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Crystal Palace Baltimore, also known as Crystal Palace F.C. USA, is an American soccer team, founded in 2006. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues Second Division (USL2), the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The Eagles play their home games in the stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Catonsville, Maryland, around 9 miles west of downtown Baltimore. In 2007, during their inaugural season, the Eagles played at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. The club's colors mirror those of their English counterparts - red and blue stripes.
[edit] 2008 Roster
as at June 6, 2008
[edit] Year-by-year
| Year |
Division |
League |
Reg. Season |
Playoffs |
Open Cup |
| 2007 |
3 |
USL Second Division |
5th |
Did not qualify |
1st Round |
[edit] History
The club, also known as "Eagles USA", is part of the development system of the English Football League Championship side Crystal Palace. The club was set up in 2006 by the English club's Chairman Simon Jordan, Vice-Chairman Dominic Jordan, Chief Executive Phil Alexander, and then-Director of Football Bob Dowie, along with new Sporting Director for the USA club, Jim Cherneski.
Their first game, which took place on July 15, 2006 was against their parent club, who won the game by three goals to one, with Rade Kokovic scoring the American team's first ever goal, a shot from distance. This match would be repeated at the English club's Selhurst Park home just over a year later, when the contest was much closer as the American team were narrowly beaten 1-0.
In between these two games, the club began their first competitive season, but unfortunately were beaten 4-1 away at the Charlotte Eagles in their first match. This poor form continued to hamper the club's season, until striker Gary Brooks was signed, and his seven goals in just nine starts propelled the club up the table to challenge for a play-off place. In the end they fell just short of the play-off places, finishing one beneath them in 5th, but providing the club can keep Brooks, they will hope to be competing for the play-off spots from the start of the 2008 season.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
Simon Jordan
Jim Cherneski
