 | |
| Sport | Soccer |
|---|---|
| Location | Rust Belt |
| Teams | |
| First meeting | 2012 |
| Latest meeting | 2021 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 7 |
| Most wins | Detroit City (6 titles) |
| All-time record |
|
The Rust Belt Derby was a soccer derby played between Detroit City FC, FC Buffalo, and AFC Cleveland in the National Premier Soccer League, the fourth tier of American soccer. The derby was named for the Rust Belt region of the United States. The RBD was created and sponsored by the supporter groups of the three clubs: The Situation Room (Buffalo), 6th City Syndicate (Cleveland), and the Northern Guard Supporters (Detroit).
The series was based on the results of games played between the three sides, much like the Cascadia Cup.[1] Cleveland won the inaugural Rust Belt Derby on June 23, 2012 following a 1–1 draw with Detroit City.[2]
AFC Cleveland folded following the 2017 season, and although Detroit City had been moved to a neighboring conference they continued the derby with a home-and-away series of friendlies against Buffalo, which saw Detroit win the trophy for the fourth consecutive time.[3] Between 2017 and 2019 the derby was dormant, though it was functionally revived for the 2020 NISA Independent Cup when it was announced that Detroit City, FC Buffalo, and Cleveland SC would be competing together in the Great Lakes Division.[4]
- ^ "The Rust Belt Derby by Daniel Casey - SoccerNewsday.com". www.soccernewsday.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-08.
- ^ "The Rust Belt Derby". Soccer News Day. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
- ^ "Detroit City FC beats Buffalo FC, wins Rust Belt Derby". Detroit News. June 6, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ^ "NISA INDEPENDENT CUP". NISA Homepage. Retrieved 1 July 2020.