LAST Season

After the 2021 NISA season, 1904 FC merged with the Albion SC youth organization to form the ALBION San Diego professional team. On came coach Ziggy Korytoski and the resources to build a competitive side. The team had a mediocre first half of the 2022 season as Korytoski adjusted his tactics and his personnel. Following the Independent Cup break, ALBION caught fire and became one of the best teams in the league. The team made it to the playoffs and upset regular season champions California United Strikers in the semifinals. But, the ALBION attack was stymied by the Michigan Stars in the final.

OFF Season

Even after a successful season, all indications were that, like the Strikers, ALBION was not going to return to NISA. Korytoski left for a coaching position with the Chattanooga Red Wolves of USL League One taking offensive stars Mayele Malango and Walter Varela with him. But, very late in the offseason, NISA announced that ALBION would, in fact, return for 2023. It is likely that ALBION was persuaded to rejoin the league to provide another west coast team to go with Los Angeles Force.

This Season

All the main attacking options are no longer with the club. Malango and Varela went to USL League One and Alioune Diakhate, the second leading scorer last season, somewhat surprisingly signed with City Union. In addition, starting fullback, Harold Hanson, recently signed with Central Valley Fuego of USL League One.

Most of that potent ALBION attack is no longer on San Diego’s roster.

ALBION brought in Diego Gómez as their new head coach. Gómez most recently coached the Queensboro FC II squad in the UPSL. That talented team had a successful season but the team disappeared as the Queensboro FC organization’s USL launch never materialized.

Beyond a handful of returnees and NISA vets, not much is known about ALBION’s roster. Jonathan Bazaes and Lennyn Carreon return to the midfield. Both are talented but just beginning their pro careers. Jacob Haupt returns to the back line as well as D/M Ernest Mitchell. Two veteran attacking midfielders join from other Division III teams. Shinya Kadono brings his creative style from the defunct Strikers pro team and Daniel Bedoya was signed after FC Tucson dropped from USL League One down to the amateur USL League Two. The rest of the announced signees are young players getting their first look at the professional ranks. This includes 17-year-old midfielder Misael Mendoza who signed from the ALBION SC youth ranks.

ALBION is the only team not to play in NISA’s initial weekend. The club will play its first competitive match of 2023 against the USL Championship’s San Diego Loyal in the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, April 5.

It’s near-impossible at this point to know what type of team we will see from ALBION. Last year the team was buoyed by the ample resources of the ALBION SC organization. That will be a boon if it happens again. At the very least, the late start for the team probably means a bumpy start to the season as the pieces begin to fit together.

- Dan Creel