Christos FC

{{Infobox football club | clubname = Christos FC | image = Christos FC logo (2020).png | image_size = 120 | fullname = Christos Football Club | nickname = | founded = {{Start date and age|1997}} | ground = Under Armour Stadium - Baltimore, MD | Academy = | capacity = | chrtitle = Chairman | mgrtitle = General Manager | manager = Jody Haislip | coach = Michael St. Martin | league = USL League Two<br>Eastern Premier Soccer League<br>USASA | season = 2024 | position = 5th, Chesapeake Division<br>Playoffs: DNQ | website = {{url|https://www.christosfc.com/| christosfc.com}} | American = true | current =  | pattern_la1 = _navyborder | pattern_b1 = _navycollar | pattern_ra1 = _navyborder | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = 28D07B | body1 = 28D07B | rightarm1 = 28D07B | shorts1 = | socks1 =  | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = | body2 = | rightarm2 = | shorts2 = | socks2 = }}

'''Christos Football Club''' is an American soccer club based in Baltimore, Maryland, that competes in USL League Two & the American Premier Soccer League, an affiliated league of United States Adult Soccer Association. They formerly competed in the Maryland Major Soccer League & NPSL.

== History == Christos FC began in 1997 as a Sunday-league team composed of former professionals and local college players. The club’s colours are green, gold and black, and its name comes from Christos Discount Liquors. In 2016, they won both the Werner Fricker National Open Cup and the USASA National Amateur Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usasaregion1.com/event/show/344220344|title=Werner Fricker Cup - National Open Championship Final|date=July 30, 2016|website=United States Adult Soccer Association|publisher=usasaregion1.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713145752/http://www.usasaregion1.com/event/show/344220344|archive-date=July 13, 2016|accessdate=May 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://amateurcupmedia.com/2016/08/08/christos-fc-comes-full-circle-with-u-s-amateur-and-wf-open-cup-championships/|title=Christos FC comes full circle with U.S. Amateur and WF Open Cup Championships|last=says|first=Jody Haislip|date=2016-08-08|website=US Amateur Cup Media|language=en|access-date=2019-12-17}}</ref>

In 2017 Christos FC qualified for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and defeated fourth-division sides Fredericksburg FC<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fontela|first1=Jonah|title=Christos FC - Baltimore's Sunday-League Superstars|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/05/15/22/02/20170515-feat-usoc-christos-fc-baltimores-sunday-league-superstars|website=United States Soccer Federation|publisher=ussoccer.com|accessdate=May 18, 2017}}</ref> and Chicago FC United, then upset second-division Richmond Kickers<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bromley|first1=Ben|title=Christos FC upset Richmond Kickers in the US Open Cup|url=http://www.blackandredunited.com/2017-us-open-cup/2017/5/17/15656414/christos-fc-upset-richmond-kickers-in-the-us-open-cup|website=Black and Red United|publisher=SB Nation|accessdate=May 18, 2017|date=May 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Culler|first1=Adam|title=Kickers offensive woes continue in 1-0 loss to Christos FC|url=http://www.richmond.com/sports/richmond-kickers/kickers-offensive-woes-continue-in---loss-to-christos/article_f9ba87b2-518a-5e24-8ba2-09fc6d71066d.html|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch|publisher=Berkshire Hathaway|accessdate=May 18, 2017|date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> and reached the fourth round, where they played D.C. United of Major League Soccer; Christos scored first in that game, drawing media attention.<ref>{{cite web|title=The fascinating story behind Christos FC|url=http://www.espnfc.com/us-open-cup/69/video/3143455/the-fascinating-story-behind-christos-fc|website=ESPN|publisher=espnfc.com|accessdate=June 15, 2017|date=June 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=ESPN Staff|title=D.C. United end Cinderella run of Christos FC in U.S. Open Cup|url=http://www.espnfc.com/us-open-cup/story/3143382/dc-united-end-cinderella-run-of-christos-fc-in-us-open-cup|website=ESPN|publisher=espnfc.com|accessdate=June 15, 2017|date=June 14, 2017}}</ref>

In 2018, Christos FC again qualified for the U.S. Open Cup but lost in the first round to Reading United AC on penalties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/5/10/17338606/reading-united-christos-fc-us-open-cup-penalty-shootout|title=Reading United advance to second round of U.S. Open Cup on penalties|last=Ralph|first=Matthew|date=2018-05-10|website=Brotherly Game|language=en|access-date=2019-12-17}}</ref>

thumb|upright=0.66|left|Logo of FC Baltimore 1729, which quickly merged into Christos FC following its founding in 2018 Also in 2018, a separate club, FC Baltimore 1729, was founded. The new club joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), competing in the Mid Atlantic Conference of the Northeast Region.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-25|title=FC Baltimore Christos|url=https://www.npsl.com/team/fc-baltimore-christos/|access-date=2021-03-17|website=National Premier Soccer League|language=en-US}}</ref> On November 5, 2018, FC Baltimore 1729 announced a formal partnership with Christos FC and changed its name to FC Baltimore Christos. They began sharing resources with the amateur side while continuing to compete in the NPSL.<ref>{{cite web |title=FC BALTIMORE LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH CHRISTOS FC |url=https://fcbaltimore1729.com/2018/11/05/fc-baltimore-launches-partnership-with-christos-fc/ |website=fcbaltimore1729.com |access-date=5 November 2018 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217185727/https://fcbaltimore1729.com/2018/11/05/fc-baltimore-launches-partnership-with-christos-fc/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Baltimore Christos live score, schedule and results - Football - SofaScore|url=https://www.sofascore.com/team/football/baltimore-christos/298874|access-date=2021-03-17|website=www.sofascore.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=FC Baltimore announces partnership with amateur club Christos FC|url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/fc-baltimore-announces-partnership-with-amateur-club-christos-fc/|access-date=2021-03-17|website=SoccerWire|language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, Christos FC qualified again for the U.S. Open Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecup.us/2019/11/29/2020-us-open-cup-qualifying-win-youre-in-christos-fc-qualifies-for-third-time-in-last-four-years/|title=2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Win & You're In: Christos FC qualifies for third time in last four years|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-17}}</ref>

After the 2021 NPSL season, during which FC Baltimore Christos reached the National Finals, the club announced it would move to USL League Two for the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christos FC Set to Join USL League Two for the 2022 Season|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/news_article/show/1158844 |website=uslleaguetwo.com |publisher=USL League Two |accessdate=April 22, 2021}}</ref> At that point, FC Baltimore Christos was fully absorbed into the Christos FC structure, and the combined entity has operated solely as "Christos FC" since then.

Today, Christos FC competes in USL League Two and in the Eastern Premier Soccer League, the latter as part of an affiliation with the United States Adult Soccer Association.

==Year-by-year== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Division !League !Regular season !Playoffs !Open Cup |- |2022 |4 |USL League Two |2nd, Chesapeake |Conference Quarterfinals |''Did not enter'' |- |2023 |4 |USL League Two |3rd, Chesapeake |''Did not qualify'' |Second qualifying round |- |2024 |4 |USL League Two |5th, Chesapeake |''Did not qualify'' |''Did not qualify'' |- |2025 |4 |USL League Two |6th, Chesapeake |''Did not qualify'' |''Did not qualify'' |- |2026 |4 |USL League Two | | |Third Qualifying Round |}

== Roster ==

{{Fs start|nat=|pos=|other=|no=|name=}} {{Fs player|no=1 |nat=USA|pos=GK|name=Ethan Fesner|other=}} {{Fs player|no=5 |nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Cyrus Burgess|other=}} {{Fs player|no=6 |nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Steve Webb|other=}} {{Fs player|no=7 |nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Cosimo Manuzzi|other=}} {{Fs player|no=8 |nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Clive Pennock|other=}} {{Fs player|no=11 |nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Tom Danvers|other=}} {{Fs player|no=15 |nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Elijah Butler|other=}} {{Fs player|no=16 |nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Jesse O'Brian|other=}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=19 |nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Noriaki Maeno|other=}} {{Fs player|no=22 |nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Festus Jefferson|other=}} {{Fs player|no=23 |nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Jimmy Doe Jr.|other=}} {{Fs player|no=24 |nat=USA|pos=GK|name=Kenny Prince|other=}} {{Fs player|no=25 |nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Curtis Hoover|other=}} {{Fs player|no=80 |nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Kyle Clayton|other=}} {{Fs player|no=92 |nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Stan Cohen|other=}} {{Fs end}}

== Club honors == *'''USASA National Amateur Cup (1): Champions 2016''' *'''USASA Werner Fricker National Open Cup (2): Champions 2016, 2018''' *'''Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 4th Round 2017''' *'''Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 1st Round 2018''' *'''USASA Over-30 Gerhard Mengel National Cup (3): Champions 2012, 2013, 2014''' *'''USASA U-23 National Champions (1): Champions 2002''' *'''USASA Over-50 Giacomo Testani National Champions 2024''' *'''United States Adult Soccer Association''' USASA National Amateur Cup Champions 2016 & Werner Fricker Open Cup Champions 2016, 2018 USASA Region 1 Open Cup Champions 2016, 2018 & Amateur Cup Champions 2016 Maryland Rowland Cup Champions 2000, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023 Maryland Stewart Cup Champions 2001, 2002, 2006, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 Maryland State Cup 0-30 Champions 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Maryland State Cup O-40 Champions 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Maryland State Cup O-50 Champions 2023, 2024 USASA Region 1 & Gerhard Mengel O-30 National Champions 2012, 2013, 2014 -->

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{oweb}}

Category:Association football clubs established in 1997 Category:Soccer clubs in Maryland Category:Soccer clubs in Baltimore Category:1997 establishments in Maryland Category:Works soccer clubs in the United States Category:USL League Two teams