New Orleans Jesters

New Orleans Jesters
Full name New Orleans Jesters
Nickname(s) The Jesters
Founded 2003
Stadium Pan American Stadium
New Orleans, Louisiana
Ground Capacity 5,000
Owner Dana Stumpf
Head Coach Kenny Farrell
League National Premier Soccer League
2013 4th, Southeast
Playoffs: DNQ
Website Club home page

The New Orleans Jesters are an American soccer team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The Jesters, coached by Kenny Farrell, play home games at Pan American Stadium, and their colors are purple, green, and white.

History

Early years

Shell Shockers (2003-2007)

The New Orleans Shell Shockers entered the USL Premier Development League (PDL) as an expansion franchise in 2003, playing at the soccer stadium of Tulane University. The name "Shell Shockers" came from the team's sponsorship by the Shell Oil Company. The team made a huge impact in their first season, winning their first game 2-0 over Nashville Metros, then winning seven of the next eight. They outscored more experienced opponents at every turn, and scored plenty of goals with it - they put four goals past the Lafayette Swamp Cats on two separate occasions, with Jonas Lopez scoring a hat trick in one of the games, and they beat the Houston Toros 4-0. After a 5-3 loss on the road against Memphis Express, the Shell Shockers won nine in a row and secured the Mid South Division title well before the final game of the season. The Shell Shockers hosted the Southern Conference playoffs and were favorites to progress. They comfortably overcame Central Florida Kraze 4-1 in the conference semi-final but were uncharacteristically beaten 2-0 in the conference final by Memphis. Head Coach Kenny Farrell was named PDL Coach of the Year.

Having been so dominant the previous year, expectations were high for the Shell Shockers as they approached the 2004 season. Unfortunately, despite winning their opening fixture of the season 3-1 over the Lafayette Swamp Cats, they were flattened 8-0 by the DFW Tornados in their next game, having been reduced to nine men by the 57th minute. The team went on a slide, losing to the El Paso Patriots twice, to DFW once more, and to Memphis Express. The Shockers ended the season a disappointing fifth in the Mid South Division, 30 points behind divisional champs El Paso Patriots and well out of the playoffs. Roberto Najarro was the team's top scorer, with 5 goals, while former Carlisle United, West Ham United, and Manchester City midfielder Ian Bishop registered 5 assists.

Despite taking up residence at the Pan American Stadium in City Park and winning their first game over Memphis Express in 2005, the Shell Shockers promptly lost their next five games, including a 5-2 thumping at the hands of the Nashville Metros. A brief mid-season surge that included a pair of wins over divisional Laredo Heat sparked the potential for a revival, but four more defeats, including another to Nashville, ended any playoff hopes New Orleans may have had. The team finished sixth in the Mid South Division. Pablo Araya-Espinozo was the season's top scorer, with 9 goals.

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged Pan American Stadium, along with much of the rest of the area.[1] As a result, the Shell Shockers played at Muss Bertolino Stadium in nearby Kenner for the 2006 season. After their plight was featured by international media, the Shockers, with the support of teams like New England Revolution and individuals such as former Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez, pledged to help raise $1 million to the redevelopment of City Park.[2][3] That season the team won just 4 games. The Shockers finished fourth in the Mid South Division, almost 30 points behind divisional champs Laredo Heat. Gautreau and Roberto Najarro were the team's top scorers, with 3 goals each.

In 2007 the team finished the season fifth in the Mid South Division. That season the Shockers did beat new Louisiana rivals Baton Rouge Capitals, new divisional team Mississippi Brilla, and Austin Lightning. Unfortunately the team was unable to win any of its 8 away games throughout the season. Ged Quinn, Brandon Chagnard, and Gino Ray were the team's top scorers for the year, with 13 goals between them, while Jamie Davies contributed six assists.

Jesters (2009)

The team's sponsorship with the Shell Oil Company ended after the 2007 season, and "Shell" was dropped from the team's name.[4] Businesswoman Dana Stumpf also bought out long-time chairman Gary Ostroske, and the team moved to a new home within City Park, Tad Gormley Stadium.[5][6]

The Shockers struggled for much of the 2008 season. For the fifth year in a row, New Orleans ended the year at the wrong end of the Mid South Division standings, finishing seventh. Brandon Chagnard was the team's top scorer with 4 goals.

Rebranding

Following the 2008 season, the team underwent a full rebranding. It changed its name, colors, and crest entirely, rebranding themselves as the New Orleans Jesters to better reflect New Orleans culture.[7] The team returned to Pan American Stadium following a full renovation that included the installation of FieldTurf.[8]

The team also developed a renewed focus on improving the local community and developing young soccer talent. In its first year as the New Orleans Jesters, the team went undefeated in the regular season and posted one loss in the playoffs. That year, two players were named to the All-Conference Team, and one received All-League Honors.

Move to NPSL

On November 2, 2012, it was announced that the Jesters would compete in the National Premier Soccer League, ending the club's nine-year stint in the PDL.[9]

Players

Current roster

As of June 8, 2011.[10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 United States GK Jordan Lower[11]
2 United States DF Brandon Tyler
3 England DF James Burgin
4 England MF Scott Wells[12]
5 Costa Rica MF Federico Espinach[13]
6 England DF Neil Harries[14]
7 Wales MF Stuart Kirk[15]
8 Wales MF Oliver Hewitt-Fisher[16]
9 Ghana FW Emmanuel Yamson
10 England FW Paris Simmons
12 Ivory Coast DF Ben Tayi
No. Position Player
13 United States GK Andrew Tarbell[17]
14 Finland DF Jesper Törnqvist
15 United States MF Patrick Mullins[18]
16 United States DF Frank Judice[19]
17 England FW Reece Wilson[20]
19 Bosnia and Herzegovina MF Mikki Bozickovic[21]
21 England DF Sam Hurrell
22 United States DF Jordan Schwartz[22]
23 United States MF Tony Judice[23]
25 Colombia MF Juan Hurtado
26 United States MF Max Angel[24]

Notable former players

This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the Jesters, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.

Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season Avg. Attendance Playoffs Open Cup
2003 4 USL PDL 1st, Mid South 711 (10th in PDL) Conference Finals Did not qualify
2004 4 USL PDL 5th, Mid South 278 (31st in PDL) Did not qualify Did not qualify
2005 4 USL PDL 6th, Mid South 600 (13th in PDL) Did not qualify Did not qualify
2006 4 USL PDL 4th, Mid South 719 (8th in PDL) Did not qualify Did not qualify
2007 4 USL PDL 5th, Mid South 321 (31st in PDL) Did not qualify Did not qualify
2008 4 USL PDL 7th, Mid South 172 (52nd in PDL) Did not qualify Did not qualify
2009 4 USL PDL 3rd, Southeast 1,007 (8th in PDL) Divisional Semifinals Did not qualify
2010 4 USL PDL 5th, Southeast 1,167 (9th in PDL) Did not qualify Did not qualify
2011 4 USL PDL 4th, Mid South 1,500 (5th in PDL) Did not qualify Did not qualify
2012 4 USL PDL 5th, Mid South Did not qualify Did not qualify
2013 4 NPSL 4th, Southeast Did not qualify Did not qualify
2014 4 NPSL 3rd, Southeast Conference Finals Did not qualify
2015 4 NPSL 5th, Southeast Did not qualify Did not qualify
2016 4 NPSL 3rd, Southeast Divisional Semifinals Did not qualify

Attendance statistics are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the PDL's historical match archive.[25]

Honors

Head coaches

Home Stadiums

References

  1. ↑ "Shell Shockers to re-build home". United Soccer Leagues. 16 February 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  2. ↑ "New Orleans Shell Shockers Persevere in Katrina's Wake". U.S. Soccer Federation. 1 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 December 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  3. ↑ Dell'Apa, Frank (27 March 2007). "Pitching in from the pitch". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  4. ↑ Huff, Pierce W. (3 May 2008). "Shockers open season on road - Team features new owner, new name". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. 8 Sports.
  5. ↑ "New Orleans Shell Shockers Staff". New Orleans Shell Shockers. 2008. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "New Orleans Shell Shockers Official Schedule (2008)". uslsoccer.com. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  7. ↑ "New Orleans Jesters Unveiled". New Orleans Jesters. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "FieldTurf and NFL Assist Post-Katrina Pan American Stadium in Rebuilding Efforts". Reuters. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  9. ↑ "GROWTH CONTINUES FOR NPSL". National Premier Soccer League. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  10. ↑ http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2011/22349.html#ROSTER
  11. ↑ http://www.rioredstorm.com/roster/8/3/504.php
  12. ↑ http://golimestonesaints.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1220&path=msoc
  13. ↑ http://www.odusports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/espinach_federico00.html
  14. ↑ http://www.rioredstorm.com/roster/8/3/507.php
  15. ↑ http://www.abbeyathletics.com/profile.asp?playerID=889
  16. ↑ http://www.rioredstorm.com/roster/7/3/92.php
  17. ↑ http://www.nolajesters.com/team/roster/index.html?player_id=53
  18. ↑ http://www.umterps.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/mullins_patrick00.html
  19. ↑ http://www.gotigersgo.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/judice_frank00.html
  20. ↑ http://www.careyathletics.com/roster/8/3/320.php
  21. ↑ http://www.saintssports.com/sports/msoc/2010-11/bios/Bozickovic%20Mikki
  22. ↑ http://www.goccusports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/schwartz_jordan00.html
  23. ↑ http://www.apacheathletics.com/roster/1/1/195.php
  24. ↑ http://www.saintssports.com/sports/msoc/2010-11/bios/Angel%20Max
  25. ↑ "USL Stat Archives". United Soccer Leagues.
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