The Mariners

The Virgina Beach Mariners was a professional soccer club based in Virginia Beach, Virginia in the United States. The Mariners played in the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1). The club was founded in 1994 and dissolved in 2007.

During their initial year, this soccer club was known as the Hampton Roads Hurricanes but they soon changed their name to Hampton Roads Mariners. For the 2003 season, the name was changed again, this time from Hampton Roads Mariners to the more widely recognizable Virginia Beach Mariners.

From 1999 to the dissolving of the team, the Mariners had the Virginia Beach Sportplex as their home arena.

Results

Year	League	Reg. Season	Playoffs	Open Cup
1994	USISL	5th, Atlantic	Divisional Semifinals	Did not enter
1995	USISL Pro League	5th, Atlantic	Divisional Semifinals	Did not qualify
1996	USISL Select League	3rd, South Atlantic	Select Six	Did not qualify
1997	On hiatus
1998	USISL A-League	3rd, Atlantic	Conference Quarterfinals	3rd Round
1999	USL A-League	6th, Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2000	USL A-League	4th, Atlantic	Conference Quarterfinals	3rd Round
2001	On hiatus
2002	USL A-League	5th, Southeast	Did not qualify	3rd Round
2003	USL A-League	2nd, Southeast	Division Finals	4th Round
2004	USL A-League	6th, Eastern	Did not qualify	3rd Round
2005	USL First Division	11th	Did not qualify	2nd Round
2006	USL First Division	9th	Did not qualify	3rd Round

Examples of famous players who have been Mariners

Jon Busch (1998–2000) as Hampton Roads Mariners

Darin Lewis (2002)
Darren Warham (2002)
Mike Kirmse (2004)
Darren Caskey (2005–06)

Shane McFaul (2006)

Tier

The Mariners played in the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1), which the second tier of U.S. soccer. The USL-1 is just one step below Major League Soccer which is the first tier of U.S. soccer. Unlike many other second-tier soccer clubs, the Mariners did not have a first-tier parent club to support them and help them out financially.