{{Short description|Soccer club in Douglas County, Colorado}} {{Missing information|the club's history between 1986 to 1999, and 2016 to 2025|date=December 2025}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2025}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox football club | American = yes | clubname = Real Colorado | image = Real Colorado Foxes (logo).png | image_size = 120 | nickname = {{Ubl|''Foxes'' (men's)|''Cougars'' (women's)}} | fullname = Real Colorado Soccer Club | founded = {{Start date and age|p=yes|1986}} | ground = {{Ubl|Real Colorado Soccer Complex|Meridian, Colorado}} | capacity = | owner = Sean Henning | chairman = Ron vonLembke | league = {{Ubl|USL League Two (men's)|USL W League (women's)}} | season = 2025 | position = {{Ubl|The League for Clubs (men's)|Mountain Premier, 4th of 4|Playoffs: ''Conference semi-finals''}} | current = | website = {{URL|https://www.realcolorado.net/| realcolorado.net}} <!-- home kit --> | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = _Nike whitelogo | pattern_ra1 = | pattern_sh1 = _Nike white | pattern_so1 = _Nike white | leftarm1 = ff0000 | body1 = ff0000 | rightarm1 = ff0000 | shorts1 = ff0000 | socks1 = ff0000 <!-- away kit --> | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = | body2 = | rightarm2 = | shorts2 = | socks2 = }}
'''Real Colorado''' is an amateur soccer club based in Meridian, Colorado, in the Denver metropolitan area. It was founded in 1986, and primarily serves as a youth soccer club. It currently fields senior men's and women's teams in USL League Two and the USL W League, both in the amateur fourth tier of the United States league system.
The club originally fielded senior teams in the original incarnation of the W League in the 2000 season, and the Premier Development League (now USL League Two) in the 2009 season. Both teams were folded in 2010 and 2015, respectively. The senior men's team was re-established in 2025, competing in the Mountain Premier conference of The League for Clubs, before moving to USL League Two for the 2026 season, while the senior women's team was re-established for the 2026 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Real Colorado set to join USL W League and League Two in 2026 |url=https://www.uslwleague.com/news_article/show/1351924 |website=USL W League |access-date=December 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251219032441/https://www.uslwleague.com/news_article/show/1351924 |archive-date=December 19, 2025 |date=December 18, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
== History == Real Colorado first fielded a senior women's team, the ''Cougars'', into the original USL W-League in 2000. The Cougars were a member of the Western Conference, and played against the Colorado Force, Los Angeles Strikers, Pali Blues, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Seattle Sounders Select Women, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Victoria Highlanders Women.<ref name="hrh-2009">{{cite news |url=https://highlandsranchherald.net/stories/real-colorado-cougars-unveil-09-schedule,92628 |title=Real Colorado Cougars unveil '09 schedule |date=February 23, 2009 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |work=Highlands Ranch Herald}}</ref> They were founded as the "Colorado Gold", before rebranding as the "Denver Lady Cougars" in 2001, and finally the Real Colorado Cougars in 2006.<ref name="hrh-2009"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/soccerclub.html |title=THE GRAND LIST, A-G |date=February 25, 2010 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> The Cougars were folded after the 2010 season, with the Colorado Rush Women taking their place.<ref name="csn-fold">{{cite news |url=https://www.coloradosoccernow.com/category/w-league/ |title=Rush is in; Force is back; Cougars are out |date=February 5, 2010 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926130912/https://www.coloradosoccernow.com/category/w-league/ |archive-date=September 26, 2010 |first=George |last=Tanner}}</ref><ref name="rssf-usl-w">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/uswisl.html |title=USA - United States Women's Interregional Soccer League (W-League) |date=June 16, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |publisher=RSSSF |first=David A. |last=Litterer}}</ref>
thumb|left|200px|Real Colorado Foxes logo, 2011–15 Real Colorado first fielded the ''Foxes'', a senior men's team into the Premier Development League (now USL League Two) in 2009.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/home/238282.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716104944/http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/home/238282.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |date=April 2, 2008 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |publisher=United Soccer Leagues |title=Real Colorado adds PDL for 2009}}</ref> The Foxes played their first ever game on May 9, 2009, against Kansas City Brass, and won the game 3–2, with the first goal in franchise history being scored by Chris Salvaggione.<ref>[http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2009/1026859.html United Soccer Leagues (USL)<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610173356/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2009/1026859.html |date=2011-06-10 }}</ref> In 2011, the Foxes qualified for the U.S. Open Cup by winning the first 4 games of the regular season. The Foxes then advanced to the second round by knocking out the DV8 Defenders with a 5–0 victory, but fell short to Kitsap Pumas in the following round, by a score of 3–1.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The Foxes' average attendance was 114 in 2009, 80 in 2010, 191 in 2011, 268 in 2012, and 165 in 2013. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html |access-date=December 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105175057/http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html |archive-date=January 5, 2010 |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) }}</ref>{{Efn|Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive.}}
== Stadiums ==
* Real Colorado Soccer Complex (2026 - ) * Shea Stadium; Highlands Ranch, Colorado (2009–2015) * Stadium at Englewood High School; Englewood, Colorado 1 game (2010) * Heritage Stadium; Highlands Ranch, Colorado 2 games (2010, 2015) * Washburn Field at Colorado College; Colorado Springs, Colorado 1 game (2011) * CSM Soccer Stadium at Colorado School of Mines; Golden, Colorado 2 games (2012)
== Team ==
=== Notable former players ===
''This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.''
* {{flagicon|CAN}} Tesho Akindele * {{flagicon|GIB}} Joseph Chipolina * {{flagicon|USA}} Chris Salvaggione * {{flagicon|USA}} Brad Stisser * {{flagicon|USA}} Joe Willis *{{flagicon|USA}} Cody Stratton *{{flagicon|USA}} Taylor Kemp
=== Head coaches === '''Foxes''' * {{flagicon|USA}} Lorne Donaldson (2009–2010, 2012–2013) * {{flagicon|ENG}} Leigh Davies (2011–2012) * {{flagicon|USA}} Stoner Tadlock (2013–present)
== Seasons ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ style="text-align:left"| List of Real Colorado senior women's seasons<ref name="rssf-usl-w"/> ! Season || League || {{Abbr|Pld|Matches played}} || {{Abbr|W|Matches won}} || {{Abbr|D|Matches drawn}} || {{Abbr|L|Matches lost}} || {{Abbr|GF|Goals for}} || {{Abbr|GA|Goals against}} || {{Abbr|GD|Goal difference}} || {{Abbr|Pos|Position in conference/division}} || Playoffs |- | '''2000''' || USL-W2 || 12 || 7 || 4 || 1 || 33 || 18 || +15 || 2nd || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2001''' || USL-W2 || 10 || 5 || 0 || 5 || 28 || 18 || +10 || 3rd || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2002''' || USL-W || 12 || 10 || 2 || 0 || 32 || 14 || +18 || 2nd || Semi-finals |- | '''2003''' || USL-W || 12 || 6 || 4 || 2 || 36 || 24 || +12 || 3rd || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2004''' || USL-W || 14 || 6 || 7 || 1 || 24 || 25 || –1 || 5th || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2005''' || USL-W || 14 || 7 || 6 || 1 || 26 || 24 || +2 || 4th || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2006''' || USL-W || 12 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 25 || 27 || –2 || 4th || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2007''' || USL-W || 12 || 3 || 7 || 2 || 11 || 18 || –7 || 6th || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2008''' || USL-W || 12 || 5 || 4 || 3 || 15 || 19 || –4 || 4th || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2009''' || USL-W || 12 || 4 || 5 || 3 || 16 || 15 || +1 || 3rd || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- ! colspan="12"| |- | '''2026''' || USLW || colspan="10"| ''{{Color|grey|Future season}}'' |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ style="text-align:left"| List of Real Colorado senior men's seasons ! Season || League || {{Abbr|Pld|Matches played}} || {{Abbr|W|Matches won}} || {{Abbr|D|Matches drawn}} || {{Abbr|L|Matches lost}} || {{Abbr|GF|Goals for}} || {{Abbr|GA|Goals against}} || {{Abbr|GD|Goal difference}} || {{Abbr|Pos|Position in conference/division}} || Playoffs || USOC |- | '''2009''' || PDL || 16 || 8 || 3 || 5 || 28 || 19 || +9 || 3rd || Divisional finals || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2010''' || PDL || 16 || 7 || 6 || 3 || 26 || 18 || +8 || 3rd || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2011''' || PDL || 16 || 11 || 3 || 2 || 49 || 23 || +26 || 3rd || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} || Second round |- | '''2012''' || PDL || 16 || 8 || 4 || 4 || 19 || 19 || +0 || 2nd || Conference semi-finals || First round |- | '''2013''' || PDL || 14 || 9 || 2 || 3 || 28 || 14 || +14 || 2nd || Conference semi-finals || First round |- | '''2014''' || PDL || 14 || 2 || 4 || 8 || 12 || 18 || –6 || 5th || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} || Second round |- | '''2015''' || PDL || 15 || 5 || 5 || 4 || 20 || 21 || –1 || 4th || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- ! colspan="12"| |- | '''2025''' || TLfC || 6 || 0 || 1 || 5 || 7 || 15 || –8 || 4th || Conference semi-finals || {{Color|grey|DNQ}} |- | '''2026''' || USL2 || colspan="10"| ''{{Color|grey|Future season}}'' |}
== References == '''Notes''' {{Notelist}}
'''Citations''' {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website}} <!-- Per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only --> {{USL League Two}} {{USL W League}} {{Colorado Sports}}
Category:1986 establishments in Colorado Category:Association football clubs established in 1986 Category:Soccer clubs in Denver Category:USL League Two teams Category:USL W League teams Category:USL W-League (1995–2015) teams