Real Central New Jersey

Real Central New Jersey is a soccer club from Trenton, New Jersey, United States, founded in 2020. The club's men's First Team competes in the Mid-Atlantic Division of USL League Two, and began playing in the 2021 season.[1] The women's team participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League.

Real Central New Jersey
Full nameReal Central New Jersey Soccer
Founded2020
StadiumMercer County Community College
FounderIra Jersey
Head CoachRobert Nydick
LeagueEastern Premier Soccer League
WebsiteClub website

The club marks the first soccer team to play in Mercer County since the Penn-Jersey Spirit of the now-disbanded American Professional Soccer League last played in 1991[2] and the New Jersey Wildcats which folded in 2012. Like the Spirit, RCNJ intended to play out of The College of New Jersey's Lions Stadium.[3] Although the club intends to play at TCNJ in the future, due to COVID-19 related issues, the club played its inaugural 2021 season at Mercer County Community College. It kicked off the season against in-state rivals the Ocean City Nor'easters,[4] losing 3–0.[5]

In it's inaugural campaign, Real Central NJ's WPSL team placed second in the Metropolitan Conference South. After besting MatchFit Academy in the semi-finals, the team lost to the NJ/NY Gotham FC Reserve team in the conference finals.[6]

The team's women's program's is coached by Brian Thomsen, the Technical Director of Next Level Soccer Academy in Pennington, NJ.[7] The men's first team inaugural coach was Patrick Snyder, former college and PDA Soccer staff coach. Following the 2021 season, retiring William Patterson men's head coach Brian Woods was named the clubs USL team top job.[8]

The RCNJ men's program also participates in the Delaware River Conference of the Eastern Premier Soccer League.[9]

Year-by-year
Year Level League Reg. Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
2021 3 Women's Premier Soccer League 2nd, Metro Conf. South Conf. Finalist
2021 4 USL League Two 7th, Mid Atlantic Div. Did not qualify Did not qualify
2021 5 Eastern Premier Soccer League 1st, Delaware River Conf

References
  1. "Expansion:2021 USL League Two". Soccer America. October 28, 2020.
  2. "Real Central Jersey Soccer club plans to return pre-professional teams to the Mercer County area". Central Jersey. June 13, 2020.
  3. "Real Central New Jersey Soccer Announced As Latest Addition to USL League Two". USL League Two. July 9, 2020.
  4. "USL 2 pro soccer club Real Central NJ sets schedule for inaugural campaign". NJ.com. March 12, 2021.
  5. https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/game/show/30583604?subseason=731558&referrer=6185708
  6. "NJ/NY GOTHAM RESERVES CLAIM METROPOLITAN SOUTH DIVISION TITLE IN INAUGURAL WPSL SEASON". www.wpslsoccer.com. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  7. Ryan, Jeremy (August 18, 2020). "BRIAN THOMSEN NAMED HEAD COACH OF NEW WOMEN'S PRE-PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM". Real Central NJ. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  8. Ryan, Jeremy (September 21, 2021). "BRIAN WOODS NAMED USL2 HEAD COACH". Real Central NJ. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  9. "Real Central NJ Soccer Becomes Founding Member of Delaware River Conference of Eastern Premier Soccer League". Eastern Premier Soccer League. August 30, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
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