Charleston Battery 1993-Present

Charleston Battery CEO Tony Bakker was instrumental in leading a group of local investors and soccer enthusiasts to create the Charleston Battery in 1993. Bakker is the majority shareholder in the group, which privately financed the building of Blackbaud Stadium, the Battery's 5,100-seat soccer-specific facility that opened in April of 1999. Bakker was brought together with the other investors in the club by current Colorado Rapids Head Coach Tim Hankinson. A native of London, England, Bakker has been involved at all levels of soccer, both in the UK and the US. He played at the University of Southampton and the University of Houston and is still playing in local indoor and outdoor leagues today. He has coached at the James Island Youth Soccer Club for many years and has financially supported youth, high school and college teams in the area. Bakker recently retired as the President of Blackbaud, Inc., a software company he founded in 1982.