Fort Worth Vaqueros FC

Fort Worth Vaqueros FC
Founded2013 (2013)
Stadium
Capacity4,560
OwnerPlaybook Management
CoachTony Merola
LeagueUSL League Two
2025
Websitefortworthvaqueros.com

Fort Worth Vaqueros FC is a soccer club based in River Oaks, Texas in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Owned by Playbook Management International, LLC, the club competes in the Ranger Division of USL League Two, an amateur league in the United States league system. It commenced play in the National Premier Soccer League, where it played for eleven seasons until its move to USL League Two in 2026. Its home ground is W.O. Barnes Stadium.

History

The club was launched in 2013 and began play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in May 2014.[1][2][3] The team's name was announced at the Fort Worth Livestock Exchange Building on February 13, 2014, after a name the team contest.[4][5][6] The team's official logo was selected by the fans then revealed by the team on March 20, 2014.[7] The team played its inaugural 2014 season at historic LaGrave Field but had to relocate in 2015 after the Fort Worth Cats, from whom the Vaqueros had been subletting the field, lost their lease.[8]

On January 1, 2015, Vaqueros owner Michael Hitchcock and the newly formed Legend Football Partners acquired a significant interest in English soccer club Alfreton Town F.C. From this acquisition, Fort Worth Vaqueros formed a partnership with the English club, creating an avenue for player sharing, cross marketing, international matches and preseason training in both countries. "This move automatically makes the Vaqueros a stronger organization through the benefits of sharing players, training techniques, matches and the collaboration of ideas from two different soccer nations," said Hitchcock.[9] In August 2015, Hitchcock's Playbook Management International expanded the Vaqueros family ties by acquiring a stake in Tobago FC Phoenix 1976.[10]

Culture

Supporters

Playing at the historic LaGrave Field, the Vaqueros welcomed 2,700 fans to their first home game and enjoyed an average attendance of 2,000 fans during the 2014 season.[11] The main supporters group for the Vaqueros is named the Panther City Hellfire, a name taken from a historic Fort Worth nickname. The Vaqueros have a close connection with their fans, involving them in the evolution and growth of the club. When the team was first created and needed a name and logo, the club allowed the fan community to create, submit and vote on what both of these aspects would look like. Many names were submitted, but the final decision was between Fort Worth United, Fort Worth Vaqueros FC and Panther City FC, with Fort Worth Vaqueros FC ultimately being selected. Vaqueros season ticket holders do not receive paper tickets to the games, but instead receive a free team jersey that they wear to each game as their ticket into the game.[12] The club supporters come mainly from the city of Fort Worth and the surrounding Metroplex communities.

Rivalries

When the Vaqueros first entered the NPSL, they had an instant rival in Dallas City FC. With the teams in close proximity to each other in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, there is a natural rivalry between the two clubs. In addition to their conference play, the Vaqueros play a two leg cup series against Dallas City. The name of this cup was selected by both teams' fans, from the DFW area through social media.[13] The Vaqueros lost the first Trinity River Cup to Dallas City FC in 2014, suffering a 2–0 loss in the first leg and a 1–0 loss in the second leg.[14] Beginning in 2016, the Vaqueros began a two-leg (non-league) series with Shreveport Rafters FC, called the Texas Trail Classic. Shreveport won the inaugural cup. In 2019, the Chisholm Trail Clásico began, pitting the Vaqueros against the Denton Diablos FC.

Stadium

The club is currently based at W.O. Barnes Stadium at Castleberry High School. The NPSL team began play at LaGrave Field and later played at Farrington Field, a facility owned by the Fort Worth Independent School District.[15]

Team

Coaching staff

  • Head coach: Tony Merola
  • Assistant coach: McKane Rogers
  • Assistant coach: Joseph Cervantes
  • Academy Executive Director: Mark Snell
  • Youth Club Executive Director: Daniel Rincon

Head coaches

  • Mark Snell (2014–2016)
  • Nick Stavrou (2017–2019)
  • Sergio Franklin (2020–2021)
  • Tony Merola (2022–present)

Seasons

List of Fort Worth Vaqueros FC seasons
Season League Pld W D L GF GA GD Pos Playoffs USOC Ref
2014 NPSL 10 2 1 7 23 24 –1 7th of 8 DNQ DNQ
2015 NPSL 14 3 5 6 21 35 –14 6th of 8 DNQ DNQ
2016 NPSL 12 1 1 10 11 38 –27 11th of 11 DNQ DNQ
2017 NPSL 10 7 1 2 17 8 +9 1st of 6 Conference semi-finals DNQ
2018 NPSL 10 6 2 2 26 17 +9 4th of 9 Conference semi-finals 1R
2019 NPSL 12 7 3 2 26 14 +12 3rd of 7 Regional semi-finals DNQ
2020 RL 7 3 2 2 11 9 +2 5th of 8 DNQ Q[a] [18]
2021 NPSL 10 0 1 9 12 35 –23 8th of 8 DNQ Q[a]
2022 NPSL 12 3 1 8 17 25 –8 8th of 10 DNQ DNQ
2023 NPSL 11 4 0 7 17 30 –13 7th of 11 DNQ DNQ
2024 NPSL 10 0 2 8 9 34 –25 8th of 8 DNQ DNQ
2025 NPSL 10 5 0 5 20 21 –1 4th of 7 Conference semi-finals DNQ
2026 USL2 Future season DNQ
  1. ^ a b The club qualified for the 2020 and 2021 editions of the U.S. Open Cup, which were both cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[16][17]

Sponsors

Year Kit manufacturer Sponsor
2014 Puma Hispano Exito[19]
2015 Tarrant County College[20]
2016 UN1TUS Chimera Brewing Company[21]
2017 Zadeh Law Firm
2018 Puma Fort Worth Weekly[22]
2019 Pinnacle Bank
2020 Fort Worth Police Officers Association
2021 Sidral Mundet
2022 US Army
2023 The Chat Room Pub[23]
2024 The Rabbit Hole Pub
2025 Astoria Crossing

References

  1. ^ Welpton, Peter (February 6, 2014). "Are you aware Ft Worth is getting a soccer team?". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  2. ^ "Fort Worth's Minor League Soccer Team to Begin Play May 9" (PDF) (Press release). Fort Worth Vaqueros. January 27, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  3. ^ Dickson, Gordon (March 2, 2014). "New Fort Worth Vaqueros soccer club aiming to connect with community". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  4. ^ Hunt, Steve (February 13, 2014). "Vaqueros FC makes strong initial impression". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on November 25, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  5. ^ "Fans select Vaqueros as name of Fort Worth's new minor league soccer team" (PDF) (Press release). Fort Worth Vaqueros. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  6. ^ "Seleccionan nombre de 'Vaqueros' para equipo de fútbol". Diario La Estrella (in Spanish). Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. ^ Welpton, Peter (March 3, 2014). "With name picked, Ft. Worth Vaqueros need a logo". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  8. ^ Dickson, Gordon (April 14, 2015). "Fort Worth Vaqueros moving home soccer games to Texas Wesleyan University". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "Vaqueros Owner Purchases Interest in England's Alfreton Town FC". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  10. ^ "FC Phoenix gets US owners | Tobago Today". Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  11. ^ Kost, Kenneth; Prince, Jeff (July 9, 2014). "Take Me Out to the Soccer Match". Fort Worth Weekly. Fort Worth, TX. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  12. ^ "About Us". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  13. ^ Welpton, Peter (May 24, 2014). "Dallas vs Ft Worth – a new rivalry begins". Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  14. ^ "Vaqueros Surrender Trinity River Cup to Dallas City FC". Fort Worth Vaqueros FC. June 8, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  15. ^ Nishimura, Scott (March 14, 2014). "Goal! Vaqueros set for May soccer debut at LaGrave Field". Fort Worth Business Press. Fort Worth, TX. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  16. ^ Battista, Michael (March 7, 2020). "A modest proposal: How to salvage 2020 US Open Cup amid coronovirus pandemic". TheCup.us. Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  17. ^ Crooke, Dan (July 20, 2021). "2021 US Open Cup canceled – full schedule in place for 2022". 3rd Degree. Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  18. ^ Carrick, Buzz (January 3, 2021). "Roja Invierno roundup – matchday seven, playoffs set". 3rd Degree. Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  19. ^ "Fort Worth Vaqueros jersey will sport a charity". Dallas Morning News. April 10, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  20. ^ "TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE TO ADORN VAQUEROS JERSEY FRONT IN 2015". NPSL. April 25, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  21. ^ "Vaqueros Will Sport New Look This Season". Fort Worth Weekly. March 29, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  22. ^ "Sports Rush: A New Look for the Vaqueros". Fort Worth Weekly. April 6, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  23. ^ "Decade of Vaqueros Sponsorship Lottery 2023". FortWorthVaqueros.com. April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
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