Orlando City Soccer Club

Orlando City S.C. is an American professional soccer team based in Orlando, Florida, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.^[1]

The team plays its home games at the Citrus Bowl using a modified set-up similar to the Seattle Sounders FC arrangement of CenturyLink Field. The team's colors are red and white. Their current head coach is former English Premier League standout Adrian Heath.

History

Formation

The ownership group, originally identified as Orlando Pro Soccer, was announced on March 4, 2010, and was initially affiliated with the Orlando Titans National Lacrosse League team. However, the Titans ran into financial difficulties. Steve Donner left the Titans club after the 2010 NLL season to focus on the soccer effort. In October 2010, the Orlando Pro Soccer USL rights were purchased by Phil Rawlins, a board member of English Premier League club Stoke City, who moved the Austin Aztex organization to Orlando. The team was announced on October 25, 2010. Rawlins stated at the press conference that he intends to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Orlando "within 3–5 years", and intends to bring international matches to the city as well. Rawlins is President and majority owner of the club's ownership group, Orlando Sports Holdings. Also in the group is Brendan Flood, a board member of English Championship club Burnley. Donner, as CEO, and Rawlins announced that the Aztex organization would remain intact in Orlando, with Adrian Heath being retained as manager and most of the team's players returning as well.

Inaugural season

Orlando City's first preseason began with three matches against Major League Soccer teams. They also faced BK Häcken of the Swedish Allsvenskan before a series of matches against local colleges Rollins, UCF, Stetson and USF. They opened their first season on April 2, 2011, at Richmond, and played their first home game on April 9 against F.C. New York. They finished the regular season top of the American Division on 51 points, which resulted in the USL Pro Regular Season title. On September 3, they played the Harrisburg City Islanders in the 2011 USL Pro Championship. This match ended in a 1–1 draw, and after extra time the score was still tied at 2–2. Orlando went on to win 3–2 in Penalty Kicks making them the 2011 USL Pro champions.

Colors and badge

The logo was unveiled during local morning news on Orlando TV station WOFL at 7:00am EST on December 16, 2010, and was officially launched at 10:00am with the team's website.

The club adopted the nickname "Lions" from previous uses of the nickname in Orlando, particularly the Orlando Lions. The colors are shades of red, purple and gold, and are the same colors used by Serie A club ACF Fiorentina (which is not involved with Orlando City). The colors used represent pride in city and team.

The branding was developed by Dixon Minear Design Marketing, the same firm that created the original branding for the Orlando Magic.^[2]

Their home kit, white shirt with red shoulders and solid white shorts, was unveiled at their inaugural home friendly, and used without a kit sponsor through the 2011 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. Their away kit consists of a red shirt with white armpits and solid red shorts. At the home kit unveiling, they also announced Orlando Health as their kit sponsor. Their kit brand is Umbro.

Stadium

• Citrus Bowl; Orlando, Florida (2011–present)

Orlando City currently plays their games at the 70,000 seat Citrus Bowl, located in Orlando, Florida. The playing surface is large enough for use in international soccer matches, and it was a venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In five matches, attendance averaged over 60,000 per match. In 1996, Olympic soccer matches in both the men's and women's competitions were held at the stadium. It hosted the USISL A-League Orlando Sundogs in 1997. It also hosted the Major League Soccer All-Star Game in 1998. Its most recent high-level soccer game was on January 13, 2008, between Chivas de Guadalajara of the Mexican Primera División and Deportivo Cali of Categoría Primera A. Chivas won, 2–1, before 15,121 fans. In 2010, the natural grass surface was replaced with AstroTurf Gameday Grass 3D after the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl and 2010 Capital One Bowl were marred by poor field conditions that led to two football player injuries.

Developmental system

From the advent of Orlando Pro Soccer, the team allied with the Central Florida Kraze of the USL Premier Development League to assist player development. Following their successful first season, Orlando City acquired controlling interest in the Kraze, and renamed them Orlando City U-23. The team has a legacy that includes several current and past MLS players, and won the PDL Championship in 2004.

Also after their 2011 season, Orlando City acquired controlling interest in the Florida Soccer Alliance youth soccer club, renaming them Orlando City Youth Soccer Club. That club has several teams competing in the USL Super Y-League.

Club culture

The club has four active supporters groups:

• "The Ruckus" is the oldest of these groups, whose basis was formed in 2009 as the "Orlando Soccer Supporters Club" without an affiliation to any particular soccer team. They occupy section 119.
• The "Iron Lion Firm", which separated from The Ruckus prior to the start of City's first season. They run section 121.
• The "Orlando Natural Riddim Section" is a Trinidadian drum band that occupies section 109 and plays drums and other percussion instruments throughout home matches.
• "Los Guerrilloz", a Spanish-language barra brava, has formed recently and typically occupies section 128.

The Ruckus chant for Lewis Neal to signify the first goal ever scored by the club. This chant begins at 19:24; 19 for the minute he scored the first goal, 24 for his jersey number.

Broadcasting

In 2011, Orlando City will air several games locally on Bright House Sports Network, and two home games will appear nationally on FOX Soccer Channel as part of USL Pro's broadcasting contract. All home games and many away games are broadcast online via USL Live, with Marc Daniels and Scott Adams of local radio station WHOO providing play-by-play for home-game broadcasts. Daniels and Adams also co-host a weekly radio program for the team, "OCS Live", on WHOO every Thursday night at 6:00pm along with team communications director Adam Soucie.

Their May 14, 2011, home match was broadcast on radio in Spanish by WIWA "VIVA 1160". The match was used as a "test broadcast"; it is unknown if they will air further games.^[3]

Players and staff

Current roster

As of November 28, 2011.^[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Staff

• Adrian Heath – Head Coach
• Ian Fuller – Assistant Coach (Player-Coach)
• Marcos Machado – Goalkeeper Coach

Head coaches

• Adrian Heath (2011–present)

Record

Year-by-year

See also

Other soccer teams in Orlando

Other teams have played in the Orlando area in the past:

• Orlando Falcons – 2006–2007 played in Women's Premier Soccer League
• Orlando Lions – 1985–1996 played in American Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League
• Orlando Nighthawks – 1997–1999 played in USL Premier Development League (amateur)
• Orlando Prospects – 2004–2006 played in USL Premier Development League (amateur)
• Orlando Sharks – 2006–2007 played in Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
• Orlando Sundogs – 1997 played in USL First Division aka A-League

References

External links

• Orlando City S.C. Official Website
• USL News Release from Orlando Pro Soccer announcement
• USL News Release on Orlando City S.C.