Foro SC (stylized as FORO SC) is an American soccer club based in Dallas, Texas. The club plays in the Central Region's Texas North Conference in the United Premier Soccer League, a national amateur league that competes below the three professional tiers of American soccer.

Foro SC
logo
Full nameForo Soccer Club
Founded2017 (as Keene FC)
GroundForo Sports Club
Dallas, Texas
PresidentRobert Peinado Jr.
General managerKristian Quintana
Head coachMichel Garbini Pereira
LeagueUnited Premier Soccer League
Spring 2024Regular season: Texas North, 1st
Playoffs: Round of 32
Websitehttps://www.forosportsclub.com/forosoccerclub

History

edit

Keene FC was founded in late 2017 by Brentt Miller and Matt Kahla based out of Keene, Texas.[1] The team was announced as a United Premier Soccer League expansion side in November of that year, with plans to begin play in the Pro Premier DIvision Central Conference for the 2018 Spring Season.[2] The team finished its first season last (6th) in the North Division of the Central Conference, winning zero games while losing six of eight in the regular season. Ahead of the Fall season, former MLS All-Star José Burciaga Jr. was brought on as team General Manager.[3]

In December 2018, following two seasons of play, the team announced it would be going on hiatus as it attempted to rebrand and relocate.[4][5] In July 2019, the UPSL welcomed FORO Soccer Club out of Dallas, Texas as a new member of the Central Conference.[6] Michel Garbini Pereira, former North Texas SC player and current assistant head coach, was announced as the team's new head coach. The team's first season under the new name saw it win the Central Conference's North Division for a first time with a near undefeated record. Foro reached the national final four, beating Santa Ana Winds FC in the semifinals but falling to Maryland Bobcats FC is the championship game. Following stoppages of play in 2020 due to COVID-19 the team returned to play and soon after formed a partnership with the 360 Player Development Program, rebranding the team to FORO 360 Pro in the process. During this period, the team won the UPSL National Championship in February 2022 with former USMNT U-18 player Miles Byass scoring the game winning goal over Chicago Nation FC in the final.[7][8] In January of 2023, the team reverted back to Foro SC.

Foro competed in U.S. Open Cup qualifying for the first time in the fall of 2023.[9] The team beat fellow UPSL side Alamo City SC in the fourth qualifying round to officially clinch a spot in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.[10] In the First Round of the tournament proper, FORO earned its first win over a professional team when it beat Austin FC II of MLS Next Pro, 2–2 (3–4 in penalty kicks).[11]

The following year in 2024, Foro once again took part in the U.S. Open Cup qualifying tournament.[12]

Year-by-year

edit
Year League Division Regular Season (WDL) Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Notes
Spring 2018 UPSL Pro Premier 6th, Central Conference - North Div. (0-2-6) Did not qualify Ineligible
Fall 2018 UPSL Pro Premier 5th, Central Conference - North Div. (4-1-7) Did not qualify Did not enter qualifying
Spring 2019 did not compete
Fall 2019 UPSL Premier 1st, Central Conference - North Div. (9-0-1) National Final Did not enter qualifying Lost to Maryland Bobcats FC in National Final
Spring 2020 UPSL Premier 2nd, Central Conference - North Div. (5-0-3) Conference Semifinal Did not qualify Lost to FC Harrington in Central Conference Semifinal
Fall 2020 UPSL Premier 2nd, Central Conference - North Div. (10-2-2) Round of 16 Cancelled Lost to Tulsa Athletic Project 2020 in Central Conference, North Division Final
Lost to Capital City SC in National Round of 16
Spring 2021 did not compete
Fall 2021 UPSL Premier 1st, Central Conference - North Div. (8-1-3) National Champion Did not enter qualifying Beat Chicago Nation FC in National Final
Spring 2022 UPSL Premier 3rd, Texas North (7-0-3) Conference Semifinal Did not qualify Lost to FC Fort Worth in Texas North Semifinal
Fall 2022 UPSL Premier 1st, Texas North (8-1-1) Conference Final Did not enter qualifying Lost to D'Feeters Kicks SC in Texas North Final
Spring 2023 UPSL Premier 2nd, Texas North (6-1-3) Conference Final Did not qualify Lost to D'Feeters Kicks SC in Texas North Final
Fall 2023 UPSL Premier 1st, Texas North (7-2-0) National Semifinals
(Fourth Place)
Qualified Lost to Chiriaco FC in National Semifinal
Lost to Columbus Crew Academy in Third Place match
Spring 2024 UPSL Premier 1st, Texas North (6-2-2) Round of 32 Second Round Lost to FC Bartlesville Buffaloes in National Round of 32

Logo history

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ UPSL, United Premier Soccer League- (24 November 2017). "United Premier Soccer League Announces Keene FC as New Texas Conference Expansion Team". PRLog. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ Crisp, A. J. (11 April 2018). "Keene joins semi-pro soccer realm as Keene FC opens season Sunday". Cleburne Times-Review. Retrieved 23 September 2024. (subscription required)
  3. ^ "Introducing former MLS Star, Jose Burciaga Jr as General Manager | Keene FC". Archived from the original on 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  4. ^ "Post (Press Release)". www.facebook.com. Foro S.C. (fka Keene FC). 28 December 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ Carrick, Buzz (4 April 2019). "The North Texas soccer pyramid". Dallas News. Retrieved 23 September 2024. Keene FC - Founded 2017 but are on hiatus pending a rebrand and relocation. Their new level of play and location currently unknown.
  6. ^ "UPSL Announces North Texas Expansion with FORO Soccer Club". www.sarunners.com. United Premier Soccer League. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  7. ^ Carrick, Buzz (7 February 2022). "Foro 360 Pro wins UPSL Championship". 3rd Degree. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  8. ^ Vaughn, Dan (22 February 2022). "The Rise of a Texas Star". Protagonist Soccer. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  9. ^ Battista, Michael (24 August 2023). "2024 US Open Cup Qualifying: 109 clubs enter with Round 1 beginning Sept. 9-10". thecup.us. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  10. ^ Crooke, Daniel (21 November 2023). "2024 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Round: UPSL champs FORO SC shuts out Alamo City to qualify". thecup.us. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  11. ^ Gordon, Colby (20 March 2024). "Austin FC II eliminated from U.S. Open Cup in heartbreaking fashion". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Record-High 114 Amateur Teams Confirmed for 2025 U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds". www.ussoccer.com. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
edit