The Chattanooga Football Club has played in the National Premier Soccer League for the last 11 seasons. Today, CFC announced it will make the transition from an amateur club to the professional ranks and join the National Independent Soccer Association. Play within the NISA will begin in the spring of 202o.
Coming in 2020.
Chattanooga FC is thrilled to announce that we will be joining the professional ranks of American soccer in @NISALeague https://t.co/eD8B0UyAId pic.twitter.com/6ng7iFK9xs
— Chattanooga Football Club (@ChattanoogaFC) August 15, 2019
NISA serves as a level three league of professional soccer. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC plays in USL League One, which is also considered a level three league.
CFC experienced great success as an amateur club during its first decade of existence, and told fans a jump to professional soccer was coming in 2019. According to CFC officials, the club was interested in joining NISA when the league was founded in 2017, but the recent crumbling of the NPSL Founders Cup, is what ultimately led the club to join the league. Beginning next spring, team members will have FIFA-registered professional contracts.
Currently, NISA is comprised of 13 teams, including Chattanooga FC, Atlanta SC, California United Strikers, Detroit City FC, Miami FC, Los Angeles Force, San Diego 1904 FC, Oakland Roots SC, Stumptown Athletic, Philadelphia Fury, NISA Baton Rouge, NISA Connecticut and NISA Providence.
CFC will finish play in the NPSL Member’s Cup this season, and play Detroit City FC this weekend in a match that features two of NISA’s newest members.
About the Chattanooga Football Club
- Club founded in 2009
- Eight-time Conference Champions
- Four-time National Runner-Up
- All-time club record stands at 111-38-30
- Club currently holds the NPSL attendance record (18,227 – 2015 National Final vs. New York Cosmos at Finley Stadium)
- Average home attendance (over 3,000)