Baltimore’s New Amateur Soccer Club Makes Its Home at Latrobe Park in Locust Point
Earlier this year, Germany-native Nicholas Siler launched a new men’s amateur soccer club called Baltimore City F.C. The team is now playing its home games at Banner Field at Latrobe Park in Locust Point.
Baltimore City F.C. plays in the Maryland Major Soccer League, but Siler is hoping the club will elevate to semiprofessional in the next year. His goal is to grow the club and have it play in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional soccer in the United States.
Baltimore City F.C. is coached by England-native Joe Nixon who has played professional soccer in the United States and United Kingdom. He is also currently the head coach of the club soccer team at Stevenson University.
England-native Charles Slater is the Director of Football. Slater has experience working with soccer academies in the United States.
Siler, who moved to Baltimore in 2019, has a background in humanitarian development and played semiprofessional soccer in German, Ireland, and Puerto Rico. He also coached a high school team in Seattle.
Siler began began laying the ground work for Baltimore City F.C. last August.
Siler reached out to players and managers from soccer clubs that have failed to stick around in Baltimore with the goal of developing a footprint on how his club should operate. Siler has no interest in his club ever playing home games outside of Baltimore City as he wants it to be the city’s team.
Siler and his staff scouted players at local leagues and pickup soccer games. He said they have one player who was playing professionally in Europe, but sustained a “horrible injury” and is beginning his comeback. He noted another talented 19-year-old whose only experience has been playing “street soccer” as he didn’t play for his high school team and is not considering college at this time.
Siler noted playing club soccer can often cost players thousands of dollars however, with the help of sponsors, there is only a three-digit cost to his players. He hopes to start paying them a small amount next year.
Sponsors include Guilford Hall Brewery, Glacken Physiotherapy, Waterfront Dental, and Jason Griswold of State Farm.
Baltimore City F.C.’s inaugural season began in March. The team has upcoming matches in Locust Point on May 14th at 7pm, May 21st at 5pm, and June with at 5pm.
Siler mentioned the difficulty of finding fields in Baltimore City that are wide enough for high-level soccer. BGE Field at the Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center in Cherry Hill could be a future location for the team. It offers more seating and angles for television crews.
“We love being a part of the South Baltimore community,” said Siler.
The team practices at City Springs Elementary/Middle School in Upper Fells Point.
The team currently sits in third place in their four-team division, but were edged out by undefeated MOCO 1776 this past Sunday by a score of 3-2.
Siler believes Baltimore City F.C. is improving every week and can play with any team in the Maryland Majors.
While the long-term goal is the reach the USL, right now Siler is looking to see Baltimore City F.C. achieve measures of success. He has a business plan and will be speaking with investors in the near future.
Baltimore City F.C. is looking to add a youth development program over the summer and is also looking to launch a women’s club.
The club is looking to add more sponsors. It will also generate some income by selling jerseys.
Siler spent this past Sunday sitting in the stands at Banner Field and said he really had a great feeling seeing his club up and running. “From a management and operations side, I am very happy,” he said.
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About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
