USL League One News

Charlotte Independence U.S. Open Cup First Round Matchup Set

Jacks will travel to face Vereinigung Erzgebirge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 2, 2024) – First round matchups for the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, U.S. Soccer’s annual club championship, were announced today. The Charlotte Independence will travel to face Vereinigung Erzgebirge, a team out of the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania.

The match will take place on Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Cairn University in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:

The Charlotte Independence is a Division III professional men’s soccer team celebrating a decade of competitive soccer in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2024. The club, founded in 2014, currently competes in USL League One and reached its first league final in club history at the end of the 2023 season. The Independence plays all home games at the historic American Legion Memorial Stadium. As part of the Queen City Soccer Club, our mission is to make Charlotte a better place to live through sports. For information on club news, season tickets and more, visit charlotteindependence.com.

United Soccer League and ESPN Renew Multiyear Broadcasting Agreement for USL Championship and USL League One

Combined USL media package aims to make USL the most widely available domestic professional soccer league

TAMPA, Fla. & BRISTOL, Conn. (February 27, 2024) – The United Soccer League and ESPN today announced a new multi-year media rights agreement that will see more than 400 live matches per year of the USL Championship and USL League One air on ESPN platforms, starting in 2024.

“As we enter a new era for the USL with the 2026 World Cup approaching, our focus is to provide fans with more ways to watch than ever before and be the most widely available soccer league in our country,” said Chief Commercial Officer Court Jeske. “We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with ESPN during which the USL has grown significantly, and we are incredibly excited to continue this relationship.”

The 2024 season marks the ninth year of USL matches on ESPN, making the league the longest-running professional soccer organization currently featured on ESPN platforms. The USL was one of the first properties available on ESPN+ when the streaming service launched in 2018.

As part of the agreement, ESPN will be the exclusive home of the inaugural League One cup competition, with all group-stage matches, playoffs, and the final available to stream on ESPN+. The World Cup-style competition takes place throughout the year and creates additional matches of consequence in the annual calendar. It features non-traditional modifications that encourage attacking soccer and provide entertaining moments for fans. These include the use of penalty kicks to decide tied matches throughout the tournament and total goals scored as the first standings tiebreaker. Additional information on the cup competition can be found here.

The renewed agreement with ESPN completes the USL’s media package heading into the 2024 season, which includes CBS Sports and local linear partnerships. The USL will air 35 matches on national linear television between CBS Sports channels and ESPN networks, up from nine last season.

The full national TV broadcast schedule will be announced in the coming days.

In addition to national linear and streaming partners, the USL has retained flexibility for clubs to air a significant number of local linear broadcasts, giving fans more ways than ever to support their club.

The 2024 season sees the addition of first-year clubs Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship and Spokane Velocity FC in USL League One.

The 2024 USL Championship regular season schedule can be found here. The 2024 USL League one schedule can be found here.

Cameroonian National, Fabrice Ngah Returning to Independence Squad for 2024

Defender begins his second year in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 26, 2024) – The Charlotte Independence announced today defender Fabrice Ngah is returning to the 2024 squad. Ngah joins a solid returning corps of defenders from last year’s roster.

“I am delighted to welcome Fabrice back,” Head Coach Mike Jeffries expressed. “He is strong and solid defensively and plays with great composure in possession. His decision making on the ball and ability to hit a variety of passes will aid in our build up play; in the final third, he has shown the ability to make a difference making play.”

Ngah played in 23 matches, starting five, last year primarily at left back. His long pass success rate was among the best on the team in 2023. Ngah scored his first goal for the club just two minutes after entering as a substitute in the Jacks’ emphatic 4-1 win over Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC.

Before joining the Independence, Ngah played for Canon Yaoundé in the top flight of Cameroonian soccer. He also had a previous stop at Cleopatra FC in the Egyptian Premier League and multiple teams in Morocco from 2017-2020. Ngah appeared in 30 games and earned one goal with four assists for Difaâ El Jadida followed by 53 appearances two goals and two assists for Raja Club Athletic. He started his professional career in Cameroon with Les Astres FC in 2013.

In 2014, Ngah received his first call up to the Cameroonian National Team and has since appeared in four games. He last appeared for the national team in 2021 as a starter against Cape Verde in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Ngah is the 15th player returning from the 2023 squad which reached the USL League One Final. Jeffries continues to build upon the team’s success from last season, returning a core group of impact players.

The 2024 season begins on Saturday, March 16 as the Charlotte Independence face One Knoxville SC in the home opener. Season tickets for the Charlotte Independence 10th Anniversary season are on sale now with packages as low as $5 per game. To see all exclusive Season Ticket Member benefits and purchase your tickets today, visit charlotteindependence.com/seasontickets.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:

The Charlotte Independence is a Division III professional men’s soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club, founded in 2014, currently competes in USL League One and plays all home games at the newly renovated American Legion Memorial Stadium. As part of the Queen City Soccer Club, our mission is to make Charlotte a better place to live through sports. For information on club news, season tickets and more, visit charlotteindependence.com.

Resilience off the Pitch: Clay Dimick’s Unprecedented Recovery

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In a matter of weeks, Charlotte Independence defender Clay Dimick went from pure elation to utter disappointment and uncertainty. Dimick was the hero in the Independence’s win against Greenville Triumph SC on July 19, 2023, scoring the game-winning goal in the final moments of stoppage time. Just 10 days later, Dimick began feeling pain in his neck after the team’s game against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. This feeling began an arduous battle for Dimick and his family.

“I’ve never been injured before,” Dimick shared. “The worst injury I’ve had was a sprained ankle, so I thought this would heal itself in a couple weeks or maybe at worst get a quick surgery and be back by playoffs.”

As he faced more symptoms, starting with tingling through his arms and legs, Dimick began to realize this was no simple injury. The ultimate sign that the issue was serious came when Dimick was at practice doing a drill with hurdles, and he could not lift his left leg above the hurdle. This was not an injury that had a simple fix, and he needed to see a doctor.

In his first appointment with a neurosurgeon, the doctor told him, “If you were my son or my brother, I wouldn’t let you play again because the surgery you need to get is very intense.”

Shattering news.

“I’m not much of a cryer and my wife will tell you that, but I broke down,” Dimick said. “It was scary because I have two kids at home, I have a wife and so much more after soccer, so to think about how my career was being taken away and how active I could be after this was scary.”

Not willing to accept this fate quite yet, Dimick decided to see another specialist for a second opinion. After all, this was a life-changing decision.

The second specialist suggested a two-level cervical artificial disc replacement. In this procedure, the two ruptured discs are removed and replaced with fake discs. This surgery provides patients with a better lifestyle after recovery compared to the fusion surgery originally suggested which inserts screws and rods in place of the discs.

No professional athletes have ever returned to playing after a two-level cervical artificial disc replacement. Two National Hockey League players have undergone a one-level version of this procedure and returned to the ice successfully, but the two-level replacement is unprecedented for professional athletes.

There were never any guarantees that Dimick would play again, but this surgery provided him the best chance to continue playing the sport he loves.

The surgery and recovery itself is a heavy weight on any family, but for the Dimick family, the circumstances were even more complex. Dimick’s second son was born two weeks before the initial injury occurred.

“All the moms, all the women, all the wives out there know that postpartum is serious,” Dimick expressed. “My heart hurt because I couldn’t be the dad and husband that I wanted to be. The doctor had advised me not to bend over to pick up our kids because with how compressed the spinal cord was, any type of strong reaction could have caused my neck to do something irreversible, and I would have lost function forever.”

Following the surgery, Dimick was bedridden with specific instructions on how much standing and walking he was allowed to do per day. Dimick’s wife, Cat, helped him with eating, using the restroom, and taking medications while also caring for their two sons.

“I’m just so grateful for who my wife is, and Cat took it like a champ,” Dimick commented. “It definitely took its toll on us as a family, but I think we came out stronger.”

Three things most people never bat an eye at during the day: using a fork, zipping a zipper, and walking in a straight line. These were all things Dimick had to teach the left side of his body to do again. Physical therapy was physically and emotionally challenging at times, especially at the beginning when the physical therapist had to move Dimick’s arms and legs to retrain them since he could not move the limbs himself.

“I was learning all these things that I’ve been doing for years, but I never think about it,” Dimick explained. “It was definitely an uphill battle because before the surgery, I didn’t know how much I lost, physically and neurologically. When I realized how much I had lost and was starting to go through physical therapy, it was like I was starting at ground zero on my left side. It was really humbling. I tried to be patient, but I’m not really the most patient, so humility was definitely something I needed and was given by the grace of God.”

These challenges fueled Dimick’s motivation to return to the pitch. The other motivation during the recovery process: his family. One of the biggest milestones for Dimick was when he was allowed to hold his children again.

“As a dad, you don’t really think about that because you do it everyday, but when it gets taken away from you, it’s a gut check, and you just want to hug them and hold them, so when I was cleared to do that, that was special,” Dimick shared.

The moment finally came in mid-January when Dimick was cleared by team doctors and his neurosurgeon to fully play soccer again. He spent the off season training with other local professional players to refine his skills again.

The Independence officially began preseason training on February 1, marking Dimick’s return to the pitch with his teammates. After the most successful finish in club history in 2023, there is more motivation than ever to win a championship this year. Although Dimick may have an altered perspective on this season on a personal level, he remains focused on the team’s goal to win a title for this club.

“The coaching staff and the owners, everyone in the club really, was super supportive and just really nice in how they went about it,” Dimick expressed. “They gave me my space when I needed it, but they were there when I needed them as well. I can’t thank them enough from Dan and Jim all the way to Mike and the staff and my teammates. Everybody knew what I needed and knew what would help me, so I can’t thank them enough because I never would have gotten through it as positively as I did without them.”

There’s unfinished business in 2024.

Charlotte Independence Welcome Dave Dixon and Blake Ellis to Technical Staff

Dixon named an Assistant Coach; Ellis will serve as Goalkeeper Coach

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 8, 2024) – The Charlotte Independence announced today the addition of Dave Dixon and Blake Ellis to the club’s technical staff. The duo joins returning Head Coach, Mike Jeffries, Assistant Coach, Dave Carton and Video Analysis, Jay Lockhart for the 2024 season.

Dave Dixon, Assistant Coach

Dixon previously served as an Assistant Coach with the Charlotte Independence for the 2019 and 2020 USL Championship seasons. He rejoins the staff from FC Carolinas where he was the Director of Soccer.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dave Dixon back on staff,” Jeffries shared. “He provides tremendous soccer insights and has a very comfortable manner when dealing with players. In addition, his ability to scout players and knowledge of both the youth and college landscape will be valuable as we continue to build our roster and look to develop young players.”

Previously, Dixon coached in the USL Championship with Indy Eleven and the Charlotte Eagles, reaching the league championship in 2013. At the USL League Two level, Dixon coached with the Charlotte Eagles and Mississippi Brilla FC. In 2015, Dixon was named USL League Two Coach of the Year. Two years later, the Charlotte Eagles were crowned USL League Two Champions under his leadership.

“I’m really excited to be back with the Independence and to work with Mike Jeffries again,” Dixon expressed. “Mike, with the support of ownership, has done a fantastic job creating a club and culture that can compete for championships. I will give everything I have to help the club lift a championship trophy!”

At the collegiate level, Dixon has coached numerous programs spanning from the NAIA level to Division I universities. As a student-athlete, Dixon was an All-American goalkeeper at Houghton College in New York. He went on to play professionally for the Charlotte Eagles. Dixon holds a US Soccer A Licence and a United Soccer Coaches Association Premier license.

Blake Ellis, Goalkeeper Coach

Ellis has worked with the Charlotte Independence Youth Soccer Club for over three years, including serving as the Goalkeeper Coach for the Independence USL League Two team.

“We are excited to bring Blake Ellis on board as our goalkeeping coach,” Jeffries commented.” In the times he has worked with our goalkeepers, he has done a great job of setting up and running sessions, bringing a good mentality and modern training ideas. In addition, we are happy to continue to cement the relationship with our academy, enabling staff coaches to grow and develop with the first team.”

Ellis originally joined the Charlotte Independence in 2020 as the South Goalkeeper Director. After a year in this role, he was promoted to Boys Goalkeeper Director in which he oversees and manages all levels of goalkeeping, from Recreation to ECNL. During his stint as Boys Goalkeeper Director, Ellis was part of a U19 ECNL National Championship (2021) and USL Academy Championship (2023).

“First, I want to thank Thomas Finlay and Mike Jeffries for this opportunity,” Ellis shared. “I joined the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club three and a half years ago because of the club’s vision and player pathway. I knew I wanted to be a part of an industry that provided a path to pro for youth soccer players. We’ve been very successful in that regard, signing multiple players to academy contracts over the past seasons. Not only has this pathway been successful for players, it has proven to provide opportunities for coaches. I’m excited for this opportunity and am looking forward to the upcoming season. Up the Jacks!”

Prior to this, Ellis was the Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper Coach at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, from 2018-2020. He helped the men’s soccer program reach the Big South Quarterfinals and the women’s soccer program achieve back-to-back Big South Quarterfinals appearances. During his time at Winthrop, Ellis also contributed as a goalkeeper coach for Discoveries Soccer Club coaching U13-U19 goalkeepers.

The 2024 USL League One season begins on Saturday, March 16 as the Charlotte Independence face One Knoxville SC in the home opener. Season tickets for the Charlotte Independence 10th Anniversary season are on sale now with packages as low as $5 per game for Supporter Section seats. To see all exclusive Season Ticket Member benefits and purchase your tickets today, visit charlotteindependence.com/seasontickets.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:

Charlotte Independence Announce First-Ever Indy Fanfest

Free preseason friendly, two professional soccer teams and lots of family-friendly entertainment highlight the fun-filled event

Charlotte Independence Indy Fanfest Saturday, March 2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 31, 2024) – The Charlotte Independence announced today its first-ever Indy Fanfest, a preseason party set to kick off the club’s 10th Anniversary season. The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, March 2 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Fans get free access to watch a preseason friendly as the Jacks play host to MLS Next Pro side, Carolina Core FC. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. Admission is free, but the club requests fans RSVP.

The club has organized a full afternoon of family-friendly entertainment including: Party on the Plaza Yard Games, Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Balloon Twisting, Photo Station, Food Truck and a Post Game Meet and Greet with the team’s players and coaches. 2024 Season Posters will be given away to fans on a first come, first served basis.

“There’s no better way to kick off our 10th Anniversary season than reuniting with our die-hard fans and welcoming new soccer lovers to our home field at American Legion Memorial Stadium,” shared Charlotte Independence President and COO, Tim Schuldt. “We continually strive to make professional soccer more affordable and accessible for the community we serve. The Indy Fanfest allows us to do just that, as we stay true to our mission of making Charlotte a better place to live through sports.”

Match Details:

Charlotte Independence vs. Carolina Core FC
Date: Saturday, March 2
Gates Open: 1:00 p.m.
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m.
Location: American Legion Memorial Stadium
Admission is free, but please RSVP here.

The preseason friendly will mark the first meeting between the Independence and the brand-new Carolina Core FC which will play its inaugural season in MLS Next Pro in 2024. After finishing as USL League One Finalists in 2023, the Independence will use this match as final preparations before the Jacks kick off their 2024 USL League One season just two weeks later.

Charlotte faces One Knoxville SC in the 2024 Home Opener on Saturday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Single game tickets will go on sale for the home opener on Friday, February 2.

Season tickets for the Charlotte Independence 10th Anniversary season are on sale now with Supporters Group packages starting as low as $5 per game. To see all exclusive Season Ticket Member benefits and purchase your tickets today, visit charlotteindependence.com/seasontickets.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:

Charlotte Independence Announce 2024 Preseason Schedule

Preseason slate includes MLS Next Pro and USL Championship opponents

2024 Charlotte Independence Preseason Schedule Graphic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 29, 2024) – The Charlotte Independence announced today a competitive preseason schedule ahead of the club’s 10th Anniversary season. The 2023 USL League One Finalists will face off against local and regional opponents in preparation for first kick on March 16.

“We were able to schedule a competitive preseason in an effort to be ready for the start of the season,” Head Coach, Mike Jeffries shared. “I am especially excited about the game on March 2nd – a great opportunity for us to reconnect with the fan base at American Legion Memorial Stadium, and get pumped for the home opener.”

The preseason matches kickoff on Saturday, February 10 on the road against Atlanta United II. The Jacks will travel to face the Charleston Battery the following Saturday, February 17. A third away match will take place against North Carolina FC on Wednesday, February 21.

UNC Charlotte will host the Jacks on campus at Transamerica Field on Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m. This match is open to the public with free admission.

The first-ever MLS Next Pro Cup champions, Columbus Crew 2, will travel to Charlotte for a closed match on Tuesday, February 27.

Two weeks before the USL League One home opener, the Independence will host new MLS Next Pro side Carolina Core FC on Saturday, March 2 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The match will kick off at 2:00 p.m. and is open to the public. The club is planning a special day for fans with more details to be announced this week.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:

Midfielder Miguel Ibarra Returning to the Pitch for Charlotte in 2024

Two-time team assist leader enters his third season with the Independence

Welcome Back Miguel Ibarra Signing Graphic for Charlotte Independence 2024 Season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 25, 2024) – The Charlotte Independence announced today that midfielder Miguel Ibarra is returning for the 2024 season. Ibarra served as the team captain in the latter half of the 2023 season.

“Since we moved to League One, Miguel has been the heartbeat of our roster,” Head Coach Mike Jeffries expressed. “I am excited to welcome him back to the Independence for 2024 and look forward to watching him dictate the tempo of games and make the players around him better through his distribution and knowledge of the game. In addition, Miguel continues to be a great leader and mentor for the younger players on the roster – showing up every day with intensity, desire, and professionalism.”

2024 will be Ibarra’s third year with the Independence. He led the team with seven assists in 2022 and 2023; this total ranked fifth in the league in 2023. He has a total of five goals across the two years. Ibarra played in all 35 games during the club’s run to the 2023 USL League One Final and posted a stellar 91% passing accuracy.

“I’m excited to be back for another season,” Ibarra shared. “Last year we came up short of bringing a trophy to Charlotte, so that itself was a little motivation to come back and work towards that same goal. I’m excited to see the fans and coaching staff again and get to work. I know it’s going to be a good year, and I’m excited for 2024.”

Prior to his time with the Independence, Ibarra played for USL Championship side San Diego Loyal in 2021 and scored two goals in 28 appearances. He spent the previous year with the Seattle Sounders, making 12 MLS appearances plus a CONCACAF Champions League match against Honduran side C.D. Olimpia.

Across two stints, Ibarra spent seven seasons with Minnesota United. He started with Minnesota in 2012 in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and went on to earn NASL Best XI (2013, 2014) and NASL Player of the Month (2014) honors. In 2014, Ibarra was awarded the Golden Ball as the league’s best player.

Ibarra joined Liga MX side Club Léon from 2015-2017 and scored one goal in eight appearances before returning to Minnesota United for the club’s inaugural MLS season. He appeared in 84 games and scored 11 goals over three seasons (2017-2020).

Collegiately, Ibarra began his soccer career at Taft College and was named Central Valley Conference MVP. He then transferred to UC Irvine before his junior year where he earned All Big West First Team honors and was awarded the Big West Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Ibarra’s addition continues to bolster the midfield position for the Jacks. He joins Gabriel Obertan, Joel Johnson, Omar Ciss, Luis Alvarez, Rayan Djedje, and Bachir Ndiaye on the roster.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:

Charlotte Independence Announce 2024 Schedule Changes

Club prioritizes fan engagement and introduces new giveaway program

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 23, 2024) – The Charlotte Independence announced today six date changes for the 2024 regular season schedule. These adjustments will help the club maximize fan engagement and offer variety in schedule. All adjusted games will kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

The Independence will also introduce Free Giveaway Friday. For each match played on Friday night fans will receive a free promotional item, while supplies last. A full promotional schedule with giveaway items will be announced next month.

Schedule changes include:

The match previously scheduled for Saturday, March 30 against Spokane Velocity will now be played on Thursday, March 28.

The match previously scheduled for Saturday, April 13 against Greenville Triumph SC will now be played on Friday, April 12.

The match previously scheduled for Saturday, May 18 against Union Omaha will now be played on Friday, May 17.

The match previously scheduled for Saturday, June 15 against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC will now be played on Friday, June 14.

The match previously scheduled for Saturday, October 5 against Forward Madison FC will now be played on Friday, October 4.

View a full, updated schedule at charlotteindpendence.com/2024-schedule.

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Premier League Veteran Gabriel Obertan Returning to the Independence in 2024

Midfielder enters his fourth year with the Jacks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 18, 2024) – The Charlotte Independence announced today that experienced midfielder, Gabriel Obertan, will suit up for the Jacks for the 2024 season. This marks Obertan’s fourth year with the club following a successful career with Newcastle United and Manchester United in the English Premier League and other top-tier teams across Europe.

“I am delighted to have Gabriel join us for another season,” Head Coach Mike Jeffries shared. “In addition to his major on-field impact, Gabriel, through his background, experience and character, provides tremendous locker room leadership. With his humble nature, he remains a tremendous example and driver for our younger players.”

Obertan notched four goals and four assists in 28 appearances for the Independence in 2023. He scored in the USL League One Quarterfinal, helping the Jacks advance past Greenville Triumph SC en route to the first league final appearance in club history.

In 2022, Obertan logged four goals and three assists, including the team’s only goal in the USL League One Playoffs that year. He helped lead the team to the USL Championship Conference Semifinals in 2021 behind five goals and two assists during the regular season.

“I’m looking forward to another great year with the Charlotte Independence and seeing our fans for the home opener,” Obertan commented. “Let’s go Jacks.”

Before joining the Independence, Obertan played for Turkish side Ezurumpsor where he scored eight goals along with five assists in 71 appearances from 2018-21. Prior to his time in Turkey, Obertan played with Levski Sofia in Bulgaria (2017-18), English side Wigan Athletic (2017), and Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala (2016).

From 2011-16, Obertan played for Newcastle United with appearances in the Premier League and UEFA Europa League. In 77 games, he recorded three goals and 10 assists.

Obertan’s first contract in England came from Manchester United from 2009-11 where he appeared in 27 matches. During his time with the Red Devils, Obertan posted one goal and two assists in the UEFA Champions League plus two additional assists in the Premier League.

The Frenchman began his professional career in his home country with Bordeaux where he made 79 appearances, scored six goals and provided five assists between 2006-09. He left Bordeaux for a short stint with fellow French side, FC Lorient, where Obertan scored two goals in 17 appearances.

Obertan is the sixth returnee in the midfield for the Independence, joining Joel Johnson, Omar Ciss, Luis Alvarez, Rayan Djedje, and Bachir Ndiaye on the roster.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:

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