Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers are an American football franchise from Portland, Oregon (USA). The franchise was founded in 2009 and has been playing the 2011 season in Major League Soccer, the top division in the North American Football.
- 4.1 fan groups
- 4.2 rivalries
- 4.3 mascots
- 6.1 Current Senior Squad
- 6.2 Coaching staff
- 6.3 Youth and Amateur
- 8.1 record this season
- 8.2 Visitors section
- 8.3 Top 10 by appearances and goals
History
The road to the MLS
About two years trying Merritt Paulson, majority owner of Shortstop, LLC to place a team in the MLS. In May 2007, he bought together with a group of investors, the minor league baseball team Portland Beavers and the United Soccer Leagues Team Portland Timbers. This group included the former United States Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson. Paulson is the father of Merritt and held 20 % of the company of his son.
In October 2007, Merritt Paulson explained that they could expand the PGE Park for 20 million U.S. dollars and simultaneously build a baseball stadium for 8,000 to 9,000 seats. A year later, he was the New York Times gave an interview in which he called on the taxpayers of Portland to provide 85 million U.S. dollars for his stages are available. In return, he agreed to raise 40 million dollars to build in Portland a Major League Soccer franchise.
For the former Mayor of Portland, Sam Adams, and the City Council a possible support of Paulson's plan raised a lot of questions, even though Paulson could to bring 12.5 million U.S. dollars at the new stadium. In order to justify the necessary expenditure of 88.8 million U.S. dollars, the city assumed that the diagnoses of Paulson agree. He explained, namely, that the ticket revenues! Out baseball games will be 95 % higher in 2011 than in 2008. So the city circumcised the budget for street maintenance and cleaning, and lowered spending when the streetlights.
Foundation
On May 20, 2009 Portland received the license as the 18th team in Major League Soccer are allowed to play. This agreement also included that the franchise Portland Timbers will be called.
Owner of the team is the Peregrine, LLC, where Merritt Paulson is chairman. With his other company Shortstop LLC, he is the owner of the Portland Beavers, who play in the Baseball Minor League Pacific Coast League, and the Portland Timbers, who lined up end of 2010 in the USSF D2 Pro League.
Preparation for the first season
Was presented on August 10, 2010 with the former Scottish international John Spencer, the first coach of MLS franchises. In addition, Gavin Wilkinson took over the post of Technical Director, which he held also in the USL team.
The Timbers committed before the MLS Expansion Draft, which took place on 24 November 2010, five players. Steve Cronin, Bright Dike and Ryan Pore were taken over from the former USL team. Another player came from Austin Aztex and the other from the New York Red Bulls. In the Expansion Draft, the team selected ten more players from other franchises. On the same day Dax McCarty was traded for Rodney Wallace of DC United.
The first game of the Timbers found on 4 February 2011 against the PDL team Ventura County Fusion instead. The match ended 1-1. In the following game against Los Angeles Galaxy was played only a draw. Only against Montreal Impact a victory could be won. While preparing for the first season, the Timbers scored two wins from eight games.
First season 2011
The first game in Major League Soccer was lost with a 3-1. Opponents were on March 19, 2011, the Colorado Rapids. The only goal and therefore the first MLS goal in the history of the franchise achieved Kenny Cooper. The first victory celebrated the team on Matchday 4. The home game, which took place on April 14 against Chicago Fire, won Timbers 4-2. In qualifying for the U.S. Open Cup, the team was defeated on May 3, 2011 at the semi-final against the San Jose Earthquakes. At the end of the first season the team finished sixth in the Western Conference, and thus failed to qualify for the play- offs themselves. Goalscorer was Jack Jewsbury with eight goals this season.
Colours and Coat of Arms
The logo of the MLS franchises Portland Timbers takes many elements from the logo of the USL teams. The circular shape of the emblem presents unity, wholeness, and the pursuit of perfection. The Axtsymbol in the middle of the coat of arms dates back to the Pacific Northwest widely spread lumberjack industry. The three lines in light green, radiating from the ax, go back to the membership of the Timbers in the three leagues North American Soccer League, United Soccer Leagues and Major League Soccer. The team colors are yellow - pine - green and moss green, symbolizing the forests of Oregon.
In September 2010, Alaska Airlines has been confirmed as shirt sponsor. On 9 December 2010 the jerseys were presented at the Portland International Airport to the public. The home kit is divided equally into half of the two shades of green, which are also the colors of the team. The away jersey is completely decorated in red, which, leans against the nickname of Portland, Rose city.
Stadium
- Jeld -Wen Field; Portland, Oregon (2011 -present)
- Merlo Field; Portland, Oregon ( 2011) 1 game in U.S. Open Cup
The Jeld -Wen Field was opened in 1926 as Multnomah Stadium. In 2001 it was renovated for the first time. A second time occurs until the start of the season of the franchise in Major League Soccer in 2011. Offers 20 438 spectators.
The stadium is part of the city of Portland and is managed via the Peregrine Sports, LLC. The naming rights keeps the Jeld -Wen Corporation. In addition to the Timbers still there deny the Portland State Vikings their American Football games.
Club culture
Fan groups
The largest is the Timbers Army Fangruppierung. They are generally regarded as loud and enthusiastic group, which make this clear at home games. The Timbers in 2001 were founded under the name Cascade Rangers, which refers to the mountain range the Cascade Range. The name Timbers Army was adopted in 2002.
Rivalries
Due to the regional proximity to the Seattle Sounders FC, has a long local rivalry between the two teams. Portland, Seattle and Vancouver Whitecaps FC play out since the 2004 Cascadia Cup. The team that is most successful during the season, will receive at the end of the trophy.
The Timbers will also participate in the Heritage Cup. This Cup between the teams played, which had already been, at least by name, represented in the NASL.
Mascot
While the NASL and USL years the mascot of the team was a lumberjack named Timber Jim, which was represented by the fan Jim Serrill. In January 2008 Serrill announced his resignation. His successor, Timber Joey, was introduced as the official successor in a friendly against Juventus Primavera on 14 June 2008. This is played by Joe Webber.
Before or during a game, he sawed logs and fires the fans in the stadium.
Media
2010 ten games of the Timbers on the regional television FSN Northwest were broadcast. For the upcoming season of the nation's TV broadcasters Fox Soccer Channel will broadcast some games.
On the radio all the games on the receivable in Oregon radio station 95.5 -FM "The Game" and NewsRadio 750 KXL be transferred. In addition, sends 95.5 -FM "The Game" every week "Talk Timbers " show, are sent in the reports and interviews in Portland Timbers environment.
Players and staff
Current Senior Squad
As of May 28, 2013
Coaching staff
As of November 1, 2013
- United States Caleb Porter
- United States Amos Magee (assistant coach )
- Scotland Sean McAuley (assistant coach )
- New Zealand Cameron Knowles (assistant coach )
- United States Mike Toshack ( Goalkeeper Coach )
- Scotland John Ireland ( Fitness Trainer)
Youth and Amateur
With the Portland Timbers U- 23, the Timbers have a development team that plays in the USL Premier Development League. In the 2010 season the team won the Northwest Division in the Western Conference was. In the play-offs managed the team to the finals and won there against Thunder Bay Chill from Ontario, Canada 4-1.
The Portland Timbers Reserves play in the MLS Reserve Division and are supervised by Amos Magee, who is also assistant coach of the MLS team.
In addition, the Timbers offer a youth program called Timbers Soccer Camps. There, players from the Portland metropolitan area can apply.
Achievements
Statistics
Record this season
Visitors section
- 2011: 18,827 / not qualified
Top 10 by appearances and goals
Up to 21 May 2013, and May 27, 2013
Note: Includes only the inserts within the MLS.