Tell us about Baltimore City FC - when was the club founded and what is its mission?
Our club was founded in the Summer of 2022 but played its first game in Spring of 2023. We want to solidify a club (not just a team) for and in the City of Baltimore. Not Bel Air, not Towson, not Glen Burnie - Charm f'n City. For months we did our homework with anyone willing to answer questions and queries we had as to why every iteration of a team in this city seemed to fizzle out. Over time certain trends and patterns became obvious, as well as opportunities and options. Management is made up of some up-start folks with budding soccer connections in the City and beyond to ensure both quality talent identified (to say nothing of the very successful tryouts held around the city), but also the great coordination and collaboration between the club and their sponsors (shout-out Guilford Hall Brewing, Glackin Physiotherapy, Jimmys Famous Meals, Waterfront Dental & Jason Griswold)

Tell us about your badge and colors – what is the inspiration, and does it connect to your community in any way?
We will keep this club as ferociously Baltimore City-centric as possible. The badge incorporates the Baltimore City flag, a silhouette of the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse located on our waterfront plus the bottom half of a White Oak Acorn (together subtly depicting a boat hinting at Baltimore City's port history), a Black-eyed Susan flower and all of it on a maroon coloured oval, the same colour as the row houses in Charm City. Connection to the City is potent both in our badge and jersey but also our media puts the community identity first and foremost.

What league or leagues do you play in? Why did you choose that league?
We are in the Maryland Major Soccer League, a league that we believe is best suited for our fans, our game, and for the City. We are in talks to join the EPSL in 2024.

Do you sell merchandise or have plans to? If so, where can we find it and what are you most excited about? If not yet, what are you working on?
We sell merchandise at home games as well as online at BCFC23.com. Right now it's just jerseys but we plan to include beanies, scarves, shirts and more in the coming months.

How has this season gone for you? What were the goals and aspirations heading into it? What is something to work on for the future?
We won our inaugural season in the MMSL (division & playoffs) which exceeded some expectations (but not that of our director of football!) and counted 300+ attendees at the final cheering us on. A big jump from 7 people watching us barely lose our first two games. Our reserves team also came away from the season with a championship trophy as well in the Howard County Div 1 league. Both squads will look to take their foot off the pedal a little this summer to prepare to defend both pieces of silverware in their respective Fall Seasons. We are also working on our own home location as well as looking for ways to make 300 the average attendance of our games (hovering at about 100 right now).

If there were one or two teams, within a 100 miles of you, to play a friendly against – who would you play and why?
Some lesser known teams we want to challenge would be Ristozi FC in Towson (another team with an impressive ground-up rise), Baltimore United (a local DRC-diaspora amateur team which has been super supportive of us), and also Annapolis Blues who have been cheering us on from afar. It goes without saying that it is in Maryland Soccer's interest to have a Charm City Derby, and a regular matchup versus Christos FC (a team that paved the way for so much good for soccer in the area) is a must that we hope to see in the future.

And check them out on Instagram HERE