It’s Blues season in Annapolis.

Walk around the state capital and you’ll see the soccer team’s blue and white scarves hanging in store windows and behind cash registers. Drive around and odds are good you’ll see the blue crab logo, representing the club, on the back of car while you sit in traffic.

The semi-professional men’s soccer team took Naptown by storm during its inaugural season in 2023, and it has regularly broken league attendance records at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium since.

Last year, the men’s team was promoted from the National Premier Soccer League to USL League 2, the fourth tier of men’s pro soccer. The Blues also added a women’s team, which plays in the USL W League. Both teams reached championship games, but came up short of winning it all. Members of the men’s and women’s team said the supportive crowd in Annapolis feels like having an extra player on the squad. Could that make a difference this season?

Steven Hooper, the men’s general manager, said the club has been on an upward trajectory since it started. They “obviously” want to bring home the championship this year.

“We’ve been shooting to the moon every week,” Hooper said.

The club has incorporated itself into the fabric of life in Annapolis, getting support from local businesses and nonprofits, and giving residents a hometown team to cheer for.

For Annapolis Mayor Jared Littmann — who coached his kids’ soccer teams for years — it’s especially meaningful seeing the community come together, and to see the way the teams work together on the pitch.“We have a chance to see professionals right here in Annapolis play the sport like it’s supposed to be played, setting the example for gamesmanship and strategy and skill, and engaging with the community,” Littman said. “Those are great examples to follow.”

Before the team played its first season, staff worked with residents to come finalize the name and design its jerseys. Being a community-focused club is the team’s “secret recipe,” said Hooper, who’s also the team’s vice president of sales and marketing.Born and raised in Annapolis, Hooper has played soccer his entire life. Thinking about the way the community has come out to support the Blues gives him chills.

“It means everything to me,” he said.

The men’s and women’s teams both have impressive records. In 2024, the men’s team lost in a championship match against Virginia Dream FC, but finished atop the league they played in at the time.

Last year, in its inaugural season, the women’s team went undefeated in regular play. They lost in penalty kicks during a conference championship match against the under-23 team of the North Carolina Courage, a championship-winning National Women’s Soccer League team.

Captain Sarah Martin is a Bowie native who played college soccer for the University of Vermont.

Since graduating in 2018, she’s balanced a full-time job with professional and semi-professional soccer opportunities.She also plays futsal for the U.S. Women’s National Team and was named its women’s futsal player of the year in January. (Futsal is a scaled-down version of soccer, usually played indoors on a hard court between five players on each team.) Wearing the national team crest, Martin said, brought an “immense feeling of pride.”

She was part of the Blues women’s team’s inaugural season. She followed head coach Ashly Kennedy from another team in the league. Martin, a midfielder, said losing in the playoffs gave the Blues “an even bigger fire under our butts” to perform this season.“We want to come out harder and stronger, and show we are one of the better teams on the East Coast, if not the entire USL-W,” she said.

Though their home opener is Saturday, both the men’s and women’s team’s seasons already began — and both are off to a good start. Both teams won their first two games.

Brady Geho, the all-time leading scorer for the men’s team, said he thinks the squad this year is the best it’s ever been.

“Every training is super competitive, which is how it should be. Everyone is giving 100% effort,” said Geho, who’s from Westminster and played for Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore and several universities.

The Blues home opener is a double header. The women’s team plays against Charlottesville Blues FC at 5 p.m., and the men’s team plays against Virginia Beach United at 7:30 p.m.

A general admission ticket — $18.50 for adults, $13.50 for 12 and under — gets you into both games. Tickets are available online and at the gate. Gates open at 4 p.m., and tailgating outside the stadium starts as early as 1 p.m.

USL Division Two league 2026:

• Annapolis Blues Football Club 1-0 Charlottesville Blues Football Club

Ugandan midfielder Pius Ssebulime had his long awaited debut at Annapolis Blues Football Club on a positive footing, winning 1-0 over Charlottesville Blues Football Club.

The holding midfielder featured for the entire duration of the match with timely interceptions, awesome ball distribution and overall command in the middle of the pack.

“It was a good start at my team Annapolis Blues Football Club and I look forward more solid performances. Credit goes to my teammates and coaches plus the fans” Ssebulime attested.

Ssebulime, a former student at St Henry’s College Kitovu in Masaka city is now pursuing a Bachelor’s in Sports Management at Rutgers’ University.

He recently won the inaugural the Metro Spring College Cup trophy as Rutgers University overwhelmed Fordham University 3-0 at the Yurkcak Field in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Ssebulime is a king-pin in central midfield with great timely interceptions, recoveries, successful dribbles and decisive passes.

ANNAPOLIS, MD  ( Dec. 5 2025) --    Fred Matthes, the first General Manager and the first public hire in the history of Annapolis Blues steps aside into an advisory role, the team announced Friday.

Matthes will remain active with the Club, and will continue on working with ownership and on special projects that will come up in the future with both the USL2 and USLW League teams in the role of Senior Advisor - Special Projects Liaison.  He will also take on a small, minority ownership in the Club in the future. 

Matthes, who also runs a Soccer Consulting business, FM Professional Soccer Consulting,  played a pivotal role during  Annapolis Blues FC’s first three seasons of existence. He was hired in the late Summer of 2022, and during his tenure the franchise established NPSL, USL2 & USLW League records for the highest-attended matches in league history (11,171 in June 2024 in NPSL; 12,853 in USL2 & 7,298 in USLW in May 2025), and continuously matched high average attendance levels with professional Soccer teams all over the country at leagues two and three levels above them. On the pitch, Matthes saw two regular season NPSL Championships and one Conference Championship for the Men's team and one regular season Championship for the Women's team in their first year in USLW.  His other accomplishments off the pitch, included arranging a Training Center host location, scheduling all Team transportation, setting up the Ticketing platforms, creating the home and away schedules for matches while working with League administration for USL2/USLW and NPSL, working with a full-time staff based in Annapolis handling Sponsorship, Ticketing, Marketing, Broadcast, Operations, and heading up several Community projects that led the Club to be received favorably throughout the Chesapeake Region. 

“I’m incredibly proud of what we have built at Annapolis Blues FC, both on and off the pitch” Matthes said in a release issued by the team. “In just three years, we made history at the lower divisions in American Soccer by taking the ideas of Opportunity, Community and Equality and blending them all into an organization that represents Annapolis so well, and I’m incredibly grateful to our ownership group, led by Michael Hitchcock, our professional staff in all areas, our coaches & players, the people at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and most importantly, our fans, whose passion and tremendous support from day one have helped to make the Blues so iconic in the Annapolis area and beyond."

"I am so impressed by our younger executives, led by my Assistant General Manager, Steven Hooper, who never backed down from any challenges and never accepted the premise as a Club that just because we were considered lower division Soccer, that we couldn't have a professional level product both on and off the pitch, and throughout the community that could also be envied nationwide."  

From Community Outreach, led by Devin Pugh, that gave us a year-round presence everywhere at events and continually working with local charities and organizations to our season ticket and new Membership initiatives led by Kaitlyn McComb, we have always been visible and accessible to all of our fans and supporters, no matter when." also adding, "Our Sponsorship levels are second to none at this level led by Steven and assisted by Luke Mueller, and our Team Merchandise, as handled by Kyle Cullen, has been a true hit and worn and seen by people everywhere, including on television on Soccer programs like CBS Golazo !" ... "And our "Navy of Interns", that join us each season that take on.a multitude of tasks with tireless enthusiasm and spirit throughout the season can always be counted on.  With the advent of our Women's team, and an American Soccer icon in Jim Gabarra joining us, one of those interns, Brooke Lewis, stepped up to take on multiple duties for the Team and Club."   At the Stadium, Phil Wrye, a veteran of almost 30 years in Minor League Baseball, led the Operations team at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to assist with working with Bill Givens, Jon Gren, Damisi Price, and the entire team from the Naval Academy Athletic Association."

While having a background in several sports front offices, from the NBA's Washington Bullets, to almost two decades with D.C. United where he met Hitchcock, and where Matthes began at the outset of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1995 after being a Volunteer with the 1994 World Cup in Washington, DC. Matthes had also helped to build other USL and NWSL Clubs such as Sacramento Republic FC, New Mexico United, Fresno FC, Washington Freedom and Spirit from the outset.  He also worked with North Carolina FC, North Carolina Courage, Virginia Beach City FC and consulted to several other Soccer clubs and Soccer business entities.  "When Hitch first spoke to me back in 2022, I wasn't really looking to take on another start up Club, but as talks continued on, he eventually said, "What I really need is an experienced General Manager, one that has done this before ..."  "Hitch can be pretty persuasive", claimed Matthes, and the role that was initially going to be for just a year, lasted three successful seasons. 

On the pitch, the Blues have been led by Colin Herriot, now in his 4th season coming up in 2026, and was named as NPSL Coach of the Year in 2023, the Blues' Inaugural Season, when they won the Mid-Atlantic Regular season Championship in 2023 & 2024, and by Ashly Kennedy on the Women's side since 2025, where she immediately took the team to a Mid-Atlantic Championship and Conference Final and was named USLW Coach of the Year. "Working with Colin and Ashly has been a truly invigorating experience for me on the Team-side of the Club, and getting to know Colin from Year One as we began, he really set the tone for what the Annapolis Blues FC culture would ultimately become based around ... A professional atmosphere in all ways, and making the players proud to put on the shirt and play their hearts out for the Club, and for the Fans, and the City of Annapolis at all times."  I have been so proud to also see the development of all of the players that have grasped that 'Opportunity' to be seen at higher levels and make the most out of it"  

Annapolis Blues FC has already placed players on to MLS and USL Women's Premier League rosters in their short history.  

Matthes plans to continue staying active and involved with the Club beyond his new role, and will be a regular at Blues match Tailgates, in the stands, and talking with fans in Annapolis. "As I have been saying, I'm not really stepping down, just stepping aside, and look forward to watching Steven and Jim take the reins from here to continue building upon what we have accomplished thus far with this very special Soccer Club in the American Soccer Pyramid ... Let's Go Blues !"

https://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2025/02/annapolis-blues-fcs-usl-league-two-debut-what-it-means-for-maryland-soccer/

https://annapolismomsmedia.com/motherlode-winter-2025/

Happy Friday Blues Family! Please keep reading for some exciting news!

We’re excited to share some incredible news that marks a defining moment for our men’s team and the broader Blues community. Starting this May, our men’s team will officially transition to USL League Two, a move that underscores our commitment to growth, excellence, and opportunity within the world of soccer.

Why USL League Two?

USL League Two is widely recognized as the preeminent pre-professional soccer league in North America, providing a platform where top talent competes, develops, and prepares for professional careers. Joining this league places our team in a highly competitive environment where they’ll face some of the best collegiate and amateur players from across the country.

What This Means for Our Team

This transition reflects our dedication to fostering the development of our players, both on and off the field. USL League Two offers exposure to scouts, professional clubs, and other opportunities that can propel our athletes to the next stage of their careers. It’s more than just soccer; it’s about providing pathways for success while staying true to the community-driven values that define our club.

The Road Ahead

Over the coming months, our coaching staff and players will be hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. We’ll share updates, including player announcements, match schedules, and community events leading up to our first game in the league this May.

We’re calling on all of you—our loyal supporters, fans, and community partners—to join us on this exciting journey. Together, we can make our inaugural season in USL League Two a memorable one. Your support, whether from the stands or through community engagement, will play a crucial role in making this transition a success.

A Word from USL League Two and Owner/ Managing Partner, Hitch

“Annapolis Blues are synonymous with soccer in the Chesapeake region,” said Joel Nash, SVP of Youth and Pre-Professional Properties. “We’re incredibly excited to have them on board, and we know fans will pack the stands to see them challenge the other clubs on this stage.”

"It's an exciting time for soccer in Annapolis with the new Blues Women's team joining USL W League and now the Blues Men's team joining USL League Two,” said Michael Hitchcock, Owner & Managing Partner. “All great clubs have a Derby and the USL2 Maryland Derby is coming to Naptown when we take on Christos FC at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and when the Blues fans and The Bay Bhoys travel to support the Blues in Baltimore. Get ready for Summer 2025. It’s going to be special!”

How You Can Get Involved

• Spread the Word: Help us share the news about this exciting development on social media and with friends and family.

• Purchase Your Season Tickets: Visit Annapolisblues.com today to secure your 2025 season ticket to all Annapolis Blues home games!

• Attend Games: Let’s pack the stands and show the league the heart and passion of the Blues community.

• Stay Connected: Follow us on social media and keep an eye on your inbox for updates, event announcements, and more.

Thank you for your unwavering support and belief in the vision of our club. This is just the beginning of an incredible journey, and we couldn’t be more excited to take this step with all of you by our side.

Let’s make history together!

Good Morning Blues Family!

We hope this message finds you well and as excited as we are about the growth of our club! Today, we are thrilled to share a monumental moment in our journey—the official introduction of the first-ever Head Coach for our Women’s Team, Ashly Kennedy.

Coach Kennedy brings an exceptional track record of leadership, passion, and dedication to the beautiful game. With years of experience both on and off the field, Ashly has consistently demonstrated a commitment to developing talent, fostering teamwork, and achieving excellence. Her vision for the Women’s Team aligns perfectly with our club’s values, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her at the helm as we embark on this new chapter.

"I am beyond excited to work with the Annapolis Blues that has a passion for community, soccer, and hometown pride. The environment, professionalism, opportunities, and unwavering fan support have been nothing short of extraordinary. Being back in my hometown of Annapolis, where I grew up, makes this opportunity even more meaningful. I look forward to building a team that embodies the core values of the Annapolis Blues while delivering an exciting product and platform for the Annapolis community to rally behind with strong young women. This collaboration signifies more than just a professional step; it’s a heartfelt commitment to creating something special for the city and its passionate supporters." Says Coach Kennedy

As we look forward to the inaugural season of our Women’s Team, we invite you to join us in welcoming Coach Kennedy to the Blues family. We are confident that her expertise and enthusiasm will inspire our players and bring a new level of energy to the pitch.

“I’m super excited and energized for the Blues women’s team and the opportunity to work with the Annapolis Blues and all the great things they’ve done in our community over the past two years” says General Manager for the Women’s Team, Jim Gabarra.

“I selected Ashly as our first head coach because she has been a staple of our Annapolis community growing up here, playing soccer here and coaching in the USL W league. She brings many years of playing coaching experience at the club level and is a perfect fit for what we are building here with the Annapolis Blues women’s team” states Gabarra.

Stay tuned for more updates as we build out the Women’s Team and prepare for an incredible season ahead. Together, we are creating a brighter and more inclusive future for Annapolis Blues FC.

Let’s give Coach Kennedy a warm welcome to Annapolis and show her the unwavering support of the best fans in the game. Go Blues!

Be sure to reserve your season seat for the 2025 season right here!