When was your club founded, by whom, and what is the mission?
Athletic Club Raleigh was founded in October 2021 by Michael Cantrell, Teddy Pierce and Ricky Chavez. AC Raleigh offers superior soccer training programs for people of all ages, genders, and skill levels as well as an outlet to compete at a higher level for male athletes. Three co-owners with a diverse range of knowledge and expertise in the field hope to create something greater than themselves.The club is committed to instilling a sense of camaraderie and belief in its members, with the goal of leaving a lasting legacy in the beautiful game. Our club members have multiple avenues to improve that include technical training, pick-up sessions, sports performance training, nutrition counseling, and college recruiting advisories. Athletic Club Raleigh also has a competitive first team that competes in the First Flight League. With the addition of this competitive team, the club has created a clear path for its youth training clients to progress and eventually compete at a higher level as they develop their skills. The club's commitment to providing top-notch, holistic training and development opportunities for all its members, from novice to elite, sets AC Raleigh apart from other supplemental soccer training organizations in the area.

Tell us about your badge and colors – what are the elements and inspiration?
Black and white symbolizes transparency and realness. From the beginning, AC Raleigh committed itself to holding this theme above all else. The club wants to ensure that it builds a collective mindset that not only believes great feats await, but also attracts those that work every day to make them a reality. The colors represent more than just our team on the pitch. They, along with the credo, “esse quam videri” or “to be rather than to seem,” embody AC Raleigh's core principles in the simplest way possible.

What league do you play in? Why did you choose that league and how often does the club re-evaluate where it plies its trade?
AC Raleigh plays in the First Flight League (FFL) in North Carolina, which is the state's premier state-wide adult developmental league. The club chose to play in the FFL due to the low travel requirements given its high level of play, which provides a great opportunity for development and competitiveness. The club is constantly re-evaluating its options to ensure that it is competing at the highest level possible and striving to be the best it can be. The frequency of this re-evaluation process is not specified, but the club is dedicated to making the best decisions for its players and organization.

Do you sell merch 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?
Right now, AC Raleigh only sells merchandise through the FFL website (https://www.firstflightleague.org/ac-raleigh-store). The Quarter Zip Pullover is super high quality and a solid look.

How did you finish last season? How do you plan on improving for next year?
Last season, AC Raleigh started off with a disappointing 0-4 record, but the team rallied and ended the season with a strong 5-0-1 finish. Despite this improvement, the club just missed out on the playoffs.
In preparation for the next season, AC Raleigh is focused on improving in key areas to ensure that it can be competitive and make it to the playoffs. The club is emphasizing the importance of remaining calm, level headed and playing together as a team. Additionally, the team plans to improve its set piece defense, especially in defending against aerial balls, and to slow down play by containing the opposition and getting numbers behind the ball. These improvements will help the club be better prepared to succeed in the upcoming season with their sights set on a championship.

If there was one or two teams, within a 100 miles of you, to play a friendly against – who would you play and why?
The club would likely choose to play against NCFC's USL side or Carolina Core. Playing against NCFC would be a big test for AC Raleigh as NCFC is a top level professional team. The club would be able to gauge its own level of play against a team that sets the standard for our community. Playing against Carolina Core would give AC Raleigh the opportunity to find out what the new standard of play in the MLS Next Pro league will be. Both matches would provide valuable information for the club as it continues to strive for improvement and compete at the highest level possible.

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