Club History

OUR HISTORY

Club History

The Westchester Flames Football Club has been a proud part of the Westchester soccer community since its inception in 1999. The club quickly established itself as a premier soccer organization, with the Westchester Flames Men's Team capturing its first PDL National Championship in 2001.

The club was founded by Ilija Jaksic of Serbian S.C., Gus Skoufis of Hermes S.C., and Kostas Marangoudakis of L.I. Stars S.C. The inaugural head coach was legendary former Yugoslav international player Vladislav “Boggie” Bogicevic, whose experience and leadership helped establish the foundation of the club’s competitive success.

In the 2000 season, the Men's Team finished third in the nation, continuing to build a reputation as one of the top programs in the country. In 2003, the Flames reached the PDL National Final, and that same year became the first team in USL history to win a championship, move to a higher division, and advance to the championship final in that new division.

In 2006, the Flames continued their national success by reaching the PDL National Semifinals in Loreto, Texas, where they narrowly fell 3–2.

Throughout the years, the Westchester Flames Men's Team featured numerous talented players who went on to compete at the highest levels of the sport, including former U.S. Men's National Team player Charlie Davies and many others who advanced to Major League Soccer (MLS) and professional clubs throughout Europe. Alumni include:

Chris Wingert – Columbus Crew
Jeff Mateo – Columbus Crew
Jordan Cila – Colorado Rapids
Andre Akpan – Colorado Rapids
Carlos Mendes – New York Red Bulls
Christian Camacho – América de Cali, Colombia
John Grande – Austria

This list represents only a portion of the many players whose development through the Flames helped them achieve success at the collegiate, professional, and international levels.

Youth Development and Player Pathway

In 2008, Westchester Flames relaunched its youth program with a renewed commitment to providing elite-level training, competitive opportunities, and long-term player development. In 2009, the program expanded into a year-round development model designed for players seeking a challenging environment where they could improve, compete, and prepare for the next level.

The Westchester Flames youth program is built for players who are committed to their development and possess the ambition, dedication, and vision required to continually improve and pursue excellence. Our program is designed for athletes who embrace hard work, competition, teamwork, and the pursuit of becoming the best version of themselves both on and off the field.

Today, the Flames offer competitive youth teams from U9 through U19, competing in top-level leagues and competitions, including the National 1 League, EDP, USL Academy, and USL Youth. Through professional coaching, high-level competition, and a proven player development pathway, Westchester Flames continues its tradition of preparing athletes for success at the collegiate, professional, and beyond.

USL Team History

USL Team Achievements

USL PDL Eastern Conference Champions – 2006
USL PDL Northeast Division Champions – 2006
USL Pro Select National Finalists
USL PDL National Champions – 2001
USL PDL Eastern Conference Champions – 2001
USL PDL Northeast Division Champions – 2001
USL PDL Regular Season Champions – 2000
USL PDL Eastern Conference Champions – 2000
USL PDL Northeast Division Champions – 2000

The Early Years: Building a Foundation (1999–2000)

In their inaugural season in 1999, the Westchester Flames Men's Team finished with a respectable 7–9 record under the leadership of former New York Cosmos superstar Vladislav “Bogie” Bogicevic. The team played its home matches at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, beginning a journey that would establish the Flames as one of the region’s most successful soccer organizations.

In the 2000 season, under the direction of Head Coach Anthony Roros, the Flames continued their rapid rise while competing in the Premier Development League (PDL). After capturing the Northeast Division Championship, the Flames advanced through the Eastern Conference playoffs, sweeping their conference opponents in Bradenton, Florida, to earn a place in the national semifinals.

The Flames finished the season ranked third in the nation with an impressive 15–3–0 overall record, scoring 47 goals while conceding only 20. Their championship-caliber season established Westchester as a national contender. Home matches were played at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York.

2001: PDL National Championship Season

In the first year at their permanent home, City Park Stadium in New Rochelle, New York, the Flames rewarded their supporters with one of the greatest accomplishments in club history—the 2001 USL PDL National Championship.

Led by General Manager and Head Coach Gus Skoufis, the Flames advanced through the playoffs, winning their quarterfinal match in Cocoa, Florida, before earning a spot in the national Final Four in Des Moines, Iowa.

In back-to-back championship weekend matches, the Flames delivered two outstanding performances, defeating the Sioux Falls Spitfire 5–1 in the semifinals and the highly regarded Calgary Storm 3–1 in the championship final to claim the national title.

Moving to the Professional Level (2002–2003)

Following their success in the PDL, the Flames accepted the opportunity to move into the professional division in 2002. The transition brought a new level of competition, and Head Coach Gus Skoufis, along with Assistant Coach Doug Choron, faced the challenge of building a team capable of competing against established professional clubs.

The Flames finished the season with a 7–10–3 record and narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs. However, the experience provided a valuable foundation for future success.

Determined to return to championship form, Coach Skoufis assembled a talented roster for the 2003 season, which resulted in another historic accomplishment—the 2003 National Finalist campaign.

The season featured intense competition within the Northern Division, with the Flames needing a victory in the final match of the regular season to secure a playoff position. After qualifying, the Flames defeated the New Hampshire Phantoms through aggregate scoring and advanced past the New Jersey Stallions via penalty kicks to reach the championship final.

In the final held in Wilmington, Delaware, the Flames took the lead in the 37th minute on a spectacular goal by leading scorer Evaud Thompson. The lead held until the 76th minute, when Wilmington equalized. After a hard-fought battle, the championship was decided in the first minute of the second overtime period, when Wilmington scored the winning goal.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Flames achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first team in USL history to win a championship, move to a higher division, and advance to the championship final in that higher division.

Continuing the Tradition of Excellence (2004–2006)

Entering the 2004 season, the Flames remained committed to maintaining their winning tradition. Several members of the 2001 championship team returned, along with key contributors from the 2003 finalist squad, creating a talented roster built on experience, continuity, and a commitment to excellence.

The Flames continued their success over the next several seasons, capturing additional division and conference championships while establishing themselves as one of the premier programs in the USL landscape.

Proclamtions

FROM FLAMES TO PROS

The Westchester Flames have a long and proud history of producing talented young players that go on to achieve success with professional soccer clubs in the United States and abroad. This is a list of some former Flames players who have gone on to play professionally.