The MPS Portland Phoenix have announced a partnership with Tampa Bay Rowdies, who compete in the newly formed North American Soccer League (NASL). To visit the Rowdies website, click here.
The basis of the partnership is for the GPS Portland Phoenix to foster talent for the Rowdies, and act as a feeder system to the NASL side. The partnership will also allow Rowdies to use Phoenix as an avenue to field non-first team players in competitive action and promising youth players of the future. Rowdies and the Phoenix coaching staffs will collaborate in an effort to align playing and training styles.
“We are excited to enter into an agreement which will benefit both the MPS Portland Phoenix and the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2010 and beyond,” said Maine Premier Soccer General Manager Paul Baber. “Both teams are entering a new chapter on the playing field and we firmly believe the relationship will help both the Phoenix and Rowdies achieve immediate success as clubs.”
“The relationship with MPS is important for Tampa Bay Rowdies and will be successful due to the similar mission and philosophy of both clubs,” said TBR Owner & President Andrew Nestor. “We have established an aligned vision for player development that will aid the Rowdies in identifying and developing future professional players.”
The Phoenix has first team status within the MPS organization, which previously fielded the Cape Cod Crusaders (Crusaders) PDL franchise. The Crusaders had a long and outstanding reputation of success after winning back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003.
The Crusaders also established itself as one of the leading clubs for moving players into the professional ranks in the U.S. and Europe. Highlighting the notable alumni list is US International goalkeeper Troy Perkins who played for the Crusaders for three seasons in the PDL and could be on the U.S. roster for the 2010 World Cup. Other former Crusaders standouts include Joseph Ngwenya (Antalyaspor, Turkey and former MLS Cup winner), Scott Palgutta (Colorado Rapids), Kurt Morsink (Kansas City Wizards) and Chris Joyce (Odd Grenland, Norway).
“As a PDL franchise, we have become a conveyor belt for players moving to professional teams both in the US and abroad,” said Baber. “We look forward to producing players who can become immediate impact players for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the future.”
For the TBR 2012 Game Schedule please visit http://rowdiessoccer.com/
For more information on TBR, please contact Megan Danner at megan@brockcomm.com or (813) 961-8388. For more information on the Phoenix, please contact Paul Baber at (207) 878-5780 or pbaber@mainepremiersoccer.com
