Get to know Hibs' new strategic partners: Just who are Charleston Battery?

Hibs have announced a new strategic partnership with USL side Charleston Battery. But just who are the South Carolina side?

Former Rangers starlet Robbie Crawford is in Scotland to train with Hibs as part of his current club Charleston Battery's new link-up with the Leith side. Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group

Charleston Battery are the oldest continuously run professional soccer club in the United States. Founded in 1993, the Battery are no stranger to success, with four league championships and regular appearances in the postseason.

Last season

This was the club's 28th year of existence and their 17th season in the second tier of the United States Soccer Pyramid. It was their tenth season in the United Soccer League Championship as part of the Eastern Conference. Play was suspended in March due to the Covid pandemic. It resumed in July and Battery finished second in their group, behind Tampa Bay Rowdies. Both teams progressed to the Championship play-offs and although Battery made it past Charlotte Independence, they met the Rowdies in the semi-finals and lost out 1-0.

Home ground

From 1999 to 2019, the club played their home games on Daniel Island, Charleston, South Carolina. They played their last match there in October last year and they faced an uncertain future. However, they moved to their new home at the picturesque Patriots Point, in the suburban Mount Pleasant area of Charleston County, playing the first fixture there in February of this year.

Strip

The team plays in black and yellow. The traditional colour of the away strip is red.

Fans

Charleston Battery’s fans are collectively known as The Regiment. The average crowd for season 2019 (numbers are distorted by Covid restrictions in 2020) was 2424. The highest was just shy of 4,000, for a match against Ottawa.

Former players

Terry Phelan, the Ireland 1994 World Cup player, spent four years with Charleston Battery from 2001-2005. The former defender, who earned his reputation playing for the likes of Leeds United, Wimbledon, Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton, moved to the States and made 39 appearances for the club. He also coached some of the younger players.

There are also Scottish links with the Charleston side. Former Dundee and Ross County defender turned Trinidad and Tobago politician Brent Sancho spent time at the Battery before moving to the UK, making 20 appearances and scoring one goal during the 2000 season.

National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Eric Wynalda represented USA at three World Cups and scored 34 goals in 106 appearances for his country. He signed for the Battery in 2002, but tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a pre-season match and chose to retire from the professional game. He now works as a sports analyst and commentator.

Players who will be training with Hibs

The first players to pitch up for training at East Mains include the 2020 MVP Leland Archer.

The 6’4” defender has something in common with Hibs’ fan favorite Russell Latapy, hailing from the mercurial midfielder’s home city, Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 24 year-old played four years of college football in Charleston before turning professional in 2017. He joined the Battery a year later and has made 46 appearances.

He is joined by former Rangers youth graduate Robbie Crawford. The 27-year-old midfielder joined the Charleston side for the 2020 season and has made 15 appearances. He has previously played for Raith Rovers, Morton and Alloa, as well as the Ibrox side.

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