2020–21 Chattanooga FC season explained

The 2020–21 Chattanooga FC season was the club's second professional season playing in the National Independent Soccer Association, its first full season in NISA, and 13th overall since being established in 2009.

Club

Equipment

The club wore different kits for the 2020 and 2021 portions of the season. Hummel was the supplier and Volkswagen was the sponsor in the fall. For the spring, Louisiana Hot Sauce sponsored the home kit while German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg sponsored the away kit.

Transfers

In

	Pos.	Player	Signed from	Details	Date	Source
4			Unattached	Free transfer		[1]
88			C.D. Guastatoya	Free transfer
1			Thunder Bay Chill	Free transfer
		19 Returning Players	Chattanooga FC	Re-signed
42			Stumptown Athletic	Free transfer		[2]
15			Forward Madison FC	Free transfer
3			Oakland Roots SC	Free transfer		[3]
13			Amherst Mammoths	Free transfer		[4]
		14 Returning Players	Chattanooga FC	Re-signed		[5]
7			Stumptown Athletic	Free transfer		[6]
77			Unattached	Free transfer		[7]
21			Virginia Tech Hokies	Free transfer		[8] [9]
9			Hartford Athletic	Free transfer		[10]
51			Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Academy	Free transfer		[11]
15			North Georgia Soccer Academy	Free transfer
16			North Georgia Soccer Academy	Free transfer
17			Unattached	Free transfer		[12]
66			Albany Great Danes	Free transfer		[13]
20			Oregon State Beavers	Free transfer
23			Unattached	Free transfer		[14]

Out

	Pos.	Player	Signed to	Details	Date	Source
3			Unattached	Free transfer
1			Unattached	Free transfer
8			Unattached	Free transfer
4			Unattached	Free transfer
88			Unattached	Free transfer
15			Unattached	Free transfer
21			Forge FC	Free transfer		[15]
2			Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	Undisclosed fee		[16]
4			Unattached	Retired		[17]
1			Unattached	Not re-signed
3			Unattached	Not re-signed
9			Unattached	Not re-signed
11			Unattached	Not re-signed
17			Unattached	Not re-signed
42			Unattached	Not re-signed
64			Unattached	Not re-signed
7			South Georgia Tormenta FC	Not re-signed		[18]
88			California United Strikers FC	Not re-signed		[19]
24			New Orleans Jesters	Not re-signed		[20]

Competitions

NISA Independent Cup

Chattanooga was announced as one of the four NISA teams taking part in the inaugural NISA Independent Cup on July 1.^[21] The regional tournament is set to act as both a pre-season and chance to "provide a platform for professional and amateur independent clubs to play together on a national stage."

The team was drawn into the Southeast Region alongside former National Premier Soccer League rival Georgia Revolution FC and United Premier Soccer League sides Savannah Clovers FC and Soda City FC.^[22] Games will be played between Chattanooga's home field at Finley Stadium and two venues in South Carolina, with both the region's championship game and third place games taking place at Finley on August 1.

Matches

NISA Fall Season

On June 4, NISA announced the initial details for the 2020 Fall Season with the member teams split into conferences, Eastern and Western.^[23]

Details for the Fall regular season were announced on July 31, 2020.^[24] Chattanooga will take part as a member of the Eastern Conference.

Matches

Fall Playoffs

All eight NISA teams qualified for the 2020 Fall tournament, which will be hosted at Keyworth Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, beginning on September 21 ending with the final on October 2.^[25]

Knockout stage

NISA Spring Season

NISA Legends Cup

NISA announced initial season plans in early February 2021, including starting the season with a tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee with a standard regular season to follow.^{[26] [27]} The tournament, now called the NISA Legends Cup, was officially announced on March 10 and is scheduled to run between April 13 and 25.^[28] All nine NISA members teams take part in the Spring will be divided into three team groups. The highest placing group winner would automatically qualify for the tournament final, while the second and third highest group winners would play one-another in a semifinal to determine a second finalist.

Chattanooga were drawn into Group 3 alongside Los Angeles Force and New Amsterdam FC.

Matches

Regular season

The Spring Season schedule was announced on March 18 with each association member playing eight games, four home and four away, in a single round-robin format.^[29]

Spring Playoffs

U.S. Open Cup

See main article: 2021 U.S. Open Cup. As a team playing in a recognized professional league, Chattanooga would normally be automatically qualified for the U.S. Open Cup. However, with the 2021 edition shorted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NISA has only been allotted 1 to 2 teams spots.^[30] On March 29, U.S. Soccer announced 2020 Fall Champion Detroit City FC as NISA's representative in the tournament.^[31]

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Goalkeepers|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Defenders|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Midfielders|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Forwards|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Left during season|-|}

Goal scorers

width=60	Place	width=60	Position	width=60	Nation	width=60	Number	width=150	Name	width=150	Fall Season	width=150	Fall Playoffs	width=150	Legends Cup	width=150	Spring Season	width=150	Spring Playoffs	width=80	Total
1	MF		8	Ian McGrath	1	1	2	2	0	6
2	FW		9	Markus Naglestad	-	-	1	1	2	4
	FW		24	Sean Hoffstatter	1	1	1	1	0	4
3	FW		4	Zeca Ferraz	3	0	-	-	-	3
	FW		88	Darwin Lom	2	1	-	-	-	3
4	FW		20	Brett Jones	-	-	1	1	0	2
5	FW		2	Ryan Marcano	0	1	0	0	0	1
	FW		7	Clayton Adams	1	0	-	-	-	1
	FW		10	Juan Hernandez	0	0	1	0	0	1
	FW		14	Brian Bement	0	1	0	0	0	1
	FW		17	Felipe Oliveira	-	-	-	1	0	1
	MF		22	Cameron Woodfin	0	0	1	0	0	1

Disciplinary record

Number	Nation	Position	Name	Fall Season		Fall Playoffs		Legends Cup		Spring Season		Spring Playoffs		Total
1		GK	Alec Redington	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2		FW	Ryan Marcano	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
3		DF	Shaun Russell	1	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	5	1
4		DF	Richard Dixon	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	2	1
5		MF	Kyle Carr	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
6		MF	Nick Spielman	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
7		FW	Clayton Adams	1	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0
7		MF	Tate Robertson	-	-	-	-	0	0	1	0	1	0	2	0
8		MF	Ian McGrath	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	1	0	4	0
10		MF	Juan Hernandez	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
13		MF	Cutler Coleman	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	0
14		FW	Brian Bement	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	3	1
17		FW	Felipe Oliveira	-	-	-	-	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
21		DF	James Kasak	-	-	-	-	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
22		MF	Cameron Woodfin	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
24		FW	Sean Hoffstatter	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
31		MF	Alec McKinley	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
42		MF	David Koloko	2	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
77		GK	Phillip D’Amico	-	-	-	-	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chattanooga FC Announces Roster Updates in Advance of Independent Cup. Chattanooga FC. 21 July 2020.
2. Web site: Chattanooga FC Strengthens Roster with New Players Before NISA Fall Season . Chattanooga FC . 8 August 2020 . en-us . 7 August 2020.
3. Web site: Chattanooga FC Strengthens Back Line, Adds Wilfred Williams to the Club . Chattanooga FC . 31 August 2020 . en-us . 31 August 2020.
4. Web site: "PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT We’re thrilled to add midfielder Cutler Coleman to the roster for the NISA Fall Tournament! Cutler has a high motor and tough work ethic as a box to box midfielder, we’re excited to see him in action!" . Twitter . Chattanooga FC . 25 September 2020 . en.
5. Web site: Chattanooga FC Returns Strong Foundation for Spring Season . Chattanooga FC . 17 January 2021 . en-us . 14 January 2021.
6. Web site: Chattanooga Football Club Signs Midfielder Tate Robertson For 2021 Campaign . Chattanooga FC . 28 January 2021 . en-us . 28 January 2021.
7. Web site: Chattanooga FC Veteran Phil D’Amico Returns to the Club for 2021 . Chattanooga FC . 5 February 2021 . en-us . 2 February 2021.
8. Web site: Chattanooga FC Adds James Kasak to Stout Defense . Chattanooga FC . 12 February 2021 . en-us . 10 February 2021.
9. Web site: Reynolds . Nathan . Virginia Tech Hokies’ James Kasak signs with Chattanooga FC for the 2021 NISA season. . Gobbler Country . 12 February 2021 . en . 12 February 2021.
10. Web site: Chattanooga FC Signs Veteran Striker Markus Naglestad for 2021 Season . Chattanooga FC . 18 February 2021 . en-us . 16 February 2021.
11. Web site: Chattanooga FC Signs Three Youth Players to Train and Play with the First Team . Chattanooga FC . 11 March 2021 . en-us . 24 February 2021.
12. Web site: We are ecstatic to announce the return of Brazilian forward Felipe Oliveira for the 2021 season . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CL5NIBvKifP . 2021-12-24 . limited. Instagram . Chattanooga FC . 26 April 2021 . 1 March 2021.
13. Web site: CFC Adds Two Players Ahead of NISA Legends Cup . Chattanooga FC . 13 April 2021 . en-us . 12 April 2021.
14. Web site: Tweet . Twitter . Chattanooga FC . 2 June 2021 . en . 29 May 2021.
15. Web site: Forge FC adds 3 Canadians to roster; parts ways with Giuliano Frano . Canadian Premier League . 28 January 2021 . en-CA . 31 July 2020.
16. Web site: Defender Raymond Lee Moves to USL Championship Pittsburgh Riverhounds . Chattanooga FC . 7 August 2020 . en-us . 5 August 2020.
17. Web site: Zeca Retires After 8 Years With CFC . Chattanooga FC . 30 November 2020 . en-us . 21 October 2020.
18. Web site: news@tormentafc.com . Tormenta FC Staff- . Tormenta FC Signs Forward Clayton Adams . South Georgia Tormenta FC . 18 February 2021 . en-us . 18 February 2021.
19. Web site: OFFICIAL: Guatemalan International Darwin Lom signs! . www.calunitedstrikers.com . 25 March 2021 . 24 March 2021.
20. Web site: Soren Yuhaschek joins New Orleans Jesters for 2021 NPSL season . New Orleans Jesters . 25 March 2021 . en . 25 March 2021.
21. Web site: NISA Independent Cup . www.nisasoccer.com . 6 July 2020.
22. Web site: Chattanooga FC Returns July 11th in NISA Independent Cup . Chattanooga FC . 24 July 2020 . en-us . 1 July 2020.
23. Web site: NISA Fall Schedule Update . www.nisaofficial.com . 24 July 2020.
24. Web site: NISA Fall 2020 Schedule Update . www.nisaofficial.com . 1 August 2020.
25. Web site: 2020 NISA Fall Tournament locks in on Detroit. nisaofficial.com . 11 September 2020.
26. Web site: MacCoon . Patrick . Finley Stadium to host 13-day pro soccer tournament to kick off NISA's spring season . timesfreepress.com . 11 March 2021.
27. Web site: NISA Kicking Off 2021 Spring Season with Tournament in Chattanooga . WALV . 11 March 2021.
28. Web site: NISA Announces Schedule for Legends Cup Spring Tournament . www.nisaofficial.com . 11 March 2021.
29. Web site: NISA Announces Spring Season Schedule . www.nisaofficial.com . 18 March 2021.
30. Web site: Battista . Michael . 2021 US Open Cup format: Tournament shrinks due to COVID-19 pandemic . TheCup.us . 14 March 2021.
31. Web site: Straus . Brian . U.S. Soccer Trims 2021 Open Cup, Finalizes How Entrants Are Chosen . Sports Illustrated . 3 April 2021 . en-us.