Club’s Resiliency Will Be On Display After Fall Pause Due to COVID-19

CHICAGO/SAN DIEGO (September 2, 2020) – Original National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) club member San Diego 1904 FC will be back on the schedule for the spring 2021 season after a COVID-19-induced pause in its operations this fall. The pandemic’s impact on the team’s financial operations led to 1904 FC’s decision to suspend operations in the short term to maintain its viability in the long term.

"We are really excited for 1904, their players, their fans and ourselves that they'll be on the pitch competing for a trophy in the spring,” says NISA Commissioner John Prutch. “Co-owners Demba Ba and Alex Gontran have created a club with a terrific vision and have developed a brand that is true to San Diego. It's unfortunate that the pandemic forced them to sit this fall, but we all knew it wouldn't keep them down for long."

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyone’s life and has had a significant financial impact on every organization imaginable. Playing behind closed doors created a significant financial burden to the club, and it needed to spend resources wisely.

“We can't wait to get back out there this spring to compete and continue the growth of the club; the passion is undeniable,” says owner and striker for both the Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir and the Senegal national team Ba. “We chose San Diego for a reason – the passion is undeniable. Nothing is worse for a player, fan or owner than not playing. We're competitors, that's why we play, and that's also why we created this club just over three years ago.

“The obstacles remind me of the start of my playing career,” he continues. “But you just keep working and things start opening up. There's a lot of great footballers, and the city is a football  (soccer) city."

While not competing this fall, the team is gearing up for the spring season by finding the best young local talent. Last season, 1904 was NISA’s youngest team with an average age of 22. The club also has a deep connection to the city as close to 70 percent of the players were from San Diego.

"This year has been hard for many clubs and organizations,” says owner and manager Gontran. “I can't wait to be back on the pitch and play for the city this spring. San Diego has so many talented players, and we can't wait to add even more local footballers to the club.”

Heading into the spring, 1904’s goal remains the same as it was Day 1: scout local players, give them an opportunity to sign their first pro contract, and develop them so that they can accomplish their dreams of playing in Europe.

“For the fans, I want to let you know that our trophy shelf is empty, but soon we will bring trophies to this city and club," he adds.

About 1904 FC

1904 FC is a professional football club based in San Diego founded in 2016. The club began play in September 2019 in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).

The ownership team includes current football professionals and other experts in the game. The mission of this club is to serve the United States footballer by developing them to compete at the greatest clubs in the world. The vision of the club is to be the premier program of professional football development in the United States.