Charle Davies Reflects On Attempt To Bring USL to New Hampshire

“I was on the verge of making that happen.”

In 2020, Charlie Davies joined an ownership group looking to bring a USL League One team to New Hampshire by 2022.

It was a dream moment for the former U.S. Men’s National Team striker, who grew up in Manchester. The Granite State still doesn’t have a professional soccer team five years later despite Davies’s extensive efforts.

Davies spoke about his experience during an interview with the Kickback Committee, saying, “I was on the verge of making that happen.”

“[USL League One officials] connected me to this individual who was, um, a fraud,” Davies recounted. “I was a little disappointed in the fact that USL didn’t vet that person the way that they should have, and I was thinking that they had.”

A source close to the league contends that Davies and the interested party connected on their own.

Regardless, Davies remembers speaking to executives at Nike about jerseys and equipment. He also connected with “some of the best designers in the country” to create a team identity.

He went as far as talking to potential club presidents, naming Eddie Pope, Cobi Jones, Oguchi Onyewu, and Brendan Burke.

“We’re talking about the structures, what’s needed for this to be a success,” Davies said. “Whatever I’m going to be involved in, I want to be the best in that space. I want to go for it.

“So to do all of that, just to be almost blindsided with misinformation or false information, it was disheartening.”

Davies said it was a “learning experience,” noting, “I learned a lot about what it takes to build a club, especially a professional club.”

He’s been approached about similar projects since then, but has been hesitant about jumping in without assurances, such as investors.

Still, Davies believes that New Hampshire is a perfect place to house a pro team, especially in Manchester.

Portland Hearts of Pine of USL League One are a case study for what it could look like. The club, currently in its inaugural season, has sold out all of its home games, creating an intimidating atmosphere of over 5,500 fans.

“I do think that New Hampshire deserves [a professional team],” Davies said. “I think the soccer community has grown tremendously in New Hampshire.”

A USL spokesperson issued the following statement regarding the past and present state of expansion to New Hampshire:

"The United Soccer League (USL) had a previous expansion agreement with an individual, which gave them exclusivity to explore the possibility of bringing professional soccer to New Hampshire. That agreement expired on January 31, 2021 after the group did not make the progress required to move forward. Franchise rights were never awarded and there is currently no expansion agreement in place for New Hampshire.”