FC Baltimore announces partnership with amateur club Christos FC

(Via FC Baltimore) – FC Baltimore of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) has announced a partnership with Christos FC that will create several improvements throughout the club.

“This rebrand firmly solidifies our partnership with Baltimore’s most storied outdoor team,” FC Baltimore Director of Soccer Operations and Co-Owner Alex Lubyansky commented. “Christos FC gained nationwide attention in recent years for their historic U.S. Open Cup run. The NPSL’s fans and supporters will have an even stronger club to support in Baltimore in 2019 as Christos will bring some of the biggest names in college soccer, along with a bevy of ex-pro players to feature for FC Baltimore.”

The partnership will expand the FC Baltimore player base, provide player access to Christos FC coaching and training, and ultimately enhance the overall level of play. Most importantly, this partnership will provide fans and supporters with an improved gameday experience and bring the club closer to a national championship.

“It is with great excitement that we join forces with Christos FC,” Lubyansky added. “This takes our young Baltimore club and adds over 20 years of tradition, loyalty, and unprecedented winning history.”

Established in 1997, Christos FC consists of men’s soccer teams comprised of former pro and collegiate players living in Baltimore. The club features players and coaches from virtually every youth club and college in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. Most famously, the club was able to reach the Fourth Round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and square off against D.C. United of Major League Soccer (MLS). The success of Christos FC on the national stage is unmatched among amateur clubs, winning the USASA Werner Fricker National Open Cup in 2016 and 2018 and the USASA National Amateur Cup in 2016.

“We are delighted to partner with FC Baltimore, a soccer team that in its first year did an outstanding job in creating the base and foundation to do great things in Baltimore,” stated Christos FC General Manager and Co-Founder Jody Haislip. “Some of the many accomplishments and accolades from a first year NPSL team show that they mean business and they want to put the right product on the field. We know the Baltimore area has some of the country’s finest college players, and even at the high school level the talent is here. This partnership is elevating Christos FC and making our ambition of helping create another pathway for youngsters looking to pursue a career in soccer a reality. We want to improve the game, and with this partnership it will allow us to do so. We are dedicated to delivering the highest levels of men’s soccer to the Baltimore area, and by partnering with FC Baltimore we will be helping deliver that through the NPSL.”

FC Baltimore took the NPSL by storm in 2018. The team opened its first campaign with an exhibition match against D.C. United U-23 in front of a home crowd of over 2,000 fans. The expansion team was able to win the Mid-Atlantic regular season title in the NPSL’s Northeast and continued its success with a playoff run, ultimately falling to FC Motown in the NPSL Northeast Region semifinal. Three FC Baltimore players featured in the Mid-Atlantic XI, and Jade Mesias was honored as an NPSL Northeast Region XI player.

The club will maintain the FC Baltimore identity, but will incorporate the Christos brand into its name and logo. 2019 will prove to be a very special time for Baltimore’s Soccer Team.

FC Baltimore will continue to play home matches at CCBC Essex in Baltimore.