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Wilmington Hammerheads are an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues Second Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and play their home games at Legion Stadium in the city of Wilmington, North Carolina. The team's colors are sky blue and white.
The Hammers have one championship under their belt from 2003 and were a finalist in 2002, losing to the Long Island Rough Riders 2-1. Wilmington has found great success in the US Open Cup in recent years regularly drawing MLS teams in the late rounds. Their most famous result occurred in 2003 when they drew the Dallas Burn, an MLS team, in the middle of a particularly bad year. They shocked the soccer world by defeating the Burn 4-1 at Legion Sports Complex before bowing out to DC United 1-0 in the quarterfinal round.
The Hammerheads regularly draw well over 2,000 fans per game and have drawn nearly 5,000 for Playoff games. Head Coach David Irving has been at the helm since 1999 and has recently signed a 3 year extension after 1st Division side Portland Timbers showed interest in his services.
The team's fan club are called the Port City Firm, with an estimated 30 members, most of which come from different areas of England
[edit] 2008 Roster
as at June 7, 2008
[edit] Year-by-year
| Year |
Division |
League |
Reg. Season |
Playoffs |
Open Cup |
| 1996 |
3 |
USISL Pro League |
3rd, South Atlantic |
Semifinals |
Did not qualify |
| 1997 |
3 |
USISL D-3 Pro League |
5th, South Atlantic |
Did not qualify |
Did not qualify |
| 1998 |
3 |
USISL D-3 Pro League |
6th, Atlantic |
Division Semifinals |
Did not qualify |
| 1999 |
3 |
USL D-3 Pro League |
2nd, Atlantic |
Conference Finals |
2nd Round |
| 2000 |
3 |
USL D-3 Pro League |
2nd, Southern |
Conference Quarterfinals |
2nd Round |
| 2001 |
3 |
USL D-3 Pro League |
1st, Southern |
Conference Finals |
Did not qualify |
| 2002 |
3 |
USL D-3 Pro League |
1st, Southern |
Final |
Did not qualify |
| 2003 |
3 |
USL Pro Select League |
2nd, Southern |
Champion |
Quarterfinals |
| 2004 |
3 |
USL Pro Soccer League |
2nd, Southern |
Quarterfinals |
3rd Round |
| 2005 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
4th |
Semifinals |
3rd Round |
| 2006 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
8th |
Did not qualify |
4th Round |
| 2007 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
7th |
Did not qualify |
Did not qualify |
[edit] External links
Bill Rudisill
David Irving
