Oakland Roots SC

Oakland Roots Sports Club is an American sports club based in Oakland, California who began play as a men's professional soccer team. The club was formed in 2018 by a group of Oakland natives and began play in the National Independent Soccer Association in the fall of 2019. In 2021, the club joined the second division USL Championship.
History.
The club was formed in July 2018 when it was announced the club would be known as Oakland Roots Sports Club. The club originally was slated to play in the NPSL Founders Cup, but the club ultimately withdrew and instead joined the National Independent Soccer Association a division 3 sanctioned United States Soccer Federation Professional League.
Oakland Roots began by signing 3 Oakland raised players in the Spring of 2019 in Devante Dubose, Julio Cervantes and Yohannes Harish. This was followed by the signing of a few higher profile players as the club built out its inaugural rosters. Those players included former MLS and Liga MX player Benji Joya, former Honduran World Cup veteran Victor Bernardez and former 1st round MLS Draft Pick Jack McInerney.
The Club announced its first head coach on May 9, 2019 when they signed Bay Area native, former MLS Player and Colorado Rapids Technical Director Paul Bravo.
National Independent Soccer Association.
The club opened up the inaugural 2019–20 NISA season as the league’s first game, at home in front of a sold out crowd of more than 4,500. Jack McInerney would score a first half perfect hat trick in a match that would eventually end up in a 3–3 draw.
Oakland Roots played 8 games in their inaugural season 6 in NISA and 2 friendlies vs Mexican opposition, FC Juarez and Club Atlético Zacatepec. The club picked up their first win at home vs Ascenso MX Club, Atlético Zacatepec by a score of 2–0.
Oakland Roots sold out all 4 home games of the 2019 fall season averaging 4,927 fans including a record 5,723 in their final home game of 2019 a 1–1 draw vs Los Angeles Force.
On October 31, 2019 Oakland Roots and Paul Bravo mutually agreed to part ways. On December 3, 2019 Oakland Roots announced Jordan Ferrell as the club's new head coach.
The Roots opened their second season at home once again in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,603. The match against Chattanooga FC would end in a 1–1 draw when Jack McInerney scored in the 93rd minute of the match after the Roots were forced to play down a man from a first-half Red Card. The Roots followed this up by winning their first-ever NISA League match the following weekend vs Michigan Stars FC 2–1.
On April 27, 2020, following a stoppage of play and subsequent extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NISA announced the cancellation of the 2020 Spring season.
In the abridged 2020 Fall regular season, Oakland finished first in the three team Western Conference with Matthew Fondy leading the team with two goals. The Roots finished atop its group in the NISA Fall Championship, and beat Chattanooga FC in the national semifinal, before falling to Detroit City FC, 2–1, in the final.
USL Championship.
On September 15, 2020, the team announced they would be moving from the third-division NISA to the second-division USL Championship.
Initially in 2017, the USL approved a bid from real estate developer Mark Hall to bring a soccer team to Concord, California instead of Oakland. The team, called USL East Bay, planned to play in a 15,000+ seat soccer-specific stadium complex before the development idea was scrapped in May 2020. The team's territorial rights were later sold to the Roots.
In November 2020, Oakland Roots announced the signing of Oakland born, Richmond, California raised midfielder Saalih Muhammad via a transfer from New Mexico United as the clubs first USL Championship player. This was followed by the early December signings of Oakland raised Max Ornstil and re-signings of Yohannes Harish and Tarn Weir, as well as many others.
In April 2021, Marshawn Lynch joined the Roots ownership group.
Stadium.
Roots home matches are played at Laney College Football Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium located near Lake Merritt. For Roots games the pitch is widened using a modular turf system. The Stadium has room for 3,500 seated and up to 5,500+ with standing room.
Club culture.
The Oakland Roots have been featured in pop culture in their history. Oakland Roots merchandise has been featured in two G-Eazy videos “West Coast” and "Bang". The Roots Origins shirt then appeared in Zion I "Flame Go" Video a few months later. As well Oakland born and raised Basketball player Damian Lillard wore Oakland Roots merchandise before an NBA game in the 2019 playoffs. Roots merchandise additionally was featured in FourFourTwo magazine in the April and August additions of 2019. The Club was also treated to a performance by Oakland Hip Hop artist Mistah F.A.B before their final home game of 2019. Oakland Roots were featured on Men in Blazers on November 25, 2019 when Roger Bennett wore the Roots Jersey on the show. Then that night Kevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors wore a Roots t-shirt on the bench during a regular season NBA game. Roots merchandise featured in Kehlani's video "All me" on February 13, 2020. Underground rappers Murs and The Grouch performed prior to the team's March 7, 2020 match against Michigan Stars FC.
The club works closely with the Oakland Community and points to this as the reason they exist.
The club's two mottos are “Oakland First, Always” and “Know Your Roots."
Purpose Partners.
The Club list four Purpose Partners; Soccer Without Borders Oakland, Street Soccer USA in Oakland, My Yute Soccer Camps, and Chapter 510, a made in Oakland writing center.
Common Goal.
Oakland Roots Sports Club joined the Common Goal movement on June 30, 2020, as the first soccer club in the United States to do so. The team pledged to donate one percent of the team's payroll and one percent of all future ticket revenue to help address social inequality.
Roots Justice Fund.
The Oakland Roots Justice Fund is a charitable fund created by Oakland Roots Sports Club to support racial and gender justice. The Fund will support new and existing initiatives by the Roots and community partners in service of the Purpose of Oakland Roots – to harness the magic of Oakland the beautiful game of soccer as a tool for social good. The Fund was established thanks to donations by the Roots investor group.
Supporters.
The Supporters Group is known as the “Roots Radicals” in reference to a song by 90’s East Bay Punk Rock band Rancid.
Project 51O.
Oakland Roots reserve team, "Project 51O", was launched on December 9, 2019. Originally set to compete in the National Premier Soccer League for the 2020 season, the team only played one match, a win over Napa Valley 1839 FC, before the season was halted and eventually cancelled due to COVID-19.
On September 17, 2020, the team announced it would compete in USL League Two beginning with the 2021 season.
Honors.
Domestic.
National Independent Soccer Association