The vision? A movement to unify the greater NC Core area through the highest level of competitive soccer in the region –and you’re at the forefront of what happens next. Whether you grew up here or are brand new to the area, this is the time to put our home on the map in a way it’s never been before!
Welcome to Truist Point, home of the Carolina Core FC (CCFC). We are so glad you are here to support the Foxes! If you are here to support the other team, although we may question your life choices, we are glad you are here, too. While these upcoming 90 plus minutes are all about soccer, CCFC is more than just a soccer club and Truist Point is more than just a stadium in a small town. Truist Point stadium was born in 2016 out of the dire need of our city to revitalize its downtown to bring people and jobs back to its core. In 2022, out of fierce passion to bring more access to opportunity and to create more jobs in our core, CCFC was started is an independent club of MLS NEXT Pro. CCFC and the league are committed to driving a new era of North American soccer and offer exciting, unprecedented opportunities to players, coaches, and sports business professionals. CCFC is dedicated to the development and career advancement of every individual that comes to and through our club, not just our players. And through the vehicle of soccer, we are bringing people, yourself included, into the heart of our city to drive upward economic mobility so that every person in our community has access to opportunities that enrich their lives. We hope that you have an exceptional experience at our stadium, and we thank you for helping us grow our Carolina Core community and through the beautiful game!
PRINCIPAL OWNER OF CAROLINA CORE FC
A groundbreaking initiative that is set to revolutionize youth soccer development in our region. CCFC Academy is launching with the MLS NEXT league for the 2024 season starting with two teams - U13 and U14. We are proud to be the first non-MLS team to make our MLS N Academy free for each player, aiming to break down the financial typically associated with high-level youth soccer and provide young players with an unprecedented opportunity to pursue their dreams.
Operated under the Carolina Core Soccer Foundation, the Carolina Core FC Academy is committed to creating a level playing field where every child, regardless of their socioeconomic background, can chase their aspirations of a professional soccer career. Our academy’s revolutionary approach eliminates the pay-to-play model, ensuring that talent and potential, rather than financial means, become the primary factors in a player’s journey. This opportunity enables young athletes to compete against the best players in the country, in a league that has developed 90% of the United States Men’s National Team’s players.
Presented By
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From Antigua and Barbuda to High Point, 16-year-old midfielder Drake Hadeed was always poised to make an impact. After making his debut as a professional for the Antigua and Barbuda Men’s National Team in 2023 at just 15 years old, a year later he made the move over to Carolina Core FC.
“Making the move over here (to High Point) was exciting for me and my family. It was a really special moment and pivotal step for my career as I continue growing.”
Born in Miami, FL, Hadeed moved back to his home country of Antigua and Barbuda at a young age. From the beginning of his soccer career, the talented midfielder showed flashes of brilliance and knew that he had the ability to do something special.
“From a young age, I always had big goals and dreams to make it to the top of football. I think my mentality was something that separated me from my peers early on.”
At just 11 years old, Hadeed left for England after being invited to trial for multiple English Premier League teams, the top flight of soccer in the United Kingdom. After trialing, Hadeed found a home with English Premier League club West Ham United. Despite his young age, the Antigua and Barbuda standout immediately went on to make history for his country, as he was the first player to sign for an Englandbased club in over a decade.
“Playing in the West Ham United Academy was a great experience, and it was a really important building block in terms of my playing style and IQ. It was difficult being away from my home and family at such a young age, but me and my family were willing to make the sacrifices.”
In 2022, the Antiguan talent got the opportunity of a lifetime when he was called up to the Antigua and Barbuda’s U20 squad for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Honduras. Hadeed would go on to make his youth international debut as a substitute in the 75th minute of a defeat to Costa Rica. At age fourteen, Hadeed became the youngest player to compete in the tournament.
After leaving the West Ham United Academy in 2023, Hadeed returned to the United States and joined
the Columbus Crew Academy, where he featured in MLS NEXT, the first step in the MLS player pathway.
“Adapting to the US system and culture was the most important change in moving from West Ham to Columbus Crew. It was a completely different way of playing and even living off the pitch, but it was a great experience that I will never forget.”
The 2023 calendar year proved to be a monumental one for Hadeed, as he moved from England back to the United States, as well as making his professional debut for the Antigua and Barbuda Men’s National Team at just 15 years old.
“I was really proud to make my international debut. It’s always been a dream of mine to represent my country. Being able to start and score in my first international match was even more special and meant a lot to my whole family. There was a lot of sacrifice made to get to that point, so I was very proud to make my debut.”
Following his international success, Hadeed made the decision to sign his first professional contract and join a new independent club in the MLS NEXT Pro, Carolina Core FC. In conjunction with High Point native Aryeh Miller, the Antiguan was the first official signing of the club and served as an indicator of the serious intentions behind the club’s plans to compete in the league.
The start of the 2024 season was historic for Hadeed and CCFC alike, as the 16-year-old made his professional debut in the club’s inaugural match against Crown Legacy FC, scoring a penalty in a penalty kick shootout victory.
“Signing with Carolina Core FC was a really important step for me in my career. It was a dream come true to finally make it to the professional level. I hope for this to be the first step to a long and successful professional career.”
The 16-year-old would go on to score his first professional goal in stylish fashion, as he chipped the goalkeeper to score Carolina Core FC’s first goal in a 3-2 victory in the U.S. Open Cup against Northern Virginia FC.
“It felt great to score my first goal in the U.S. Open Cup. The adrenaline and emotions of everything were running high when I scored it, and the support from the CCFC fans at the game made it even more special. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do the rest of this season.”
As we approach a stretch of home games for the rest of the season, Hadeed has a clear vision of how he wants to finish out the campaign strong:
“I’m ready to fight for the team and make sure to give one hundred percent for the fans that have been supporting us from the beginning.”
Growing up in North Carolina, Head Coach Roy has developed strong connections to the local community. He is a proud alum of NC State University, where he led the Wolfpack to the 1988 NCAA Championship Game. Following a prolific college career, he joined Major League Soccer, where he would go on to hold the MLS single-season scoring record with 27 goals until the record was broken in 2018. A regular for both club and country, Lassiter represented the US Men’s National Team, making 34 appearances and scoring four goals over the span of eight years. Beginning his post-playing career, Lassiter was the assistant coach for Houston Dynamo 2, as well as the Head Coach for the Houston Dynamo U-20 team for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, prior to joining Carolina Core FC.
A former international soccer star, Amado represented the Honduras National Team as captain and all-time cap leader. Guevara made an impressive 139 appearances scoring 27 goals for the Honduran National Team. Leading Honduras to a successful qualification campaign, Amado captained the side during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Very successful internationally, Guevara has many accolades domestically, including: MLS Best XI, MLS All-Star selection, MLS Golden Boot, and the MLS MVP award in 2004. An MLS legend, during his time in MLS, Amado scored an astounding 41 goals. Following his retirement, Guevara seamlessly transitioned into a coaching role, showcasing his passion for the sport. After coaching at various youth academy’s, Amado then became the Head Coach of Puerto Rico’s U20 team, eventually ascending into the position of Head Coach for the senior side.
JC Martinez brings a wealth of experience after being part of the Houston Dynamo’s Academy for seven years. Coach Martinez was the Head Coach of the MLS NEXT U13 Academy team, as well as an assistant coach for the Dynamo’s U20 team for 2 years. Martinez served as Roy’s assistant coach for Houston Dynamo U20s where he helped the team towards their first conference title and Round of 16 appearance. Coach Martinez has assisted with every age group in the academy level, and will bring his expertise to help as the team’s analyst.
Williams starred in Major League Soccer for Columbus Crew, New England Revolution, MetroStars, Chicago Fire - winning the Open Cup Championship in 2003. Williams would eventually join Real Salt Lake, leading them to the MLS Cup win in 2009. With 97 appearances and 13 goals, Williams was an integral member of the Jamaican Men’s National Team. Williams joins CCFC with ample experience as a Technical Director with FC Arizona, where he was responsible for the management and organization of the team as well as the dayto-day operations of the entire club. Williams also led the scouting department for Real Salt Lake, where he scouted and procured international and domestic talent.
After playing professionally in Jamaica, Ricketts moved to England to play for Bradford City AFC, making 108 total appearances over four years. Having started his international career in 1998, Ricketts made 100 appearances for the Jamaican National Team between 1998 and 2013. In the midst of a fantastic international career, he joined the LA Galaxy in 2010, and after a sensational first season in MLS, was awarded MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010.The following year Ricketts helped lead the LA Galaxy to win the MLS Cup, alongside superstar teammates Landon Donovan and David Beckham. Ricketts would go on to win his second MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2013 while playing for the Portland Timbers. Following his retirement in 2017, Ricketts embarked on his managerial career, serving as the Goalkeeper Coach for FC Tulsa from 20172023, and the interim Head Coach for the 2022 season.
ANGEL AGUAS
JUAN PABLO RODRIGUEZ
YEKESON SUBAH
JESUS OREJUELA
PAPA NDOYE
JACOB EVANS
LUIS LUGO
ALENGA CHARLES
JOSUHA
DAVID “PACHITTOO” POLANCO
CARLOS MARIO DIAZ
JEREMIAH WHITE IV
IBRAHIM COVI
DEREK CUEVAS
KIKI GREGOIRE
TYLER FREEMAN
FACUNDO CANETE
DRAKE HADEED
FEDERICO STACHUK
SANTIAGO CAMBINDO
ROBERT BAILEY
OZZIE CISNEROS
JOHNNY BAZAES
ARYEH MILLER
HOUSTON, TEXAS
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA
MONROVIA, LIBERIA
JAMUNDE, COLOMBIA
TIVAOUANE, SENEGAL
CHESTER, ENGLAND
VALENCIA, VENEZUELA
KIGOMA, TANZANIA
PUERTO
KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA
IBAGUE, COLOMBIA
POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
PARIS, FRANCE
BARCELONA, SPAIN
KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS
CORDOBA, ARGENTINA
MIAMI, FLORIDA
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
IBAGUE, COLOMBIA
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
OMAHA, NEBRASKA
QUEENS, NEW YORK
HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA
KOFI HOPE-GUND
JACOB ARROYAVE
JONATHAN “JJ” JIMINEZ VARGAS
MAXIMO CARRIZO
SAMUEL OWUSU
JONATHAN SHORE
STEVEN BEDNARKSY
ANDREW BAIERA
PIERO ELIAS
KLEVIS HAXHARI
ALEX RANDO
ALEX YAGUDAYEV
ALEX HAUSCHILD
MATTHEW LEONG
CHRIS TIAO
JAKE ROZHANSKY
RONALD AREVALO
RIO HOPE-GUND
DAVID DUQUE
CALHEIRA
LIBERIA (U17)
UNITED STATES (U15)
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (U20 & U23)
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA (SENIOR TEAM)
UNITED STATES (U17)
ARGENTINA (U16)
UNITED STATES (U16 & U17)
UNITED STATES (U15)
Truist Point is a multipurpose stadium located in High Point, NC and is home to your Carolina Core FC professional soccer team. The multipurpose stadium is bordered by Elm, Gatewood, and Lindsay Streets. Truist (formerly BB&T Corporation) is the facility naming rights partner – this landmark naming rights agreement began in 2019 and is a 15-year naming rights partnership.
It started with a vision– A symbol to promote community, unify all groups, and also look really cool on a soccer kit.
Introducing Matthew Wolff, graphic design and branding maestro with experience ranging from the design of World Cup kits for France and Nigeria to helping launch the first collaboration between Paris Saint-Germain and the Jordan Brand. After experiencing a cultured upbringing spanning multiple continents, Wolff drew inspiration for his work from his soccer career and surroundings.
“I grew up in Minneapolis and fell in love with soccer through playing and going to Minnesota Thunder (USL First Division) matches. When I was 10, my family moved to North London, and my love of soccer was taken to new heights,” articulated Wolff. “I returned to Minnesota for my last three years of high school and realized that soccer in America was still in its infancy compared to soccer in Europe. Over the years, I realized I wanted to help grow the game here in the US.”
Wolff finished his college playing career and graduated with a degree from Skidmore College. Following his undergrad career, Wolff went and obtained a degree from the world-renowned New York, Parsons School of Design in graphic design that helped further his passion for creating.
“Towards the end of college it became clear that my ability to impact American soccer was not going to be on the pitch, but in the design studio. I realized I wanted to combine my two loves — soccer and design — and try to pursue them as a career. I held design jobs at NYCFC and Nike Football before going out on my own,” said the Vermont Green FC co-founder.
With many projects available to take on and a lifetime’s worth of experience under his belt, Wolff found the inspiration to collaborate with Carolina Core FC in the way most ideas are conceived.
“I was out on a walk! Evan Mitz — who I’d met a few years prior — gave me a call and told me all about the vision for the club. It really interested me and I was keen to work with Evan,” noted the Minnesota native. “Shortly thereafter I was introduced to Ramsey and collectively we worked for a few months crafting the CCFC crest, colors, apparel and various other branding assets.”
Wolff has done tremendous work in helping to progress US Soccer at all levels. The talented graphic designer has worked with the United Soccer League, National Women’s Soccer League, and the highest level of professional soccer in the country, Major League Soccer. With soccer at the forefront of all his creations, his work with Carolina Core FC proved to be another monumental step in his career as it was the first MLS NEXT Pro team he’s worked with. The creation of a club’s crest can serve as a catalyst for many organization’s ascent or demise, so it was imperative that this high-level of responsibility was entrusted to the right person.
“Like any relationship, communication and trust are key. I’m grateful that CCFC were wonderful partners throughout this process. The CCFC team put a lot of trust in me and the design process was a smooth one,” said the former Nike designer. “I think it’s important to understand the community that the crest will represent. Ideally the club (and by extension the crest) will represent something greater than the 11 players on the pitch.”
With the club entering the MLS NEXT Pro league for its inaugural season as an independent club, establishing its own unique identity was key. The crest has to repress soccer while still maintaining the creative lifestyle branding associated with things off the pitch, helping to explain what led to the now prominent fox.
“Soccer crests are avatars of self-identification. I believe that someone who looks at the crest of their local team should see some of themselves and their community in it,” explained Wolff. As CCFC embarks on its inaugural set of home matches, the newly created crest looks to serve as a point of unity that everyone can look toward as a beacon of light. “I believe that football clubs should be a reflection of their community. The crest is an illustration of that reflection,” said the heralded graphic designer.
New York City FC II (NYCFC II) was one of the first teams in the MLS Next Pro league and has been playing since March 2022. NYCFC II practices at Etihad City Football Academy in Orangeburg, New York, and plays at Belson Stadium, the home of St. John’s University in New York. The ownership groups for New York City FC II are City Football Group, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi United Group, and Yankee Global Enterprises. NYCFC II’s head, Matt Pilkington, who is from Rochdale, England, has been with NYCFC’s youth squad since 2016. Pilkington coached the U-15/16 and U-19 academy squads and won back-to-back national championships with the U-19 academy squad.
