ABOUT US

Mission, vision & story

Our Mission

Our mission is to play our role in the US Soccer development pyramid by always putting the player first, to ensure each and every player gets to play at their level to enhance their opportunity to develop, even if that means sending them to another program.

We strive to think differently and to consistently improve our program, ensuring we play our part in the player development pathway set out by US Soccer.

Our Vision

Our vision is to have long term player development at the forefront of everything we do.

To this end, our goal is to have 75% of our Performance Phase players (U16-U19), to have been with the club at some point in the Foundation Phase U9-U12.

Furthermore, we want to continue to have our First Teams comprised of 50% homegrown players year-over-year.

We're the first club in Pittsburgh to offer a full development pathway.

With two established histories in the Pittsburgh soccer community as Pittsburgh Hotspurs SC and Arsenal FC of Pittsburgh, we came together as Steel City FC and continue to be leaders who push the game forward in the Pittsburgh area.

Our collaboration, which began in 2021, marked the start of a stronger, unified path—one that gives players from youth through adult an arena in which to showcase their skills at the highest levels in their own community.

We believe in teaching and playing a sustainable, attractive style of soccer.

Our approach fosters good long-term habits from an early age and yields consistent results in latter years.

We empower players to express themselves by encouraging positive attacking play, providing tools for defensive solidity and instilling a comfortability with team tactical concepts.

We always strive to think outside the box and our goal is to constantly evolve and to drive the game forward locally.

East

Dan McCarty
NSCAA Premier
Site Director
Foundation & Youth Dev.

Chris Fawcett
USSF Grassroots, 7v7

Foundation Phase

Chris Zozula
USSF Grassroots, 7v7

Foundation Phase

Dan Mapes
USSF E

Foundation Phase

Dave Johnston
USSF Grassroots

Foundation Phase

Eric McKeever
USSF 7v7

Foundation Phase

Ethan Haught

Youth Dev. Phase

John Salton
USSF 11v11, GK1

Youth Dev. Phase

Jonathan "JJ" Hartin
USSF 11v11

Foundation Phase

Justin Wilson
USSF 11v11

Foundation Phase

Marissa Salisbury
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Matt Andrade
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Rusty Stammer
USSF 11v11

Foundation Phase

Sterling Flunder
USSF B

Foundation Phase

Harmar

Tom Ovenden
UEFA B
Girls Phase Leader
Performance Phase

Peter Mulhern
USSF C
Phase Leader
Foundation Phase

Dan 'Beechy' Beecham
USSF C
Regional Director
Youth Dev. Phase

Tom Campbell
UEFA B
Regional Director
Youth Dev. Phase

Scott Arnold
USSF C
Phase Leader
Youth Development Phase

Garret Watson
USSF D
Perf. Phase Coordinator
Girls Performance Phase

Ben Kost
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Hannah McKay
USSF Grassroots

Foundation Phase

Jonathan Hartz
USSF Grassroots

Foundation Phase

Justin Mikulandrich
USSF F & 7v7

Foundation Phase

Kaylin Greiser
USSF Grassroots

Foundation Phase

Lindsey Pazdziorko

Foundation Phase

Lucy Interthal

Foundation Phase

Marikaye DeTemple
USSF C

Foundation Phase

Mario Liberati
USSF Grassroots

Foundation Phase

Marissa Salisbury
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Matt Ambrose
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Nicky Kolarac

Foundation Phase

Tom Clubley
FA Level 2

Foundation Phase

Metro (City)

Jonathan Velotta
USSF A
Boys Phase Leader
Performance, Youth Dev.

Ed Ellsworth
USSF A
Phase Leader
Foundation Phase

Nicole Krueger
USSF C
Girls Phase Leader
Youth Dev. Phase

Brian Rossetti
USSF Grassroots
Girls Phase Leader
Foundation Phase

Brad Walker
USSF C

Foundation Phase

Chase Brooks

Foundation Phase

Chris Ebbert
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Dante Ohm
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Greg Bevington
USSF 11v11

Foundation Phase

Jake Jashinski

Youth Dev. Phase

Keith Morse
USSF F

Foundation Phase

Leigha DiCaprio
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Mary Double
USSF Grassroots

Foundation Phase

Mike Gardner
USSF A

Youth Dev. Phase

Mike Sapsara
USSF B

Foundation Phase

Rami Bensasi
USSF C

Foundation Phase

Ryan Brode
USSF D

Foundation Phase

Steve Rerick
USSF C
Goalkeeper Coach
Performance Phase

North

Troy Mohney

Site Director
Foundation Phase

Blake McChesney
USSF D
Phase Leader
Foundation Phase

Jeff Schnur
NSCAA Adv. National
Phase Leader
Foundation Phase

Malcolm Cook
USSF D
Phase Leader
Performance Phase

Bill Burtner
USC Adv. National

GKs, Youth Dev., Perf.

Blair Gantz
NSCAA Premier
Classic Director
Performance Phase

Chuck Kelly
USSF A

Youth Development Phase

Cody Postupac
USSF D

Youth Development Phase

Colin Leyland
USSF D

Foundation, Youth Dev.

Jenna Krouse
USSF 11v11 & GK

Youth Dev.

Joe Perhacs
USSF Grassroots

Youth Dev. Phase

Ryan Stevenson
USSF 9v9

Foundation Phase

Performance

Jonathan Velotta
USSF A
Boys Phase Leader
Performance, Youth Dev.

Tom Ovenden
UEFA B
Girls Phase Leader
Performance Phase

Dan Yates
UEFA B
Perf. Phase Coordinator
Boys Performance Phase

Garret Watson
USSF D
Perf. Phase Coordinator
Girls Performance Phase

Blair Gantz
NSCAA Premier
Classic Director
Performance Phase

Ben Fiore
NFHS Coaching Principles

Performance Phase

Chris Moraga
USSF C

Performance Phase

Dan Brower
USSF A

Performance Phase

Dan Digirolamo
USSF D

Performance Phase

Daniel Espinel
USSF Grassroots

Performance Phase

Greg Pittman
USSF D

Performance Phase

James Faint
UEFA B

Performance Phase

Jonny Heider

Performance Phase

Luke Mesing
USSF D

College Prep Phase

Mark Duffield
UEFA B
Goalkeeper Coach
College Prep Phase

Mark Taylor
USSF B

Performance Phase

Raf Kolankowski
USSF D

College Prep Phase

Steve Rerick
USSF C
Goalkeeper Coach
Performance Phase

Yon Struble
USSF A

Performance Phase

Vicenzo Lo Coco
USSF D

College Prep Phase

Our Club's Journey

1980s - Hotspurs SC founded

One of the founding clubs of PA West Classic League. Formed 1 team per year under Leo Moss, often winning State titles.

1990s - Arsenal roots established

Beaver Valley and Pine Richland clubs aligned in 1997 to enter PA West's Classic division. Ed Ellsworth led the girls teams.

1990s - Hotspurs launches girls teams

Hotspurs, under Dan Grant & Ron Hitchens, welcomed like-minded teams while still functioning independently.

2001 - Arsenal FC formerly founded

Club launched with 5 boys teams, 3 girls teams. Established board of directors. Dan Brower & Mark Taylor join club.

2002 - Hotspurs expands to 6 teams

The club now spanned multiple age groups. Two teams earned recognition as National Indoor Champions.

2007 - Named 'Center of Excellence'

Was part of PA West’s U11 and younger ‘Centers of Excellence’ along with North United, Beadling, Penns Forest.

2008 - Advocates for change in PA West

Ed Ellsworth and Dan Brower approached PA West to propose multiple teams per age group at the Classic Level.

2011 - Mark Taylor named Club President

A statement moment in State Cup: every boys team making semifinals, including 5 finalists and 3 champions.

2014 - Arsenal adopts phase model

Embraced player-centered development approach; specialized coaches across ages. Jonathan Velotta joins.

2015 - Tommo Ovenden joins Hotspurs

Coach Tommo brought a vision to grow the club and established a dedicated long-term player development model.

2019 - Men's First Team launched

When an opportunity arrived to represent Pittsburgh in the NPSL, the club launched the Men’s FIrst Team.

2020 - Men's First Team wins first trophy

During the pandemic, the Men’s FIrst Team won the NPSL Member’s Cup, a 4–team regional tournament.

2021 - Steel City FC formerly founded

Arsenal and Hotspurs began to unify both clubs. Hotspurs SC launched its Women’s First Team.

2023 - Steel City Men win NPSL Conference

Men’s Team reach NPSL Regional Finals. Women’s Team makes first playoff appearance in the UWS.

2024 - Steel City Makes 1st Open Cup Appearance

Men's Team qualifies for Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, falling to professional team Michigan Stars.

2025 - Steel City Joins USL

Men’s and Women's First Teams join USL League Two and USL W League.