On 18 September it was announced that a new club, Memphis FC, would join USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American game. Starting play in 2026, Memphis FC would represent a return of soccer to the Bluff City’s after the demise of Memphis 901 last year.
Recently, I spoke with the club’s Vice President and Co-owner, Clark Talley, about Memphis FC’s founding and its mission.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and your family’s connection to soccer in Memphis?
My family’s been rooted in Memphis for a long time. My brother, sister, and I all grew up playing soccer here. We each went on to play Division I—my brother at UNC Chapel Hill, me at the University of Memphis, and my sister at Appalachian State. Soccer’s always been a huge part of our lives.
Back in the mid to late ’90s, my parents were frustrated with the lack of quality facilities for youth soccer. Kids were traveling to tournaments and playing on fields that just weren’t up to par. So they decided to do something about it—they opened the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis, which includes a 2,500-seat stadium. My dad helped found it with other local business leaders, and he ran it until he passed away in 2002. Since then, my mom has taken the reins and kept it going strong. The complex has hosted countless tournaments and brought thousands of kids through its gates.
My brother [Carey Talley] played 13 years in MLS and won a championship with D.C. United in 1999. After he retired and I got married and started a family, we decided to get involved in youth soccer in Memphis. We’ve been coaching here for the past 15 years. It’s always been about giving back to the game and the community.
We’ve seen teams come and go. When Memphis 901 FC came into the USL Championship, it was exciting—they did a lot of good things. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out long-term, and they folded after six or seven years. That was disappointing because having pro soccer here was special. If you’re a soccer fan in Memphis and want to watch MLS, you’ve got to go to Nashville, St. Louis, Atlanta, or Dallas. Memphis sits in a region with a huge population that loves the game, but hasn’t had consistent access to it.
After 901 FC left, we started looking at the landscape—where Memphis could fit. We explored different leagues like USL League One and League Two. Given our deep ties to youth soccer here, USL 2 felt like the right next step. It’s where we can make the biggest impact.
Why did you choose USL over other options?
A big part of it was aligning ourselves with what USL is building. Their vision—especially around promotion and relegation—is exciting. While USL2 won’t be part of that right away, the overall stability and support they offer as an organization really stood out.
From top to bottom, the people at USL were incredible. When we met with them, we weren’t sure they’d even be interested in bringing a team back to Memphis. But they were enthusiastic—disappointed that Memphis didn’t have a team anymore, and genuinely excited about our ideas and our connection to the community.
Memphis is a tight-knit city. If you show up and invest in the community, they’ll wrap their arms around you. That’s what we’re trying to do—embed ourselves in the city and build something that people can rally around.
Are there lessons from Memphis 901’s time in the city that you want to take on?
Every situation—successful or not—offers something to learn from. We’ve looked not just at Memphis, but across USL 2 at what’s working in other cities.
Take Annapolis Blues or Vermont Green—they’re selling out stadiums at the USL2 level. Even McKinney Chupacabras in FC Dallas’ backyard are drawing crowds. It shows that people are willing to support local soccer if it’s done right.
In the U.S., we’ve had this challenge for a long time—how do you localize fandom? How do you give people a team they can support that feels like theirs? That’s what we’re trying to do here.
We’ve also looked at Little Rock Rangers, who are doing an exceptional job. Little Rock is similar to Memphis in terms of being in a kind of “no man’s land” when it comes to access to top-tier pro soccer. We reached out to them during our decision-making process and got great feedback. That helped make our choice easier.
From 901 FC, we’re taking what worked and building on it. We want to create an experience where people can come out, bring their families, and watch players fighting to reach the next level. That resonates with Memphis—it’s a city of fighters.
So what is the mission of Memphis FC?
Our goal is simple: we’d love to have a roster where every player has “Memphis, TN” next to their name. We’re not here to take over youth soccer—there are already great organizations doing that. We’re here to provide the next step.
Right now, a kid might play for a local club, then varsity in high school, then maybe at the University of Memphis. Richard Mulrooney runs the men’s program and does an outstanding job. Brooks Monaghan coaches the women’s team, and they’re ranked top 10 nationally—he’s been there over 24 years and built something incredible.
But after college, what’s next? That’s where we see USL2 coming in. We want to bridge that gap and give kids something to strive for. If they go off to college elsewhere, we want them to come back home and play for their city.
Have you heard from former 901 FC fans?
Yes, we’ve had people reaching out from across the region. There’s real excitement. The Memphis metro area needs something like this right now—something family-friendly, affordable, and entertaining. We’re hoping to provide that.
There’s still a long way until the season kicks off. What are you focused on right now?
Right now, we’re focused on building the staff. We’re in talks with a few people—not just for coaching, but also starting to shape the roster. We’re asking ourselves: what kind of team do we want to be? We want to play exciting soccer. We want to move the ball, attack, and give fans something fun to watch.
We’ve already brought on some staff behind the scenes while this venture was still in its early stages. Now we’re continuing to build as needs grow. I think the next big decision is finalizing the coaching staff. We’ve had people reaching out from all over the country, which is encouraging. Once we have that in place, we’ll start shaping the roster with their input.
My family’s full of entrepreneurs, so building something from scratch isn’t new to us. When my dad left his job to build the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, people thought it was crazy. Now it’s a beacon for soccer in the Mid-South. It’s exhilarating to be doing something like this again—early mornings, late nights, all while working a regular job. Carey and I have people we can lean on, and the response has been incredible.
We’ve heard from former 901 fans, people in the business community, and even strangers who just love the idea. They want to be part of it. It’s been amazing.
Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, Memphis FC helped create a soccer renaissance in this city. Without that foundation, none of this would be possible. Alongside my brother, we had guys like Richard Mulrooney (Creighton, national team), Ross Paule (Rapids, national team), Tony Kuhn (Chicago Fire, Vanderbilt), John Walker (MetroStars, clubs in Chile), and Cindy Parlow (multiple World Cups and Olympics)—all of them played youth soccer here. What we’re building now is a continuation of that legacy.
Do you hope to establish a women’s team in the future?
Absolutely. If Memphis supports this and there’s an appetite, we’d love to expand into the women’s side. We haven’t limited ourselves. The sky’s the limit. With the growing popularity of the women’s game—and the men’s World Cup coming next year—there’s so much enthusiasm. Why not?
So fans can expect home games to be played at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex?
Yes, we’ve agreed to play our games there. While our family has an ovious connection to the Complex, it’s still a separate venture, so it has to be treated that way, and we’re also working through negotiations for using its training facilities.
Mike Rose is a fantastic venue. 901 FC played Orlando City there in the U.S. Open Cup—it was awesome. The stadium sits in a bowl, which creates a great atmosphere. You can come early, grab food, enjoy a beer, and watch some exciting soccer. It’s a great place to be.
What are your long-term plans? Could USL League One be in the future?
Right now, our focus is on USL 2. What the future holds—I honestly don’t know. When we first started talking about this, people were already asking, “Why not USL 1?” Especially with promotion and relegation coming to USL in 2028, there’s a lot of excitement.
We’re not ruling anything out. If the community wants it and the club grows in that direction, we’ll explore it. But if the abbreviated season of USL 2 fits what Memphis wants, then that’s what we’ll continue to provide.
When can fans expect the team store to go live online?
Like with any new venture, there are hiccups. Things were going smoothly, but this is one area where we hit a snag. Merchandise should be available on the website very soon—we’re working out the final kinks. Hopefully within the next few weeks.
We’ll also be out in the community with merch for sale at events we’re attending. We’re getting messages every day—people asking when they can buy shirts, scarves, koozies. Sponsors are interested too. It’s coming, and we’re excited to get it out there.
Where do you want this club to be come the end of 2026?
It’s two-pronged: we want success on the field, and we want to give Memphis something to be proud of.
This city has so much pride—whether it’s the Grizzlies, the University of Memphis, or the music and culture. We want to be another jewel in that crown. Something affordable, entertaining, and inspiring.
We want kids in Memphis to look at our players and think, “Why not me?” If a 10-year-old starts kicking a ball against the wall every day because they saw Memphis FC play, that’s success. If we embed ourselves in the community, connect with families, and show kids that with hard work and the right choices, they can reach the next level—that’s what it’s all about.
My thanks to Clark and to Memphis FC for taking the time to speak with the Southeast Soccer Report. You can follow Memphis FC’s journey by visiting their website or following them on Facebook, Instagram, and X.