F.C. Carolina United is building a base in Charlotte.

Previously based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the National Premier Soccer League club kicks off its first season in the Queen City next month. Dickson Field at Queens University is their home field.

“The club was founded three years ago, but it was based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in association with Discoveries Soccer Club,” coach Paul Sheridan said. “We’ve since decided to move into the Charlotte area because there’s a better base of players. We’ve got fantastic facilities here. We want to get our name out there and promote the NPSL. We thought that Charlotte would be better for that as well as with the players living in the area it’s easier for them to get to training. Our idea is to try and build a base here, get a new family here.”

Said defender Tim Bailey: “Being down in Rock Hill was a different environment. We were associated with Discoveries, and director Dave Carton was our head coach. It was little bit difficult to pull in new players. It was more of a closed environment. We had a lot of guys who were used to the Rock Hill area who played there growing up or in college. It was a bit more difficult to grow and expand out.”

After drawing 3-all against the Queens Royals Friday in their first preseason match, Sheridan has a barometer to measure the club, which consists of players ranging from ages 18-32.

“The game started off very well,” Sheridan said. “Queens are a good quality college soccer side, and we were delighted to get the chance to play against them. The game for me was about trying to gel the younger players in with the experienced players that we have and play our first preseason game after training together for two weeks. The lads really worked hard and well together against a team who has been playing together all year.”

Said Bailey, a veteran at 27: “This year we have 10-12 returning players and then we have a giant slew of new players. It’s really refreshing for us as older guys. You can get stagnant being with the same thing every time. Fresh new players that are trying to impress here in Charlotte helps invigorate us.”

Despite creating opportunities Friday, F.C. Carolina sent shots just wide or off the woodwork.

“In the first half, we didn’t take the chances that we had. We created eight or nine chances. We could have been four or five up. We were going into halftime 2-1 up. The play was even enough but we were creating more of the chances. Then we got the free kick [in the second half], which was quality from Nate [Joseph, a midfielder/striker].”

Up 3-1 in the final minutes, F.C. Carolina conceded an own goal and a penalty to draw the sides level.
“We should have closed up shop for the last couple of minutes, but we ended up making a lot of changes in the game,” Sheridan said.

F.C. Carolina opens the regular season in Nashville on May 6, followed by a trip to Atlanta on May 12. They open in Charlotte against Knoxville on May 17 at 7 p.m.

“I wouldn’t say that we’re starting from the beginning, but we are building the blocks again,” Sheridan said. “Charlotte is a hotbed of soccer when you look at the amount of children that play it. We want to try and reach out to them and try and get them interested in where they can go in the future. What’s for them? What’s their conduit pipe? Where can they can through? Can they play for a National Premier Soccer League club as they get older? That’s what we are here for. That’s the basis that we want to try and build on for the future.”

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