Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union is an American football franchise of the Major League Soccer from Chester, Pennsylvania, in the Greater Philadelphia area. The franchise was founded in 2008 and took the 2010 season on the game mode.
The home games are played in the park completed in 2010 PPL.
- 4.1 fans
- 4.2 rivalries
- 4.3 sponsors
- 7.1 Current Senior Squad 7.1.1 Transfers for season 2012/13
- 8.1 record this season
- 8.2 Club Records
- 8.3 Average Attendance
History
The road to the MLS
For several years, the Major League Soccer in Philadelphia a franchise was very keen to establish. Several local sponsors campaigned for this project. Thus, several conversations about the location of a stadium for a possible team were led over the years. 2006, the city of Chester was selected as the stadium location.
On 28 February 2008 was Don Carber, CEO of Major League Soccer announced that Philadelphia is awarded the contract for a new franchise in MLS. Creates the basis for the financing of the club a 47 million dollar budget, which was approved by politicians of the Delaware counties and the Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell. Thus the cost of the new stadium and a renewal of the surrounding city area were covered.
On 21 December 2009, the Union announced that it had concluded a partnership with the Reading Rage youth soccer organization. With Reading United A. C. has the MLS franchise, a minor league team in the USL Premier Development League. In March 2010, was found with the Harrisburg City Islanders another partner.
First season 2010
Before the start of the first season Union had several friendly matches. The first was against the football team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The first MLS game was held on 25 March 2010. Union lost 2-0 against the Seattle Sounders. On April 10, 2010 Sébastien Le Toux scored the first goal for Philadelphia Union. The team won on Matchday 2 with a 3-2 victory over DC United. This was followed by a run of four defeats. The highest victory reached the team on June 27, 2010 with a 3-1 win against the Seattle Sounders FC. The highest defeat Union gave the Colorado Rapids 4-1. At the end of the regular season, the Union came in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, and thus could not qualify for a play-off place itself. In the overall standings the team before 14 CD Chivas USA and DC United was.
During qualifying for participation in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2010 Union lost against the New York Red Bulls 2-1.
Towards the end of 2010, the player Chris Seitz, Fred, Shea Salinas and Alejandro Moreno switched to other teams. To compensate for this was the Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón, who was previously at the 1 FC Cologne under contract, and the captain of the Colombian first division side Santa Fe CD, Carlos Valdés, obliged. With Brian Carroll, an experienced MLS player to join the team. With the 16 -year-old Zach Pfeffer, the first so-called " home-grown " players has been committed.
Name, crest and colors
On 11 May 2009, the name, the emblem and colors of the new MLS franchises in the Philadelphia City Hall was officially announced. The name "Union" is a reminder of the Thirteen Colonies, of which Philadelphia was the capital. The name was decided by a poll that was carried out between January 2009 and February 6, 2009 19. The other possibilities ware AC Philadelphia, SC Philadelphia and Philadelphia City. Before the official announcement of the team name Philadelphia was given by the fan group Sons of Ben nicknamed " Zolos ". This goes back to a " Meet-the -Owners " event, which was held two days before the press conference, where Philadelphia was named as an expansion team. This handwritten numbers were placed on pieces of paper to a great 2010. This was misinterpreted by Nick Sakiewicz as ZOLO. This led to some insider jokes at the Sons of Ben.
The colors of the Philadelphia Union are navy blue and gold, and symbolize the uniforms of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The coat of arms carries thirteen stars that relate to the Thirteen Colonies. The serpent in the middle goes back to a political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin, which he published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 1754. At the time of the American War of Independence of the snake's head to symbolize the danger of disunity of the American population was. He was also part of the Gadsden flag. The shield goes back to the city's coat of Philadelphia. The light blue in the center is a tribute to the Sons of Ben, while a further reference to the coat of arms and flag of the city.
Stadium
- PPL Park; Chester, Pennsylvania (2010 -)
- Lincoln Financial Field; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2010 -)
The PPL Park was open in 2010 and offers 18,500 spectators. Even before being accepted by the MLS, the Delaware County gave its agreement in October 2007 for the construction of the stadium. The foundation stone was laid on December 1, 2008.
The stadium is the home ground from 2010, both the MLS first team as well as the new women 's Team Philadelphia Independence, which will also participate in the newly established women's professional league WPS from the 2010 season.
Until the completion of the stadium in Chester Philadelphia Union has played its home games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. On 27 June 2010, the first home game of the Union against the Seattle Sounders FC took place in the stadium. It could be won with 3:1. The Lincoln can still be used by Philadelphia, for example, for games with a large number of spectators.
Fans, rivalries and sponsors
Fans
The support of the fans was a reason why Philadelphia got the encouragement to start a MLS team. The largest fan club, the Sons of Ben, which were founded on 17 January 2007. The 5,200 -member club is based in Philadelphia and also supports clubs Reading United and Harrisburg City Islanders. The name goes back to Benjamin Franklin.
Rivalries
It existed for the first hour rivalries with DC United and New York Red Bulls. These are the geographical proximity and the traditional rejection between cities Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York due in other sports leagues. Philadelphia participates in any MLS Rivalry Cup.
Sponsors
On 11 January 2011 it was announced that the future jersey sponsor Bimbo Bakeries USA will be. The company is the U.S. branch of the Mexican food producers Grupo Bimbo and is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania. In addition, the company also sponsors Major League Soccer from the 2011 season.
Other sponsors are next to the stadium named after PPL Corporation, the company Crozer Keystone Health System, Premier Ortho, Panasonic, WPVI -TV ( 6ABC ), Horizon Services and Toyota.
As the supplier acts Adidas.
Owner
Owner of the franchise are Keystone Sports & Entertainment, LLC, a multi- stakeholder group people. Members of this group are Christopher and Robert Buccini, co-founder of the Buccini / Pollin Group; Jay Sugarman, a director of iStar Financial; James Nevels, former chairman of Philadelphia School Reform Commission; William Doran, an attorney from Philadelphia; Nick Sakiewicz, former president of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and football player at, inter alia, FC Nantes and Belenenses Lisbon.
Media
All matches of Philadelphia Union are transmitted by local radio stations WPVI - TV and Live Well HD Network (Channel 6.2) in Philadelphia. The transmitter WQMY TV transmits the games in the entire Northeastern Pennsylvania. Selected games will be broadcast on the country's air broadcasters ESPN2, Fox Soccer Channel and Telefutura.
Players and staff
Current Senior Squad
As of September 20, 2013
Transfers for season 2012/13
Existing players
→ Main article: List of Players of the Philadelphia Union
Coaching staff
As of November 1, 2012
- United States John Hackworth ( Coach )
- United States Rob Vartughian (assistant coach )
- Ireland Brendan Burke ( assistant coach )
- United States Paul Rushing ( Fitness Trainer)
Previous coach
- Poland Piotr Nowak (2009-2012)
- United States John Hackworth (since 2012)
Statistics
Record this season
Club Records
These records relate to the regular season up to and including the 2012 season:
- Most Games: United States Sheanon Williams, 78
- Top goals: France Sébastien Le Toux, 26
- Most Assists: France Sébastien Le Toux, 23
Average attendance
- 2010: 19,254 / not qualified
- 2011: 18 259 / 18 539
- 2012: 18,049 / not qualified