Chelsea wins EPL race, United takes second. Chelsea only needed a tie to win its fourth English League title and as it turned out a sixth minute goal by Nicholas Anelka was all Chelsea needed as they cruised to an 8-0 win over Wigan. United, 4-0 winners over Stoke, could only watch their hopes dim as Chelsea scored goal after goal on the season’s final week. Chelsea will try to win another trophy this week as it takes on recently relegated Portsmouth in the FA Cup final this Saturday. The game will be on Fox Soccer Channel at 9 am.

Manchester United Selected to play MLS ALL-STARS. Major League Soccer announced last week that English giants Manchester United will be playing this year’s MLS All-Star team in the annual MLS All-Star game on July 28th at the 70,000 capacity Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. This will be the Manchester-based club’s first MLS All-Star game appearance and the fifth English side to face off against the league All-Star’s. Tickets for the game will go on sale to the public on May 30th. Stay tuned for more information on how you can join the Crocketteers at this game.

Dynamo continue their dominance over Chivas USA. The Houston Dynamo came away with their 11th straight victory over Chivas USA last Saturday with a 2-0 win at the Home Depot Center. Brad Davis scored a goal and set up Adrian Serioux for the second in the first 8 minutes as the Dynamo won their first game on the road. The Dynamo currently sit in second place of the Western Conference behind the LA Galaxy. The Dynamo played without forward Brian Ching, who is still nursing an injury.

FC Dallas wins second game in row. Jeff Cunningham scores in the 68th minute to give Dallas its second win of the season at the expense of hapless DC United. United (1-6-0) was shut out for the fifth time this season. Cunningham’s goal was his fourth in just six games. For the second straight game Kevin Hartman started at goal over Dario Sala. Has Hartman taken over the starting goalkeeper job?

Seattle Sounders to pay back fans after loss to the LA Galaxy. Upon losing 4-0 last weekend, GM Adrian Hanauer made the following statement, “ I’ve been on the phone with Joe Roth and Tod Leiweke this morning, and Gary Wright, and some of the people that I run the business with. And that performance last night wasn’t good enough. The effort wasn’t good enough. The execution wasn’t good enough. The heart wasn’t good enough. The passion wasn’t good enough. The only thing that was good enough was our fans. So we decided that we’re going to give our fans their money back for that game. Our season ticket holders. The people who were with us from the beginning, and will be with us in the future. We’re in this for the long haul. We need them to be in it for the long haul. That wasn’t Sounders soccer. And it was quite frankly embarrassing, humiliating, and they don’t deserve that. It’ll come in the form of credit against next year’s season tickets because we want people in for the long haul. It just wasn’t good enough. It’s not a precedent. We don’t plan on giving people money back every time we have a bad game. But as the owners of the club, we reserve the right to do whatever we think we need to do to treat our fans the way they’ve treated us.” Anyone ever hear any other American team do something like this?

Austin Aztex tie on the Road in Tampa. In the first ever USSF D-2 Pro League game at George M. Steinbrenner Field over 8,000 fans packed the converted baseball complex in Tampa Bay last Saturday. Austin was able to come away with a 2-2 draw in a game that saw 3 penalty kicks. The tie sent the Aztex to 10 points and tied for second in the USL conference. The Aztex are off to a fantastic start this season.
The next home game for the Aztex is this Sunday, May 16th. Game time is 6:00 pm. Tickets for the Crystal Palace Baltimore match on May 16, as well as season tickets are available now. All season tickets are flex tickets and can be used in any combination for any regular season game. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.austinaztex.com or call 512-335-8881.

Houston Dynamo to play in Corpus Christi. The Houston Dynamo will play an exhibition match vs the Laredo Heat on Thursday, June 10, 2010 in Corpus Christi, Texas at Whataburger field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks baseball team. If you would like to purchase tickets to sit with the Crocketteers please go to our website and purchase your ticket no later than this Friday, May 14, 2010 by 12 noon.
http://www.crocketteers.com/2010/03/30/dynamo-to-play-in-ryan-sanders-shootout-corpus-christi/

US Soccer Names its preliminary 30 man roster for the World Cup. U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley has submitted to FIFA the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. From this list, a squad of 23 players must be chosen by June 1 for the final roster that will travel to South Africa. The 30 players will begin reporting to Princeton, N.J., on May 15 for the start of training camp, with field sessions beginning two days later. Story and roster courtesy of US Soccer.
PRE-WORLD CUP TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

U.S. TRAINING CAMP ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton)
DEFENDERS (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS (12): DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Torres (Pachuca)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)

Soccer on TV. Courtesy of Soccer America. Http://www.socceramerica.com
TUESDAY, May 11

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores CHIVAS GUADALAJARA-LIBERTAD (live) 8 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England League Championship Promotion Playoff NOTTINGHAM FOREST-BLACKPOOL (live) 1:30 pm.

WEDNESDAY, May 12

DIRECTV (461)
Europa League Final, ATLETICO MADRID-FULHAM (live) 1:45 pm

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores FLAMENGO-U DE CHILE (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores CRUZEIRO-SAO PAULO (live) 7:30 pm.

GOL TV
Uruguay PENAROL-NACIONAL (live) 6:30 pm.

THURSDAY, May 13

ESPN2
MLS REAL SALT LAKE-HOUSTON DYNAMO (live) 8 pm.

ESPN DEPORTES
MLS REAL SALT LAKE-HOUSTON DYNAMO (live) 8 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores INTERNACIONAL-ESTUDIANTES (live) 7 pm.

GOL TV
Europa League ATL. MADIRD-FULHAM (delay) 7 pm.

TELEMUNDO
Friendly MEXICO-ANGOLA (live) 8 pm.

FRIDAY, May 14
no live games

SATURDAY, May 15

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
FA Cup Final CHELSEA-PORTSMOUTH (live) 9 am.
MLS KANSAS CITY-CHICAGO (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
FA Cup Final CHELSEA-PORTSMOUTH (live) 9 am.
MLS KANSAS CITY-CHICAGO (delay) 11:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England League One Promotion Playoff tba (live) 6 am.
England League Two Promotion Playoff tba (live) 12 pm.
FA Cup Final CHELSEA-PORTSMOUTH (delay) 2 pm.

TELEFUTURA
MLS PHILADELPHIA-DALLAS (live) 3 pm.

MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS NEW ENGLAND-SAN JOSE (live) 5 pm.
MLS NEW YORK-SEATTLE (live) 6:30 pm.
MLS LOS ANGELES-TORONTO (live) 9:30 pm.

SUNDAY, May 16

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
Italy TBA (live) 8 am.
Italy TBA (delay) 10 am.
Italy TBA (delay) 1 pm.
WPS ATLANTA BEAT-WASHINGTON FREEDOM (live) 5 pm.
Argentina TBA (delay) 10 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Italy SIENA-INTER MILAN (live) 8 am.
Italy CHIEVO-ROMA (delay) 1:30 pm.
Argentina TBA (delay) 4 pm.
Italy AC MILAN-JUVENTUS (delay) 7 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
Italy TBA (live) 8 am.
Italy TBA (delay) 1 pm.
Argentina TBA (delay) 6 pm.

EPL Race remains tight. Chelsea climbed back to the top of the Premier League as Salomon Kalou’s hat-trick lead a 7-0 win over Stoke on Sunday which sent the Blues one point clear of Manchester United. The big test comes this Sunday at Liverpool. A win against 7th place Liverpool will only leave a home game next week against 16th place Wigan. Manchester United, one point behind league leader Chelsea, plays at Sunderland and finishes at home the following week against Stoke.

Dynamo fall on road to Fire. Lose Geoff Cameron for the season. Baggio Husidic scored in first half stoppage time, and Peter Lowry added one in the second half as the Chicago Fire defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0 at Toyota Park on Saturday night. Already beset by injuries, the Houston Dynamo got an extra dose of bad news on Monday when midfielder Geoff Cameron was diagnosed with a ruptured right PCL suffered in Saturday’s game against Chicago. Cameron will undergo surgery later this week and will miss the remainder of the season. The Dynamo will host Kanas City Wizards at home this Saturday.

FC Dallas earns 2-2 draw with the Seattle Sounders on questionable penalty. FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham scores two penalty kicks, one the 27th minute and one in stoppage-time, The second spotkick came in the 94th minute, after rookie sub Jason Yeisley tried splitting two Seattle’s center backs in the box. The two defenders collapsed on the young striker and he tumbled over causing referee Terry Vaughn to point to the spot. The Sounders got goals Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero, who blasted in a stunning 41-yard freekick. FC Dallas plays DC United in the US Open Cup on Wednesday and travels to New England to take on the Revolution on Saturday.

Rhinos Derail Aztex. A furious first half of action left the Austin Aztex and Rochester Rhinos knotted at one goal a piece on Sunday at House Park, but a goal in the 65th minute by the Rhinos Anthony Hamilton gave Rochester a 2-1 win.

Austin stays home for one more exhibition match on Wednesday before heading on a two-game road trip to NSC Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Wednesday’s match is against the Haitian National Team and is free to all fans. All proceeds from the match will go to benefit the earthquake relief effort.

Tickets for the Crystal Palace Baltimore match on May 16, as well as season tickets are available now. All season tickets are flex tickets and can be used in any combination for any regular season game. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.austinaztex.com, call 512-335-8881.

Soccer on TV. Courtesy of Soccer America. Http://www.socceramerica.com
WEDNESDAY, April 28

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Concacaf Champions League PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 7 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores UNIVERSITARIO-SAO PAULO (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores FLAMENGO-CORINTHIANS (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (delay) 4 pm.

TELEFUTURA
Concacaf Champions League PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 7 pm.

THURSDAY, April 29

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores BANFIELD-INTERNACIONAL (delay) 1:30 am.
Copa Libertadores CRUZEIRO-NACIONAL (live) 5 pm.
Copa Libertadores ALIANZA LIMA-U DE CHILE (live) 7 pm.
Copa Libertadores ONCE CALDAS-LIBERTAD (live) 9:30 pm.

GOL TV
Europa League LIVERPOOL-ATL. MADRID (live) 2 pm.
Europa League FULHAM-HAMBURG (delay) 7 pm.

FRIDAY, April 30
tba

SATURDAY, May 1

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England MANCHESTER CITY-ASTON VILLA (live) 9 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 11 am.
Italy AC MILAN-FIORENTINA (live) 1:30 pm.
WPS SKY BLUE-GOLD PRIDE (live) 5 pm.
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
England MANCHESTER CITY-ASTON VILLA (live) 9 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 11 am.
Italy AC MILAN-FIORENTINA (delay) 6 pm.
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England TOTTENHAM-BOLTON (live) 9 am.
Italy PARMA-ROMA (live) 11 am.
England STOKE CITY-EVERTON (delay) 3 pm.

TELEFUTURA
MLS D.C. UNITED-NEW YORK (live) 3 pm.

MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS NEW ENGLAND-DALLAS(live) 6:30 pm.
MLS CHICAGO-CHIVAS USA (live) 7:30 pm.
MLS REAL SALT LAKE-TORONTO (live) 8 pm.
MLS SAN JOSE-COLORADO (live) 9 pm.
MLS LOS ANGELES-PHILADELPHIA (live) 9:30 pm.
MLS SEATTLE-COLUMBUS (live) 9:30 pm.

SUNDAY, May 2

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
Italy CATANIA-JUVENTUS (live) 8 am.
England SUNDERLAND-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (delay) 11:30 am.
Italy CATANIA-JUVENTUS (live) 8 am.
England SUNDERLAND-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Argentina INDEPENDIENTE-BOCA JUNIORS (live) 4 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England LIVERPOOL-CHELSEA (live) 7:30 am.
England FULHAM-WEST HAM UNITED (delay) 9:30 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (delay) 4 pm.

The EPL title is now a race. Just when we thought Chelsea’s was on its way towards the Premier League title along comes another twist to this strange season to leave the race wide open again. With 20 seconds left on the clock at the City of Manchester Stadium, Paul Scholes kept a cool head when Man United needed it most to propel themselves within one point of league leaders Chelsea. United’s victory cuppled with Chelsea’s loss to Tottenham places United to within 1 point of the league leader. With each team with three games to go the race to the end will be interesting.

FIFA Says 145,000 World Cup Tickets Sold. FIFA reported on Sunday that over 145,000 tickets had been sold. In this final round of distribution many tickets are still available. So far, only 29 of the 64 matches are sold out. Included in that 29 are the sold out final and semi-final matches.

RedBulls late penalty sinks FC Dallas. When FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala stopped RedBull forward Juan Pablo Angel’s penalty kick in the 65th minute many thought Sala had secured a point for the visiting team. But Dallas was called for second penalty kick in stoppage time on a foul just inside the penalty area. This time Juan Pablo Angel made the most of it. Angel put it away to give New York a 2-1 victory and send FCD to its first defeat of the season after two draws. New York goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul came up big in the game stopping to one on ones from Jeff Cunningham and Eric Avila.

Houston Dynamo wins 10th game over Chivas. Geoff Cameron, Lovel Palmer and Dominic Oduro scored goals, and the Houston Dynamo shut out Chivas USA, 3-0, on Saturday. The Dynamo got two saves from Pat Onstad and extended its 10 game winning streak over Chivas USA. Chivas USA has not beaten the Dynamo since a 3-2 win in California back in August 2006. Palmer, in his first start for the Dynamo, Cracked a screamer from 25 yards out which may turn out to be the goal of the year. Check it out for yourself.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/content/lovel-palmers-30-yard-goal-puts-houston-2-0

Austin Aztex beat AC St. Louis, Remain Undefeated. The Aztex are on top of the table in the USL Division after beating last week defending USL champion Montreal. The next home game for the Aztex is Sunday, April 25th at House Park in downtown Austin against the Rochester Rhinos. Tickets, as well as season tickets are available now. All season tickets are flex tickets and can be used in any combination for any regular season game. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.austinaztex.com, or call 512-335-8881.

Haitian National Team delights the standing room only crowd. A crowd of over 2500 packed Trinity University on Monday night as the Haitian National team etched out a 2-0 win over Trinity University. The stadium was filled to capacity with fans spilling on to the field and behind the goals. Many watching from outside the fences of the packed stadium. The fans were treated to some great soccer from both the Haitians and the Trinity boys. The atmosphere was rocking. The Crocketteers were out in force and started many chants for the Haitian team. Hats off to my Crocketteer brothers and sisters.

High School Soccer’s Finest. The Expres-News published in Sunday’s paper the area’s best in boys and girls soccer. Check out the list of fine student athletes at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high_school/Parade_of_Champions_Express-News_honor_teams.html

Soccer on TV April 20-25 Courtesy of Soccer America.com

TUESDAY, April 20

FOX SPORTS NET
UEFA Champions League INTER MILAN-BARCELONA (live) 1:45 pm.
FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
UEFA Champions League INTER MILAN-BARCELONA (delay) 4 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
UEFA Champions League INTER MILAN-BARCELONA (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores ESTUDIANTES-ALIANZA LIMA (live) 7 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
Copa Libertadores ESTUDIANTES-ALIANZA LIMA (live) 7 pm.

WEDNESDAY, April 21
FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
UEFA Champions League BAYERN MUNICH-LYON (live) 1:30 pm.
Concacaf Champions League CRUZ AZUL-PACHUCA  (live) 9 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
UEFA Champions League BAYERN MUNICH-LYON (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores NACIONAL [URU]-MORELIA (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores CLUB NACIONAL [PAR]-MONTERREY (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England HULL CITY-ASTON VILLA (live) 1:40 pm.
UEFA Champions League BAYERN MUNICH-LYON (delay) 4 pm.

GOL TV
Italy UDINESE-ROMA (live) 11 am.
TELEFUTURA
Concacaf Champions League CRUZ AZUL-PACHUCA  (live) 9 pm.

THURSDAY, April 22

ESPN2
MLS DALLAS-SEATTLE (live) 7 pm.

ESPN DEPORTES
MLS DALLAS-SEATTLE (live) 7 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores CHILE-U CATOLICA (delay) 1 pm.
Copa Libertadores SAO PAULO-ONCE CALDAS (delay) 3:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores INTERNACIONAL-DEPORTIVO QUITO (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores CORINTHIANS-INDEPENDIENTE MEDELLIN (live) 7:30 pm.

GOL TV
Europa League HAMBURG-FULHAM (live) 2 pm.
Europa League ATL. MADRID-LIVERPOOL (delay) 7 pm.

FRIDAY, April 23
tba

SATURDAY, April 24

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England HULL CITY-SUNDERLAND (live) 9 am.
Italy INTER MILAN-ATALANTA (live) 11am.
England BOLTON-PORTSMOUTH (delay) 3 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
England WEST HAM-WIGAN (live) 9 am.
England ARSENAL-MANCHESTER CITY (live) 11:30 am.
Italy PALERMO-AC MILAN (delay) 6 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England HULL CITY-SUNDERLAND (live) 9 am.
Italy INTER MILAN-ATALANTA (live) 11 am.
England BOLTON-PORTSMOUTH (delay) 3 pm.

TELEFUTURA
MLS NEW YORK-PHILADELPHIA (live) 3 pm.

MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS COLUMBUS CREW-REAL SALT LAKE (live) 6:30 pm.
MLS NEW ENGLAND-COLORADO (live) 6:30 pm.
MLS CHICAGO-HOUSTON (live) 7:30 pm.
MLS KANSAS CITY-LOS ANGELES (live) 7:30 pm.

SUNDAY, April 25

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England ASTON VILLA-BIRMINGHAM CITY (live) 6 am.
England BURNLEY-LIVERPOOL (live) 9 am.
Argentina BOCA JUNIORS-SAN LORENZO (delay) 11pm

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Italy JUVENTUS-BARI (live) 8 am.
England CHELSEA-STOKE CITY (live) 10 am.
Mexico INDIOS-UNAM (live) 2 pm.
Italy ROMA-SAMPDORIA (delay) 4 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England ASTON VILLA-BIRMINGHAM CITY (live) 6 am.
England BURNLEY-LIVERPOOL (live) 9 am.
Argentina BOCA JUNIORS-SAN LORENZO (delay) 11pm

MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS TORONTO-SEATTLE (live) 1 pm.

Monday, February 8, 2010

TAMPA, FL – The Unites States Soccer Federation unveiled the schedule and playoff format for the 2010 USSF Division II league. The season kicks off April 10 and will conclude October 3 with three rounds of playoffs concluding with a two-leg, aggregate score series for the championship.

The three-time USL First Division champion Rochester Rhinos of the USL Conference will travel to Miami to open the season Saturday, April 10.

USL Conference play will continue the following night with the second-year Austin Aztex, a direct affiliate of the English Premier League’s Stoke City, playing host to defending USL-1 champion Montreal at their new home House Park. The duo will meet again in the league’s regular season finale in Montreal Sunday, October 3.

Action in the Caribbean begins Friday, April 16 when the 2008 USL-1 regular season champion and league runners-up Puerto Rico Islanders return to play. The two-time CONCACAF Champions League participant will play host to Montreal.

The 2009 USL First Division regular season champion Portland Timbers start their campaign at PGE Park, which is currently under renovation in preparation for the club’s move to Major League Soccer. The construction, however, will halt prior to the season as Rochester visits the Rose City Saturday, April 17.

The top team in each conference will advance to the playoffs as the top seeds with the next six best teams, based on total, points rounding out the playoff field of eight sides. All three rounds of the playoffs will feature a two-goal, aggregate series format, including the league championship.

2010 USSF Division II Schedule (pdf)

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. The USL Conference will include teams from Austin, Minnesota, Portland, Puerto Rico, Rochester and Tampa Bay. The NASL Conference will consist of teams from Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver.

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.

As part of the agreement, all pending claims between the USL and NASL will be dropped.

US Soccer Article

USL:

We are pleased to have a solution that will provide fans the continued presentation of an elite caliber of professional soccer in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. While some differences remain, the one common agreement was that everyone must play this season, and we are happy that we were able to work with US Soccer to find a compromise for the upcoming 2010 season. – USL Article

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

TAMPA, FL — Over the past several months, United Soccer Leagues (USL) ownership and management have been in regular communication with senior leadership at the US Soccer Federation (USSF) regarding the newly-implemented re-sanctioning process for professional league members, including the USL First Division (USL-1). Earlier today, USSF issued a media release indicating that its Board of Directors voted not to sanction a league at this time in the Division II Men’s Professional League category where USL-1 has been the member since 1997.
“As a 24-year USSF member that owns and operates national elite soccer leagues for players of both genders, USL and its member teams remain focused on advancing its quarter-century tradition of supporting the growth of soccer in the United States,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis.

“Our unqualified support of USSF at the professional, youth, and adult amateur levels since 1986 is incontrovertible. Although USL is respectful of the need to ensure that decisions being made are in the best interests of soccer and player development in the United States, it has detailed in its recent USL-1 2010 season re-sanctioning presentation that it is both willing and able to meet all published USSF Division II Men’s Professional League standards, including fielding a minimum of eight teams.”

The primary reason USL has so successfully contributed to the growth of soccer in the United States over the past two decades is the connections between and among teams through its system of leagues or “soccer pyramid” involving some of the nation’s first true vertically-integrated clubs. Hundreds of players have followed the progression through its Super Y-League (SYL), the nation’s first national elite youth soccer league, to compete in the Under-23 based Premier Development League (PDL), and then on to professional soccer in Major League Soccer (MLS), USL-1, and/or USL-2 as well as U.S. National Teams.

In this regard, USL has played an essential role in the development of American professional soccer players. The continuity of USL-1 as the USSF Division II Men’s Professional League is of vital importance for the entire USL system of leagues to continue to provide literally thousands of opportunities for players, coaches, referees, and administrators into the future.

In support of USSF’s efforts to find a resolution for the upcoming season at its Division II Men’s Professional League level, USL very recently agreed to one of the proposals made by USSF requiring USL-1 and the contemplated North American Soccer League (NASL) to come together for 2010. USL remains willing to proceed with this USSF-proposed scenario in order to enable the 2010 season over the course of the next several days.

Meanwhile, USL will continue to move ahead with its preparations for the 2010 USL-1 season in the appropriate membership category.

NASL respects the Federation’s decision and its suggested course of action for obtaining sanctioning in 2010. NASL will continue during the next seven days to work in good faith towards an interim solution with United Soccer Leagues. NASL will have no further comment on this matter until a resolution has been reached or the negotiation period has expired.

NASL and its eleven member teams are committed to building on their long tradition of providing quality soccer to fans across the United States and in Canada in 2010 and beyond

CHICAGO (Dec. 30, 2009) – The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to not sanction either the USL or the NASL to operate a Division II professional league in 2010.

The decision was made on the recommendation of the Professional League Task Force, which determined that neither organization on its own was able to provide a viable and sustainable operation during the upcoming season. Both organizations were unable to meet U.S. Soccer’s requirement of a minimum of eight viable teams for 2010.

Despite the ruling, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors has given both organizations seven days to try to work out an interim solution for the 2010 season.

“After carefully reviewing the findings from the Task Force it was clear there are still too many uncertainties for both organizations, which would be extremely difficult to resolve in a timely fashion that would allow them to prepare for the 2010 season,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “In the best interest of soccer in the United States, we decided to not sanction either league at this point. However, we did encourage both leagues to come together in the next week and attempt to develop another plan which would allow a single league to be approved on a provisional basis. We are committed to finding ways to improve the long-term viability of all leagues and teams and continue the growth of soccer in the United States.”

Remember the year 2005?

The drive to bring Major League Soccer to San Antonio officially got underway Friday as San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza kicked off the effort to secure 5,000 season ticket commitments in 100 days (Aug. 17, 2005).

The season ticket commitments comprise one of three measures the city must take to obtain an MLS team that would begin play at the Alamodome as early as the start of the 2006 season. The other measures are securing an ownership group and finalizing plans for constructing a state-of-the-art training complex, complete with youth fields.

link

Remember 2005 a little better now?

The above excerpt was from an article originally published on Major League Soccer’s website 4 years ago. I remember being on that web page, excited for my hometown while living in Houston, Texas.  As a result of then Mayor Ed Garza’s efforts, the ball was finally rolling and things were on track for San Antonio to be the second Texas team in Major League Soccer. The Alamodome would finally have a tenant roughly 4 years after the San Antonio Spurs played their last ball game there.  However, here we are today, 7 years without a team who can call the Dome home.

I know. I know. That will change in a few years, when the UTSA Roadrunner football team will play its first ever home game. Regardless, Mayor Ed Garza was on his way out, with Phil Hardberger slated to take over. Two months later …

…incoming mayor Phil Hardberger said at a news conference that the proposed deal with MLS didn’t make financial sense for the city.

“Goodbye. That’s what I would tell MLS,” Hardberger said.

But MLS officials said goodbye first in a terse letter to outgoing Mayor Ed Garza, a strong proponent of bringing pro soccer to the Alamodome.

The letter, signed by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, said the work of Garza and league officials was undercut by politically driven criticisms that didn’t take into consideration the benefits to the city.

link

And that was that.  San Antonio’s last real opportunity to step into the world of professional soccer ended with a blink of an eye.

“This has been changed at the 12th hour due to politics, and it is appalling,” Garber later said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News.

The letter said the criticisms impeded the effort to sell 5,000 season tickets or recruit local investors, two requirements MLS had set for granting a team in 2006.

San Antonio would have been awarded their second top level sports franchise by pursuing Major League Soccer the proper way and for the cheap. On the flip side, the entire sports nation witnessed Mayor Hardberger and other local officials failed attempt to “steal” an NFL franchise from the City of New Orleans as it was trying to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I digress.

With Mayor Hardberger now out, Julian Castro in, would Major League Soccer even look back in San Antonio’s direction?

In 2011, 18 teams will take the field compared to 12 teams in 2006 when San Antonio would have fielded a team. On top of that fact MLS has been expanding at a faster than normal rate, soccer specific stadia are being built or in the planning stages of being built all across the country.  With that said, the bar is set significantly higher (as well as the price) to get into Major League Soccer this time around.

Major League Soccer may (if the stars are properly aligned) or may not take a look, but does that mean professional soccer is dead in San Antonio? With the Austin Aztex in it’s first season in the USL-1 (United Soccer Leagues) , San Antonio is the only major city in Texas without a professional soccer club.

If San Antonio is to have another opportunity at professional soccer, there will be a need to have a strong ownership group and a willingness to help secure a stadium (preferably soccer specific) for a future club.

If another opportunity does arrive again, be it MLS or USL, hopefully new city leadership under Mayor Julian Castro will see the benefits this time around.

A while back, we published an open letter to MLS Commissioner Don Garber. We will republished it soon followed by a new Open Letter to Mayor Julian Castro.

-Victory or Death -

Obviously, SS&E have followed the rich history in San Antonio of thinking small and looks set to short change us again. But would could a possible solution be?

Enter FC Barcelona . . . . here is one of Spain’s most successful football clubs, locked into two more years of appearances in the US, and wanting to brand a club in the MLS. SS&E should partner with them in bringing an MLS team to San Antonio, or the city’s leaders should recognize a huge opportunity staring them in the face and create a partnership.

The city should partner with the Catalan giants. Ok there, I said it; that just happened!

What about the French connection?

Tony Parker is from France, Thierry Henry is from France; Tony Parker and Thierry Henry are friends; Thierry Henry plays for FC Barcelona, Tony Parker plays for the San Antonio Spurs; wink, wink! Se Magnifique!

Until recently, I even had visions of Henry tearing down the left side of the pitch in the Alamodome, cutting inward at the eighteen yard box and finishing a beautiful goal in the top right corner, but he just looks too smitten with New York, so that’s probably not going to happen.

But FC Barcelona to San Antonio could happen.

After all, the club has stated on several occasions they will continue to work on increasing their presence in the USA. I think that would be obvious considering the turn out for their preseason friendlies.

What about Beckham?

Beckham? What about him? Well apparently he wants to buy an MLS franchise, or at least has it in his contract with MLS to purchase a team after his contract expires. This idea is probably crazy, but I don’t mind getting a little crazy, after all, I am a mad footballer.

The other option is to secure a team through relocation, as in, a franchise leaving a city to move to San Antonio. I know this may be cheap, Houston Dynamo, but if a city can’t support their team, perhaps they shouldn’t be there. An opinion that is sound in theory, but it appears that we can’t even support a team, and we don’t even have one.

I guess our last and most desperate choice is to surround the Alamo and fight until our death. Or we can just continue to support the grassroots effort of the Crocketteers. It’s your choice, but I suspect that you value your life a little more than football, at least some of you do, you know who you are.

I think at this point the best idea is to partner with a larger organization and establish a franchise as a joint venture. Even with a USL-1 team in San Antonio, we could still partner with a bigger club or investment group to help fund our eventual promotion into the MLS. I also feel that this would be the quicker way to fund a soccer specific stadium, which I would like to discuss in Part III. In the meantime, let me know what you think.