A year ago, at this time of the year, I sat down to write the Protagonist Club of the Year nomination articles for each club. I can remember thinking about the nominees from the year before and who had repeated. Only one club had carried over from the previous nominations to 2019: Detroit City FC. Today, as I sit down to write the nominations for 2020, only one club has carried over from 2019: Detroit City FC.

The first year DCFC was nominated, Josh Duder discussed how the club had “set the bar high for non-MLS clubs and I think they’re somebody a lot of other clubs look to for insight and inspiration.” He highlighted the friendlies with big name international clubs, the improvements made to Keyworth, and the atmosphere at the matches. To sum up his nomination of the club, he said “after my first full year following the lower leagues, they stand out as the model.”

When I took up the challenge in 2019 to nominate the club, I tapped into the fans of the club and talked to them about what DCFC meant to them. It was amazing to hear diehard fans talk about their city and how the club worked tirelessly to connect to that city. As NGS member Mark Navarro put it, “DCFC genuinely cares about the community in which it plays and wants to see that community thrive, not just in soccer, but also in the well-being of the people who live there.” As I worked to build the case for the club, I highlighted its run of success in the NPSL Member’s Cup, the big move to full professional and NISA, and the expansion of the Detroit City Field House. It was a good year for DCFC.

And now it’s December 2020 and I’m sitting here thinking “how does this club continue to deserve the praise?” The answer, of course, is the hard work that every member of the organization, from the front office to the coaches to the players, puts in every single day to be the gold standard of grassroots soccer. Detroit City was not given the crown but instead has earned through diligent, consistent focus on being the best club it can be. And that level, much to the chagrin of every other club trying to grab the crown, is the best in the United States.

2020 was an incredibly complicated year to be a soccer fan, let alone a soccer club. As the pandemic ramped up across the country, Detroit City launched their WeFunder campaign to bring much needed funding into the soon-to-be professional club. While there were some worries how the current flux of the world might affect the offering, those were quickly smashed when the money began pouring in. As of today, the total investment made into the club is $1,839,218 - a massive success by any measure. The fans (and now owners) of Le Rouge are from all over the world. Do things right and the people will follow.

On the field, though hampered by the pandemic in multiple ways, the club managed an incredibly successful run. As the situation worsened in Michigan and across the country, the spring season kicked off and DCFC managed to squeeze in a single game (a 2-0 win on the road against LA Force) before the season was halted, first temporarily and then permanently. The NISA Independent Cup offered a brief glimpse of how good this club was when they beat two former NPSL foes (Cleveland SC and Buffalo FC) 3-0. Things seemed bright as NISA announced a shortened season with a quarantine playoff.

But the season didn’t begin as was expected for DCFC. With COVID restrictions in place, the club was forced to play home games without the incredible support of NGS. The club lost its opening match against Chattanooga FC and finished the regular season with a single win. It headed into the playoffs as host, but without the fiery atmosphere Keyworth is known for across the country and, as group play began, a shocking opening loss against Michigan Stars had some “experts” thinking they were done. But this club, which always seems to come up aces because of good planning and attention to detail, earned just enough points to advance out of group play, win a semifinal match, and march into the final against an Oakland Roots side playing its last game in NISA.

And, of course, they won.

Aside from the success of the men’s side, DCFC added a UWS-affiliated woso side. Much to the delight of the grassroots women’s soccer fans. The UWS season was cancelled by the pandemic, but the level of support for the newest team to wear Detroit City colors hinted at how great this move will be in the near future.

Detroit City Football Club has been called the gold standard, the club that other clubs should measure themselves against. 2020 did nothing to shake that title. Instead, DCFC added to success, expanded their club, won a professional league title, added funds from fans around the world, and continued to be the best club in American soccer.

There are other clubs and then there is City.

- Dan Vaughn