). "Todd Boehly withdraws from negotiations to purchase Washington Spirit: Sources". The Athletic. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ↑ Hensley-Clancy, Molly (March 30, 2022). "Sale of NWSL's Spirit closes, making history for owner Michele Kang". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
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