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Memphis 901 FC Boosts Midfield with Signing of Mitch Guitar

CREDIT: courtesy Memphis 901 FC

Sometimes, it’s all in the name. In the most apt way possible, Memphis 901 FC made a strong addition to its roster with the signing of midfielder Mitch Guitar.

Memphis 901 FC Boosts Midfield with Signing of Mitch Guitar

Pending league and federation approval, Guitar joins the 901 FC roster via trade with fellow USL organization Indy Eleven. The player is a graduate from University of Wisconsin, and was selected in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft by Chicago Fire.

Over 58 matches at Wisconsin, Guitar was an instrumental part of a Badgers team that won the Big Ten tournament championship in 2017. The midfielder was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team for Conference play in 2018, but missed the 2019 season due to injury.

“Mitch is a player we identified during his college career as having the qualities necessary to succeed at this level,” said 901 FC sporting director Tim Howard. “He has a relentless engine in midfield and makes the players around him better.”

901 FC’s roster is now up to seven players, with Guitar joining newcomers John Berger, Kadeem Dacres, and Kyle Murphy, as well as returnees Mark Segbers (a fellow Wisconsin alum), Zach Carroll, and Dan Metzger.

Now, someone should probably clarify to Mitch what Memphis’ pre-match guitar smash ritual entails.

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Attacker Kyle Murphy the Latest Addition for Memphis 901 FC

CREDIT: Courtesy Loudoun United

There’s another new face set to appear at AutoZone Park this year, and this time, it’s an offensive reinforcement.

Memphis 901 FC announced the signing of forward Kyle Murphy, pending league and federation approval. Murphy has five seasons and 116 USL appearances, with 25 goals and eight assists to his name.


The forward spent a couple of seasons at San Antonio FC and Rio Grande Valley FC before a productive spell at Loudoun United in 2019 that saw him score 13 goals. 

Courtesy Loudoun United

Kyle Murphy (left) wins the coin toss as captain of Loudoun United during a 2019 match against Memphis 901 FC.

Last season, he was part of the Tampa Bay Rowdies squad that reached the USL Championship game (however, he only scored one goal in 15 appearances).


“Kyle is a hard-working, dangerous attacker with loads of experience in this league,” said sporting director Tim Howard. “We’re adding a true professional with captain experience and an impressive goal-scoring record to our frontline.”

Murphy is the third new signing for Memphis 901 FC, alongside Kadeem Dacres and John Berner. The trio joins returnees Zach Carroll, Dan Metzger, and Mark Segbers.

Check out some of Murphy’s skills here.

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Midfielder Kadeem Dacres Joins Memphis 901 FC Roster

CREDIT: Hayden Schiff from Cincinnati, USA, CC BY 2.0

This afternoon, Memphis 901 FC announced the signing of veteran midfielder Kadeem Dacres pending league and federation approval.

The midfielder has eight years of USL experience under his belt, with time spent at clubs such as Arizona United (now known as Phoenix Rising), Louisville City SC, FC Cincinnati, and most recently Saint Louis FC. Hayden Schiff from Cincinnati, USA, CC BY 2.0

Kadeem Dacres during a U.S. Open Cup match for FC Cincinnati in 2017

During the course of his career, Dacres has logged 176 appearances and more than 10,000 minutes, and holds a tally of 18 goals and seven assists.

“Kadeem will provide us with pace and a constant attacking threat on the wing as well as a high work rate,” said 901 FC sporting director Tim Howard. “His ability and high-level experience in the USL make him an exciting addition to our roster.”

Dacres joins new signing, goalkeeper John Berner, as well as returnees Mark Segbers, Dan Metzger, and Zach Carroll.

And here’s a sample of what the midfielder can do.

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Memphis 901 FC Signs Goalkeeper John Berner

CREDIT: By Noah Salzman - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61396917

Memphis 901 FC added yet another name to its burgeoning roster for the upcoming 2021 USL season.

The latest acquisition is goalkeeper John Berner, pending league and federation approval.

The ’keeper began his professional career when selected 35th in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids, where he made five appearances before joining USL affiliate Charlotte Independence on loan. Berner made 38 appearances for the club, and kept 12 clean sheets over the course of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

By Noah Salzman – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61396917

John Berner warms up during a 2017 appearance with the Colorado Rapids

“The club is thrilled to be adding a player of John’s experience and quality to the roster,” said sporting director Tim Howard. “He’s a proven shot-stopper with both MLS and USL experience, and we are looking forward to having him with us this season.”

Since playing for Charlotte, Berner has racked up USL experience with Phoenix Rising, Oklahoma City Energy FC, and most recently with Saint Louis FC last season.

Berner joins the squad alongside returnees Zach Carroll, Mark Segbers, and Dan Metzger.

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Zach Carroll Renews Contract with Memphis 901 FC

CREDIT: Photo courtesy Memphis 901 FC

Photo courtesy Memphis 901 FC

Zach Carroll is the third 901 FC player to officially return to AutoZone Park for the 2021 season.

The pieces are starting to come together for Memphis 901 FC’s 2021 roster.

Today, sporting director Tim Howard announced that center back Zach Carroll has signed a new contract with the organization for the upcoming USL season (pending league approval).

“Bringing Zach back was always a priority for us heading into the 2021 season,” Howard said in a press release. “He helped anchor the backline last year and will bring a wealth of experience and leadership back to the team. His return will be key as we continue building our roster for the season.”

Carroll played in 13 matches last season, with 11 of them coming as starts. In all, he played 1,012 minutes, made 19 tackles, won 67 percent of his aerial challenges, and led the team in clearances. He is also able to provide an attacking threat from set pieces.

He joins full back Mark Segbers and midfielder Dan Metzger as official returnees for the upcoming season. Memphis 901 FC will compete in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division.

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Memphis 901 FC Learns League Alignment, Division Opponents for USL 2021 Season

Mark Segbers will line up for 901 FC in its home opener against Atlanta United 2 on June 16th. (901 FC/Eric Glemser)

Old foes, and some slightly less familiar faces, will test Memphis 901 FC’s mettle come kickoff this season.

Earlier today, the USL Championship announced its plans for league alignment during the 2021 regular season. This year, the championship will see 31 teams spread across four divisions and two conferences. Each club’s campaign will see them play a 32-match schedule conducted over the span of 27 weeks.

Eric Glemser

Fullback Mark Segbers is one of two officially announced 901 FC players who will be returning this season.

901 FC finds itself in the Central Division, where it will face off against six-time Eastern Conference finalist Louisville City FC; regional rivals Indy Eleven, Atlanta United 2, and Birmingham Legion FC; and FC Tulsa, OKC Energy FC, and Sporting Kansas City II to round out the group.

During the season, 901 FC will play its division opponents four times — two matches at home, and two matches away. With division matches accounting for only 28 games, 901 FC will play its remaining four matches against either regional or cross-conference opponents, yet to be determined.

The full 2021 USL regular season schedule has not been released yet, but opening day is scheduled for a flexible start date of May 1st (however, clubs may begin play anywhere between April 24th and May 15th).

Defender Mark Segbers and midfielder Dan Metzger are the only two officially confirmed 901 FC players to be returning next season. Meanwhile, Ben Pirmann, who took over after the dismissal of Tim Mulqueen last year, still holds the title of interim head coach.

Stay tuned for more updates regarding player news and scheduling announcements.

See below for other USL Division alignments:

Eastern Conference                                                        Western Conference
Atlantic Division                                                              Mountain Division
Charleston Battery                                                            Austin Bold FC
Charlotte Independence                                                   Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Hartford Athletic                                                                El Paso Locomotive FC
Loudoun United FC                                                           New Mexico United
Miami FC                                                                          Real Monarchs SLC
New York Red Bulls II                                                       Rio Grande Valley FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC                                              San Antonio FC
Tampa Bay Rowdies

Central Division                                                                Pacific Division
Atlanta United 2                                                                  LA Galaxy II
Birmingham Legion FC                                                       Las Vegas Lights FC
FC Tulsa                                                                             Oakland Roots SC
Indy Eleven                                                                         Orange County SC
Louisville City FC                                                                Phoenix Rising FC
Memphis 901 FC                                                                Sacramento Republic FC
OKC Energy FC                                                                 San Diego Loyal SC
Sporting Kansas City II                                                       Tacoma Defiance

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Memphis 901 FC Transfer Tracker – Triston Hodge Heads to Colorado

CREDIT: Eric Glemser/ Memphis 901 FC

Keep up with the latest player movements in and out of Memphis 901 FC during the offseason.

The 2020 USL season may be over, but the soccer world never stops moving. In the offseason, teams are always looking to make key reinforcements to the squad, as well as move on fringe players.

What will the 901 FC squad look like come next season? We’ve seen plenty of departures thus far, as well as a couple of returnees, but there’s plenty of time for the organization to carefully target the players it wants to pick up. Check back to this list for updates on player movement both in and out of the club over the next few months.

Eric Glemser/ Memphis 901 FC

Defender Triston Hodge helped see 901 FC through some defensive rough patches last season.

Tuesday, January 26th Update:

Outgoing Players

Triston Hodge, DEF

Technically, Triston Hodge’s time at 901 FC came to an end when his two-season loan deal expired back in November, whereupon he returned to his parent club in Trinidad & Tobago. Yesterday, however, it was officially announced that Hodge would not return to AutoZone Park, and would instead be joining Colorado Springs Switchback FC for the 2021 USL season. Hodge made 10 appearances each in 2019 and 2020, and while he didn’t manage to lock down a spot full-time, he was a member of some of the most settled Memphis defensive lines last year.

Previous News

Returning Players

Mark Segbers, DEF

Some great news to start 2021, as 901 FC announced that fullback Mark Segbers would return to the squad for the upcoming season. For most of 2020, Segbers stood out with commanding performances on the right flank. His history as a winger saw him bomb upfield time and time again, meshing well with attackers and always providing a penetrative threat, either by getting to the endline for cutbacks or providing a goal threat himself. While he was left out of several matchday squads at the end of last season for an unspecified team rules violation (along with several other players), Segbers (one goal and two assists in ten appearances), this is a good piece of business by 901 FC. And as an added bonus, he’s been gaining top-level experience the past few months while on loan with MLS side LAFC.

Dan Metzger, MID

Alongside Segbers, 901 FC announced that midfielder Dan Metzger would be returning to the fold as well. Metzger has been with 901 FC since its inaugural season, playing 26 games and scoring one goal in 2019. Last season, however, saw his play time limited, with the player making only four appearances (one as a starter) for a total of 134 minutes.

Outgoing Players


Keanu Marsh-Brown, FWD

This one stings a bit for me, personally. Keanu Marsh-Brown, who moved to Gloucester City A.F.C. in England on a free transfer, was a livewire during his season with 901 FC last year, always being a willing runner, providing an outlet to teammates, and never afraid to take a crack from distance. He carried the offense through parts of the season before Cal Jennings started scoring for fun. But the true tragedy here is that Marsh-Brown’s mother would like my live-tweeting of 901 FC matches. There goes my audience.


Pierre da Silva, FWD



On Thursday, January 14th, fellow Eastern Conference organization Miami FC announced that Memphis’ Pierre da Silva would be joining its roster. The former Orlando City SC forward joined 901 FC in August 2019, and was a regular member of the starting squad in his first season, making 11 appearances (all starts) as a winger and scoring one goal. Last season, however, Da Silva only made four appearances for 901 FC.

Rece Buckmaster, DEF

The versatile fullback and Auburn native returned home this week, having been unveiled as an Indy Eleven player. He joins former 901 FC teammate Cal Jennings in Indiana. Buckmaster was a consistent presence in the 901 FC backline last season, making 14 appearances (all starts) for a total of 1,260 minutes played. While his defensive potential still had some room to grow, he locked down the left back spot, filled in at right back when needed, and even chipped in with a goal and an assist. His departure, coupled with Marc Burch’s retirement, leaves Memphis a little thin on the left side of its defense.

Cal Jennings, FWD

This is a tough pill to swallow; one of fans’ biggest fears in the offseason was that red-hot striker Cal Jennings would sign with a different club. Sure enough, USL Eastern Conference rival Indy Eleven this morning announced the acquisition of the UCF graduate. Jennings was 901 FC’s top scorer in 2020, picking up 9 goals in 14 appearances (over a third of the team’s total goals scored). At the tail end of the season, the rookie was unplayable, consistently getting into excellent scoring positions and making opposing defenders look like traffic cones. And in a memorable season closer, he netted a hat trick against Birmingham Legion. No sugarcoating it; this is a big loss for Memphis.

Liam Doyle, DEF

This one happened a bit earlier in the season, but we’ll include it anyway. The Manx central defender, initially signed in August 2019, was dealt to San Antonio FC this September. In his first season, he emerged as a defensive rock next to captain Marc Burch in the center of defense, but this year, his performances dipped and he eventually lost his place in the starting lineup.

Marc Burch, DEF

901 FC’s first-ever captain called time on a long career that included MLS Supporter’s Shield and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles with D.C. United. Burch arrived in Bluff City in January 2019, and quickly stepped into a leadership role both on and off the pitch. His qualities were evident in his defensive role, but his sweet left foot also chipped in with a few goals during Memphis’ inaugural season. He missed a good chunk of the 2020 USL championship through injury, but his presence will be missed.

Tommy McCabe, MID

The midfielder arrived as a mid-season acquisition on loan from MLS club Cincinnati FC. He slotted in well to the Memphis midfield, providing a physical presence and some good passing in his seven appearances. We ultimately didn’t get to see too much from the defensive midfielder, with the player returning to his parent club at the end of the USL season.

Eric Glemser

Captain Marc Burch announced his retirement at the end of the 2020 USL season.

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USL Announces 2021 Season Format, Opening Dates

CREDIT: USL Championship

USL Championship

Following a Board of Governors meeting, the United Soccer League (USL) announced that teams would begin the 2021 season on or about May 1st.

As opposed to the usual Eastern and Western conferences, the league will see teams split into four separate divisions. A 32-game slate will run for 27 weeks, with the season expected to conclude in October, followed by playoffs in November.

To account for any necessary flexibility, the Board has approved teams to begin play anywhere between April 24th and May 15th. Stay tuned for specifics on Memphis 901 FC, as further details will be forthcoming over the next few months, but may be subject to changes due to COVID-19. The full release can be read below:

The USL Championship announced on Thursday following the league’s Board of Governors meeting that the 2021 regular season will begin on or about May 1, see the teams split into four divisions, and will contain a 32-game slate running across 27 weeks through the end of October with playoffs scheduled for November.

In voting for a flexible start date, the Governors have approved for clubs to begin play anywhere between April 24th and May 15th. Further announcements on scheduling, divisional alignment, and playoff structure will be made in the coming months, and the league will continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 crises in the event that alterations to the format need to be made.

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901 FC Ends on a High Against Birmingham

CREDIT: Eric Glemser

That’s a wrap, folks, as one of the weirdest sporting seasons in memory came to a close for 901 FC. Despite not having much left to play for, an action-packed 90 minutes at AutoZone Park saw standout performances from the Memphis squad, including a certain red-hot striker. When the dust settled, 901 FC watched the curtain fall after dismantling Birmingham Legion 3-1.

And as early as the 10th minute, 901 FC was setting the tone for how the rest of the game would play out.

Eric Glemser

Striker Cal Jennings wheels away in celebration with midfielder Duane Muckette after scoring the opener in Memphis’ 3-1 win over Birmingham.

After a Birmingham turnover, the ball made its way to midfielder Jose Baxter, who quickly turned and played a ball over the top for Cal Jennings to chase. The striker’s left-footed shot stung the palms of Birmingham goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg, but the blueprint was clear: Jennings would have spaces to attack.

That same duo was heavily involved as Memphis took the lead on 36 minutes. Baxter danced his way around the top of the box before slipping in fullback Rece Buckmaster down the right, whose first-time cross was poked home by the outstretched toe of Jennings.

The Legion equalized shortly before halftime, Bruno Lapa having a second bite of the cherry after collecting his own shot’s rebound off the post and slotting it past Jimmy Hague. But after the break, normal service resumed. On 54 minutes, Keanu Marsh-Brown seized on a poor cross-field pass from JJ Williams and headed the ball into Jennings’ path. After a few deft touches, the attacker made no mistake and made it 2-1 to Memphis.

At this point, it seemed that every time the ball fell Jennings’ way, Memphis would score. Baxter duly obliged this school of thought again in the 86th minute, cleverly backheeling a pass in front of the goalscorer, who brushed off his marker as if it were nothing and buried the shot to complete his hat trick.

The whistle blew at 3-1 in Memphis’ favor, the team’s second win in a row, both by the same scoreline. At the heart of it all? Cal Jennings. The University of Central Florida grad has dispelled any notions about who should be starting up top for 901 FC next year, with a ludicrous eight goals in his last four matches (nine goals for the season in 14 appearances). Along with signing a new head coach, retaining Jennings should be top priority in the offseason.

Eric Glemser

Captain Marc Burch announced his retirement upon the conclusion of 901 FC’s season

Behind the attack, Memphis’ midfield looked impressive for the full 90. Tommy McCabe has been an astute acquisition on loan, while Baxter put himself at the heart of every good move. They rotated seamlessly alongside Duane Muckette; every time one played a pass, there would always be two other passing options, creating triangles all over the pitch and allowing for quick ball circulation. Most intriguing, however, was the return (in my opinion) of peak Muckette. At his best, the Trinidadian international is a constant outlet, capable of breaking pressure and playing penetrative passes. He looked a bit off-color for most of the year, but reminded us of the immense quality he possesses.

Focus now shifts to the offseason, where the organization will have to make some big decisions on player acquisition and retention, including figuring out how to replace retiring captain Marc Burch.

For some deeper musings on how this season unfolded, be sure to pick up next Wednesday’s issue of the Flyer.

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With One Match Remaining, 901 FC Looks Ahead

CREDIT: 901 FC

With year two coming to a close, 901 FC has the chance to set a positive tone for the offseason. Everyone saw the graphic plastered up on the ESPN feed during last weekend’s 3-1 away win vs. the Charlotte Independence: If Memphis had won all the games in which it had gone ahead in Group G, then the team would have easily topped the group. Instead, defensive inconsistency frequently saw the team drop valuable points in the race for a playoff berth.

901 FC

Cal Jennings proved too much for the Charlotte defense to handle during 901 FC’s 3-1 win.

Despite a frustrating campaign, the squad and interim coach Ben Pirmann began the healing process with last Saturday’s victory over Charlotte. A shaky early 20 minutes culminated in a soft concession to Charlotte’s Dane Kelly, but from there, 901 FC flipped a switch and put on about as comprehensive a performance as we’ve seen this season. Midfielder Jose Baxter picked up his first goal with a sublime curler from outside the box after great work from Keanu Marsh-Brown. Cal Jennings continued his hot run of form with menacing runs throughout the 90, constantly tormenting Charlotte’s backline and helping himself to two more goals.

The defense, meanwhile, kept a level of focus that we haven’t seen in quite some time. There were none of the risky mistakes that we’ve seen over the course of the season from both center backs and fullbacks, and constant communication kept Charlotte from finding swathes of space to exploit.

And yet, the narrative for the game could have been so much different. Memphis took to the field with only 14 players on their roster; several had been cut from the squad due to violating some unspecified team rules. That meant the team had zero margin for error when it came to substitutions and injuries. Additionally, 901 FC had no chance of qualifying for the playoffs, while Charlotte looked to snag first spot in Group G. And yet, what we saw out there in Charlotte was a collective buy-in that said the squad wouldn’t give up. It would have been easy to phone it in for the remaining couple of games, but there was urgency, precision, and fight.

As mentioned before, Jennings made it his personal mission to race toward the Charlotte defense and keep them off balance. Marsh-Brown could easily be spotted chasing the opposition into his own defensive half to recover the ball. Tommy McCabe and Leston Paul were totally locked in at the center of the pitch, spinning and playing quick vertical passes to unlock their opponents. And at the back, goalkeeper Jimmy Hague recovered from an early error to make several crucial stops and keep Charlotte off the board in the second half.

The season didn’t pan out as the organization wanted, but the staff and the players know that. It was a season of fine margins, but Pirmann and the squad know they can do better. “At the end of the day, we can say ‘we were this far away from this many games,’” said Pirmann at a press conference earlier this week. “I know they put the graphic up during the game about the what if, but hopefully there are no more what ifs. Hopefully we can look at it and say this is what we’ve done, this is where we want to maintain standards, and then keep going from there. Whether it’s life or its 901 FC, there are a lot of learning lessons.”

While there won’t be any playoffs after year two, the team has shown what it’s capable of achieving at its peak, and I think that ceiling is certainly that of a playoff team. For now, it’s clear that the players have bought in to what Pirmann is selling, and the best thing they can do is go out with a bang after a run of positive results.

901 FC closes out its season at AutoZone Park against Birmingham Legion tomorrow, October 3rd, at 7 p.m.