MINOR LEAGUE SOCCER - DIVISION II

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Division 2 pro league set for 2010
U.S. Soccer will oversee two-conference league

Thursday, January 7, 2010

CHICAGO, IL -- The U.S. Soccer Federation, United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL) have come to an agreement on the formation and operation of a Division 2 professional soccer league for the 2010 season. Under the agreement, U.S. Soccer will oversee the league for the 2010 season, working with both the USL and NASL on the day-to-day league activities.

The agreement pertains only to the 2010 season, and during the next year U.S. Soccer will continue to work with USL and NASL to build a long-term solution for the future. U.S. Soccer will also be developing new standards to govern Division 2 professional league applicants to ensure the long term viability and sustainability of the leagues and teams.

“We are extremely pleased that we were able to come to a solution that ensures we will have Division 2 professional soccer in the United States in 2010,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “This agreement allows us to continue to develop the professional game in many important markets around the country, while at the same time working towards the long-term stability of Division 2 professional soccer. I’d like to thank the representatives from both the USL and NASL for the time spent during our negotiations, especially their efforts in the past seven days.”

The league will consist of two six-team conferences – the USL Conference and the NASL Conference.


Austin Aztex
Minnesota TBA
Portland Timbers
Puerto Rico Islanders
Rochester Rhinos
Tampa Bay Rowdies


AC St. Louis
Carolina RailHawks FC
Crystal Palace Baltimore
Miami FC
Montréal Impact
Vancouver Whitecaps

In the near future, U.S. Soccer will announce details of the new league, including league rules, a match schedule, television rights and other important operational issues.

Plans for second-division teams in Atlanta and New York were pushed back to at least 2011. Portland and Vancouver are slated to move up to Major League Soccer in 2011.

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NASL HOLDS INAUGURAL GENERAL MEETINGS
The North American Soccer League (NASL) held its inaugural annual general meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, last Thursday through Saturday. Representatives of the 11 member teams attended the meeting and made several key decisions following the announcement by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) last Thursday that teams from the NASL would play in a league administered by the USSF in for 2010 season.
The NASL's teams confirmed that they will work with the USSF and representatives of the three teams from the United Soccer Leagues which will be playing in the combined 2010 USSF Second Division League, to finalize the schedule for the season as soon as possible.

The members also unanimously approved a partnership with MRX, a leading full-service event and technology company in Canada, to build an online network for the NASL and its member teams. The league's website will be launched later this week in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention being held from January 13 to 17 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at which the NASL will have a booth.

Other decisions taken by the members included: (i) the establishment of several working committees of the Board of Governors, including the Executive, Finance, Expansion, Marketing, Broadcast and Competition Committees; (ii) the submission to the USSF of recommendations regarding competition-related matters for the 2010 season; and (iii) league executive staffing hires which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Miami FC President Aaron Davidson will serve on the Executive, Expansion and Marketing Committees of the NASL.

"We are happy that a settlement was reached with the support of the USSF which will ensure our teams play soccer and our fans see our teams this season. I look forward to serving on our NASL Committees to plan for this season and the future."

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USL heads to NSCAA Convention
League, team representatives gather in Philadelphia

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues will once again be in attendance at the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention which is being held in Philadelphia, PA January 13-17.

The NSCAA Convention is considered one of the pre-eminent gatherings in the soccer industry, featuring numerous coaching tutorials, a large tradeshow of sports professionals and a myriad of other high profile events

USL’s new long-term partnership with Umbro will kick off with an expanded exhibit at the convention that will be open during the tradeshow January 14-17. USL and its staff will be located in Umbro’s new 1,600 square foot exhibit throughout the event.

“We are looking forward to our new long-term relationship with USL, an organization with a tremendous presence and history in the sport, heading into the 2010 campaign this summer,” said Richard Nightingale, General Manager of Umbro USA. “We are thrilled to kick this partnership off by featuring USL as part of our newly-expanded Umbro booth for this year’s NSCAA Convention as both organizations begin the new year.”

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twitter.com/NASLofficial
www.nasl.com/

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CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE SIGN U17 YNT PLAYER



Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore have signed 18-year old Korey Veeder to a three-year contract. The former US U-17 National Team midfielder/defender will spend the next several weeks training in Baltimore before heading over to Crystal Palace in London. The St. Petersburg, Florida native will then train with the English Championship club prior to a loan move to a continental European club, which will allow him to obtain E.U. work status. A further announcement will be made once the loan move has been finalized.

www.naslnews.com/

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FC New York visits Togo Ambassador

NEW YORK -- Following the tragic terrorist shooting of the Togo National Soccer Team in Angola this week, FC New York President Doug Petersen and Vice President Jo-Ellen Treiber paid a formal visit to Togo’s Ambassador, Mr. Kodjo Menan, to offer their condolences and support. Togo was traveling to Angola to participate in the African Cup of Nations tournament when the attack occurred.

Ambassador Menen, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Togo to the United Nations, welcomed them to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in New York as they came to express their remorse during Togo’s official three days of national mourning.

Ambassador Menen stated that Togo’s assistant coach and team spokesman were killed, as was the Angolan bus driver. Eight were wounded, including a goalkeeper Kodjovi "Dodji" Obilale. Togo team captain Emmanuel Adebayor, who plays striker for Manchester City, told Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé they were lucky they survived the attack.

Togo is a nation of only six million people but the New York area claims over 3,000 residents from the nation according to the ambassador.

Ambassador Menen stated he was most pleased that F.C. New York acknowledged his country’s sorrow, saying, “We are a nation where soccer is our sport and it unifies our country.”

Speaking for F.C. New York, Petersen stated, “We share their pain. As New Yorkers we know the pain they feel. We wish to show our support on behalf of F.C. New York and all that love the sport of soccer in New York.”

Ambassador Menen invited F.C. New York to visit Togo and plans on making an introduction to the Fédération Togolaise de Football on their behalf. Mr. Menen also is facilitating assistance in Togo for F.C. New York’s philanthropic arm S.H.A.K.E. (Soccer Helping Achieve Kid’s Equality), which collects new and gently used soccer equipment and donates the equipment to schools, clubs and youth organizations all around the world.

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Minnesota to get new pro soccer team

BLAINE, Minn. (AP)—A new professional soccer team will begin play this April in Blaine, a Minneapolis suburb.

The National Sports Center announced the new team on Thursday. The team does not yet have a name, but it will replace the Minnesota Thunder, which played in the suburban soccer complex for years.

The new team will play in a professional soccer league made up of teams from the United Soccer League and the North American Soccer League. The league is considered a step below the top level Major League Soccer.

The Minnesota NASL team is a new team, so new that it's still trying to find its name! The National Sports Center Foundation, a non-profit organization that owns the new team, just launched a fan vote contest to help choose the new team name.
Here is a link to the naming contest: www.nscsports.org/pro_team_name_contest.asp

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By NICHOLAS MURRAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2010



The Tampa Bay Rowdies have announced their first official signing, New Zealand International midfielder Jeremy Christie.

Christie has won 20 caps for New Zealand, and played in five of his country's qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup. New Zealand will face Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia in the opening round of the tournament after qualifying for the first time since 1982.

"Jeremy Christie has the experience and skill to be a true leader on the field and in our locker room. He has played well at the highest level for his country since the age of 16," Rowdies team owner and president Andrew Nestor said in a press release. "Jeremy is the kind of player whose skill and professionalism will exemplify our club."

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FC TAMPA BAY ROWDIES ANNOUNCE STADIUM, PLAYERS AND PARTNERSHIPS



TAMPA, Fla. (January 27, 2010) – FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (FC Tampa Bay) announced today that the 2010 inaugural season will be played at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The announcement was made at a press conference in which team owner Andrew Nestor also released the names of players who have been signed to the 2010 roster and released ticket sales information.

FC Tampa Bay will begin the 2010 season in mid-April at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the 31-acre facility that is home to the New York Yankees spring training and the Tampa Yankees. The stadium soccer set-up and seat manifest will contain approximately 10,000 seats, including the Tampa Tribune Deck and luxury suites.

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Statement on Crystal Palace UK Administration

Baltimore MD - Everyone at Crystal Palace Baltimore is saddened to hear the news from Crystal Palace in the UK that the club has been placed in administration. For the sake of all the staff, players and fans, we hope for a speedy and positive resolution.

In response to concerns about how the UK club’s financial situation affects the Baltimore club, Crystal Palace President Pete Medd stated: "While the news out of London is not welcome news for Palace fans worldwide, we want to assure our supporters and the North American soccer community that this situation does not affect Crystal Palace Baltimore’s operation or finances. However, we are very close to the staff and ownership there, and we’re pulling for them to get a favorable resolution. Times are tough and Crystal Palace has been a great partner over the years and we really hope for a positive outcome."

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Traffic Football Signs USA Youth MNT Member Bryan Arguez


Sports Football Management and its local team Miami FC announced having coming to terms with American midfielder Bryan Arguez.

Arguez, who has represented the United States at all youth levels, joins Gale Agbossoumonde and Tony Taylor as the third member of the U.S. U-20 team that played in the last U-20 World Cup in Egypt to sign with Traffic.

Arguez will be sent on loan to Miami FC’s sister club in Portugal, Estoril-Praia, for the remainder of the 2010 Portuguese season.

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www.nscsports.org/sports/soccer/nsc_minnesota/index.htm

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www.uslsoccer.com/docs/USSF-DII-2010-Schedule.pdf

In conjunction with the release of the schedule the USSF has also unveiled details of the playoff format for this season. The 12-team league, consisting of two conferences of six teams, has adopted the following format:

•The first place team (based on total points, at the conclusion of the regular season) in the USL Conference and NASL Conference will become the top two seeds in the playoffs.

•The next six (6) best teams, based on total points, will round out the playoff field.

•The four teams with the fewest total points in the regular season are excluded from the playoffs.

•Playoffs will begin during the week starting Monday, October 4.

•Quarterfinals will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.

•Semifinal round will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.

•Championship will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.

•Exact dates for playoff games are TBD.

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Edmonton gets NASL team in 2011

Edmonton gets NASL team in 2011 FC Edmonton Announces Coaching Staff

EDMONTON, AB - Fath Sports Ltd. has joined the newly formed NASL as a founding member and will start play in the NASL in 2011. For the 2010 season, the NASL's nine teams, together with three teams (Austin Aztex, Portland Timbers and Puerto Rico Islanders) from the United Soccer Leagues, will play in a second division league established and administered by the United States Soccer Federation. In 2011, the NASL will be joined by FC Edmonton and a team in Atlanta. The NASL and its member teams are committed to building on their long tradition of providing a high level of soccer to fans across the United States and Canada in 2010 and beyond.

The Edmonton team is owned by Tom and Dave Fath of Fath Sports, a division of The Fath Group. Mel Kowalchuk is the General Manager of Fath Sports.
Tom, Dave and Mel were involved in the Edmonton Cup, the friendly between Everton and River Plate held at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on July 25th last summer.

www.nasl.com/news.php?id=46

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Timbers sign Haitian Marcelin
Former Islanders midfielder moves to the Northwest

Portland Timbers News Release - www.portlandtimbers.com

Thursday, February 11, 2010

PORTLAND, OR -- The Portland Timbers have signed Haitian National Team midfielder James Marcelin for the 2010 season, it was announced today pending USSF approval. Marcelin played the past two seasons with the Puerto Rico Islanders.

A native of St. Marc, Haiti, Marcelin returned to Haiti during the offseason and endured the recent earthquake that hit the country in January. He and his family escaped unharmed. Marcelin has arrived in Portland to begin preparation for the upcoming season.

“James is an experienced player and is starting to come into his own on the international stage,” said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager and head coach. “His development over the last few seasons is encouraging, and we feel he has tremendous potential.

“We are thankful that James and his family are safe after such a traumatic event, and we hope that we can make Portland feel like home.