Seattle Soccer Examiner

This blog is going on hiatus! What? No-o-o-o-o-o!

However, the same content and full focus on ALL OF PUGET SOUND SOCCER will now be updated daily at the new source, my Seattle Soccer Examiner page!

Please change your bookmarks. This page will remain dormant but online for links, referrals, etc.

You can also get to the Seattle Soccer Examiner the same way you used to get to the GS blog: by clicking 'blog' on the front page of GOALSeattle.com. Please do follow me over there!

www.Examiner.com/Seattle offers me a chance to reach more fans, make a bit of cash, and for you a chance to keep getting insider news and updates about the Sounders, Wolves, Pumas, Tide, Redhawks, Huskies, Falcons, Sounders Women and Synergy.

See you over at the "X."

Big announcements ahead for Kitsap Pumas

The Kitsap Pumas professional soccer club is in for a big, busy spring. The club is preparing for their first-ever league match May 2nd in Spokane against the Spokane Spiders. It will inaugurate their debut season in the Premier Development League (PDL) of the United Soccer Leagues (USL). The Pumas have yet to announce any player signings, but rumblings are growing that soon we'll have some names to report on.

The Pumas are developing a connection with scouts and contacts in Great Britain. We've been told that as many as twelve player contracts may have already been issued, and that at least one local player has signed. Some of the contracts are out for players from the UK. The Pumas are high on a 20-year old Scottish midfielder who trained in the Rangers system. They also have their eye on a sturdy 21-year old English goalkeeper who went through the Wigan Athletic system. We've also heard that Kitsap have talked with a 21-year old English 'beach soccer' star. The names await the club announcement(s).

Last week Pumas' owner Robin Waite attended a Bremerton School District meeting in which he talked about his ideas for building a soccer stadium on land where East Bremerton High School once stood. The BSD gave Waite permission to study the idea more closely.

"I think what's intriguing about it is that it's a very valuable piece of property and we don't make a penny from it," board member Pat Jones told the Kitsap Sun.

Waite's idea "is definitely worth exploring, especially for free."

Waite later appeared in the Kitsap Sun to clarify the use of the land further: “The soccer stadium would be the driving force behind the complex,” he wrote. “There would still be room for an arena especially if there was shared parking.”

Kitsap will be revealing their chosen 'club crest' in the next few weeks, too. Fans were invited to submit crest / logo ideas to the club website in a recent contest. (See a few submitted designs here). The 'crest' is an important part of club tradition in the world of soccer. It becomes the 'coat of arms' clubs go to battle with. The Pumas' crest will use the official club colors of blue, gold, black and white.

The Pumas have already chosen their 2009 uniform provider and style. The 'kits' will be made by Puma, of course, and the shirt will be white with blue hoops. The graphic above gives a representation with possible combinations.

For more on the Pumas visit www.KitsapSoccerClub.com

Pumas eye land for new stadium; join forces with 'The Soccer Dude'

The Kitsap Sun reports today that Kitsap Pumas are interested in leasing land where East Bremerton High School once stood.

(Robin) Waite (Pumas owner) said he expects the Pumas to outgrow Bremerton Memorial Stadium. “I expect our team to go from where it is now all the way to Division I.”

School board President Cynthia Galloway said she favored the idea of a public-private partnership that resulted in income.

School board member Louis Mitchell called it “intriguing” and added that the district would need to make sure it could enter into a development-type relationship. Jones added that the district was prevented by state law from developing the valuable old Manette school site.

In other Pumas club news the Kitsap outfit recently announced another business partnership.

Bremerton, Wash. – The Kitsap Soccer Club has finalized what club officials are calling “a major sponsorship agreement” with The Soccer Dude – a local firm based in Port Orchard, Washington.

The Soccer Dude has patented and manufactures player development tools for soccer players of all ages including its Speed and Agility Ladder Stencils, Soccer Dude Target Nets, along with other products. The agreement contains the added bonus that at every 2009 Pumas home match, The Soccer Dude will distribute 50 tickets to the next home match FREE to folks attending that current match.

“This is the best way we could think of to grow the game right here at home,” said Soccer Dude inventor and founder Scott Morgan. “Speed Ladder training develops the A-B-C’s of player technique – agility, balance and coordination. Plus, with our products the players train safer – there is no tripping on ropes or straps.”

The stencils can be used on virtually any surface – from dirt to grass - and the kits come in different sizes and skill patterns to fit virtually every training application.

“This is among the most innovative packages - for one of the most innovative soccer training products - we’ve written. We’re pleased to have Scott on board with us from the very beginning,” said club owner Robin Waite. “This is truly someone putting their money where their mouth is for the betterment of the game.”

The agreement includes direct tie-ins during club matches, camps, clinics and youth activities along with other community outreach programs.

For more information regarding The Soccer Dude, please call 360- 265-7892 or send e-mail to Scott at TheSoccerDudes@live.com. / WWW.SOCCER-DUDES.com.

To become an official team partner, to purchase tickets or for further questions, please contact Ben Pecora, Executive Director, at 360-377-6008 at the Pumas offices. www.KitsapSoccerClub.com

Tacoma Tide, Kitsap Pumas, Seattle Wolves season tickets on sale

In the last few days both Tacoma Tide FC and Kitsap Pumas have sent out releases regarding sales of season tickets for their 2009 PDL (Premier Development League) campaigns. Seattle Wolves FC have released information about their combination PDL and PCSL (Pacific Coast Soccer League) club season tickets, which will give you 18 matches.

Tacoma Tide FC play in a great neighborhood in University Place, Tacoma. Curtis High School stadium is a very nice venue to take in a match. It faces the sunset over the Narrows, so bring your sunglasses.
Tacoma's season tickets are general admission and cost $70 for adults (10 matches) and $30 for students. The Tide also give you a *free* TFC yellow and blue scarf with each season ticket purchase. Club website details.

Kitsap Pumas are already setting themselves up as a 'throwback' to the days of pristine grass soccer pitches, hooped jerseys and village pride. The Pumas will be playing about 10 minutes away from the Seattle-Bremerton ferry landing in Bremerton.

The Pumas have priced season tickets at $90, $75 and $45 for the season, with options for reserved covered grandstand and family endline general admission. Club website details.

Seattle Wolves will have clubs in both the PCSL and PDL. In the recently announced club statement the Wolves are providing a real bargain for Tukwila-area soccer lovers. Both the PCSL and PDL seasons are included in a $49 season pass that will allow you to see all of both clubs' 2009 home matches at Starfire Sports Stadium (18 matches!). Club website details.

All of our local neighborhood clubs supply soccer in your own back yard at a price that allows family and friends to pile in the car and have a fun night out on the cheap. Purchasing season tickets is a great way to support soccer in your neighborhood.

Smaller local clubs stay clear of Sounders' wake

One thing we know about the sport of elite-level soccer in Puget Sound in 2009: there's going to be plenty of it to watch.The huge majority of those watching will be doing so because of interest in Seattle Sounders FC.The Sounders have sold 20,000 season tickets and it looks like a good bet that nearly all matches will sell out before or on match nights.

This is in effect a tsunami of interest in pro soccer, and how far the waves reach is unknown. Our three fourth division sides, Tacoma Tide FC, Kitsap Pumas, and Seattle Wolves FC, are of course hoping that the high water interest in Sounders FC will spill over to their neighborhoods. Just in case, the three clubs have tried their very best to not schedule their home matches on the same night the Sounders are home at Qwest. Some of it is that the guys who run these sides are genuinely Sounders fans, and some of it is simply the fact they don't want to be selling tickets up against the Sounders juggernaut.

When the Premier Development League schedules for Tacoma, Seattle and Kitsap were released they showed only three local home matches (out of 24) in conflict. Tacoma Tide FC have since reduced that number to 2 after they moved a match with Seattle Wolves to Tuesday June 23 in Tacoma to avoid a Sounders home match. Now the dubious two left are Seattle Wolves hosting Kitsap May 30 while the Sounders are at home against Columbus Crew, and Tacoma Tide FC hosting the Spokane Spiders at 3:00 PM in the afternoon on Sunday June 28th while the Sounders are hosting the Colorado Rapids two hours earlier at Qwest.

So there you have it, soccer lovers. Our three smaller clubs have 22 home matches that don't fall on Sounders home days.

Make your plans to catch one of these clubs in action. We've got the master Puget Sound home schedule right here.

Photo Credit: Seattle Wolves FC celebrate a goal against Sounders Super Search players. (Jenni Conner)

Pumas will be authentic, right down to the grass

There were a mix of accents at the Kitsap Pumas tryouts today in Silverdale, Washington, but everyone spoke the game of soccer. Twenty-seven invited players were on hand trying to impress head coach John Wedge and his staff of coaches and player evaluators. It's another step in owner Robin Waite's effort to bring 'authentic football' to West Sound.

Dallas Jaussi, fresh off of his top-four finish in the recent Seattle Sounders FC SuperSearch was present, as were fellow trialists Oliver Wellman and Erik Sterling. Steve Mohn, a former UW and Tacoma Tide FC player, was a call-back from the open tryouts held last week.

On the sidelines Pumas Executive Director Ben Pecora exchanged comments with owner Robin Waite and watched the proceedings. Pecora expressed almost a sense of relief that the birthing process of the new club has reached the finding players stage. The sunny, warmer than usual day only added to the good feelings. Waite chatted about the turnout and suggested a few players currently still on trial with Sounders FC might be looked at by Kitsap, too. Vini Oliveira, the recently cut SuperSearch winner, was one of the possibles.

Players were divided up in groups to play full field and to perform speed and agility tests. The guys were used to what was being asked of them on the pitch, but the agility testing had more than one collision along the way.

The Pumas will kick off their inaugural 2009 PDL (Premier Development League) season in the USL (United Soccer Leagues) in May. The club will likely have a pre-season match or two in April as they gear towards league play.

I spoke with Ben Pecora about what fans can expect from the Pumas on match day at Bremerton's Memorial Stadium. His response is at the end of the tryouts video.

From their classic hooped blue and white kits right down to the natural grass they'll play on the Pumas desire to create the kind of 'football' experience you might find in the smaller towns in England or around Europe. The Pumas see these local tryouts, searching for men who live and play here, as a part of that vision.

View GOALKitsap.com's Gallery from today's Pumas tryouts

Visit www.KitsapSoccerClub.com

Agu: 'I feel like I have more to give the Tide this year'

We recently broke the news that Tacoma Tide FC's all-time leading scorer Rory Agu would be returning to play for TFC in 2009. Now we've caught up with Rory Agu in Fresno and chatted with the speedy forward about his decision and the upcoming Tide campaign.

"After my college season ended," says Agu, "I came back to Tacoma for winter break for about a week and a half. I cut my break short, so I could try and find a job and to start training to the PDL season. I have been running three times a week, playing indoor and training with our rivals Fresno Fuego three times a week. I also have been keeping in touch with players from last year, seeing what they are doing and keeping track of who is coming back and what new players are coming in."

Going to college in Fresno right now it would only make sense for Agu to jump ship and play for the Fresno Fuego. Why hasn't he? "Loyalty," responds Agu. "I was given a chance to represent the city of Tacoma and State of Washington (playing with the Tide.) I have spent the last three years trying to help Tacoma Tide F.C. become a respected club in the Puget Sound area. I still feel like I have more to give to the Tide this year."

"I have been training with the Fresno Fuego for about a month now. The Fuego have been talking to me about playing for them this season since the summer. The GM for the Fuego came out to a few of my college games this year as well (Fresno City CC). After my season ended I called the GM to see if I could train with them for the pre-season. He told me that I had to talk to the coach about that. So I called the coach and we talked about my future. I told him that I will be returning to Tacoma for the 2009 season. He understands my loyalty to Tacoma."

The hook-up with Fresno has another benefit for Rory. The Fuego will play the Major League Soccer San Jose Earthquakes Friday February 20th. "I will be in Fresno for the game. I had talked to the coach last week about the chance of me playing in the game and he has told me that I will play. So I'm very excited to get a chance to play against an MLS side. I have never played against an MLS club before. For me this game is a good way for me to get seen, so I'm going to take every chance like its my only one."

Rory looks forward to the potential rivalries the Tide will face in 2009 with the entry of the Kitsap Pumas and Seattle Wolves into the league. "I love having local rivals. It makes playing for Tacoma just that much more important for me, and shows how many good players we have in
the Puget Sound area."

Agu still has clear memories of the Tide winning their first Northwest Division crown in 2008 and then beating Fresno 3-0 in a playoff match before almost 4,000 fans in California. "It is the best feeling to be here training with a rival team and wearing your teams color high. I know how it made them feel that we (Tacoma Tide) ended their season."

Topping 2008 won't be easy for Tacoma. Every year they have shown marked improvement over the year before. In 2007 it was making the playoffs. In 2008 it was winning the division and advancing to the regional final. In 2009 Agu has a goal that has eluded the club so far: qualifying for a US Open Cup match.

"I feel that this being our fourth year, we (the players) owe it to the club to give our best yet. So that means we are looking to play in the US Open Cup for the first time. We are also looking to move closer to a PDL crown. I have been hearing some good news about the soccer community in Tacoma, and about some players that we might get. So fans, get ready for a great 2009! I feel like we are going to have the best team this club has ever had."

University of Washington winger Raphael Cox played for the Tide last year. Read about what he's doing now as a player in the Real Salt Lake training camp.

Kitsap Sun: Tryouts produce ten possible Pumas

Kitsap Pumas Soccer Club held their first-ever open tryouts yesterday and The Kitsap Sun and reporter John Becerra Jr. and photographer Larry Steagall were on hand to chronicle the event.

See the Kitsap Sun coverage here.

Becerra writes:

Eighty-three soccer players from as far away as Oregon, Idaho and Alaska turned out on a cold day to impress new head coach John Wedge, his assistants Andrew Chapman and James Ritchie and a cadre of volunteers enough to earn a spot on the team.

"It's fantastic," Wedge said of the turnout.

After a brief meeting with the coaches, the hopefuls ran through defense and dribbling drills, with the goalkeepers working on their own drills.

From that, the coaches determined the final 10 players that would move on.

Two of them are former area high school standouts in David Meherg and Zack Sampson. The rest of the names will be released later this week.

Meherg, a 2007 graduate of Olympic High School, was a four-year starter for the Trojans at forward. He was the Olympic League MVP and an all-state first team selection his senior year.

Photo credit: Kitsap Sun photographer Larry Steagall captures Pumas' head coach John Wedge giving instructions to trialists.

Kitsap Pumas hire John Wedge as first head coach

The Kitsap Pumas have hired local youth soccer icon John Wedge as their first head coach the club announced today.

Wedge has a long resume of coaching experience as high as the collegiate and semi-pro level. He is also the Washington State Youth Soccer Association District Four Regional Coaching Director.

Wedge then named his coaching staff, Peninsula College head coach Andrew Chapman as assistant and the club’s director of youth development, James Ritchie as his goalkeeping coach.

The assembly of this staff completes an extensive search by the club’s front office. The full coaching staff will be on-hand the next two weekends for the club’s first open tryouts for prospective professional players.

“We’re excited to have John on board. He may have one of the most extensive coaching resumes on the West Coast,” said owner Robin Waite. “When you add the energy, enthusiasm and pedigrees of James and Andrew, we may end up with one of the best staffs in the league.”

The announcement also allows the club to begin signing players. Ritchie has been in Europe on an extensive scouting junket that could yield immediate results.

“I’ve seen some very good players that have studied us and like what they see,” said Ritchie. “Contrary to some thought in this country about our sport, players very much want to come here.”

“This is a life-long dream for me – to coach at the professional level, in a great organization, in a great community,” said Wedge. “I cannot tell you how excited I am. Let’s get to work!”

Wedge, nicknamed “The Professor,” by fellow coaches across the country, has an extensive background coaching at all levels of the sport, has founded a club and an academy, has led teams to national championships and has run soccer facilities.

From Wedge's WSYSA bio:

Wedge has been involved with and supportive of Youth Soccer in the United States since 1979 in a variety of roles.

John is a native of West Yorkshire, England where he grew up playing, and then coaching, soccer. In 1978, John graduated from Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds University with a B.Ed. degree in Human Movement.

In 1979 John immigrated to New York City where he taught Physical Education and coached soccer at Tilden H.S. in Brooklyn . He moved to Seattle , where he coached at Shoreline Community College from 1980 to 1984, winning the Northwest Colleges Coach of the Year Award in 1982. He was Coaching Director for the Washington State Soccer League in 1984 and 1985 before becoming Head Coach of both the men's and women's teams of the Valley Cities S.C., a semi-pro club based in Kent.

While he was general manager of the Tacoma Indoor Soccer Center , John also coached the Tacoma Wings to a National Amateur Men's Open Indoor title in 1987. He was the Washington State Men's Open Coach between 1987 and 1989 and won the Washington State “Player of the Year” award in 1988.

Wedge returned to high school coaching with Federal Way between 1991 and 1996 and was named the SPSL's Coach of the Year in 1992. He was the head coach of The Evergreen State College Men's team in 1996 and 1997. He helped create the Highline Heat Soccer Club in 1997 and was its first Coaching Director. He was concurrently Coaching Director of the Shorelake Soccer Club in 1998 and 1999, and President of Coerver Coaching of Washington from 1997 to 1999.

Wedge is currently Program Director with the Bainbridge Island Youth Soccer Club. He is responsible for camps, clinics and developing curricula.

Wedge is a staff instructor with Washington Youth Soccer for whom he has conducted numerous coach licensing clinics since 1985. He holds a USSF “A” coaching license, a National Youth License, and the Premier Award of the NSCAA.

Photo credit: John Wedge coaching with the Bainbridge Island Youth Soccer Club

More Pumas: Sounders SuperSearch finalist Oliver Wellman to try out with Kitsap

Full Press Release posted on the USL website

This week: Sounders play four matches; Pumas hire coach, hold tryouts

It will be about as busy as a second week in February gets around the Sound of soccer this week. Sounders FC will stretch their 33-man pre-season roster to the limit with four training matches while in West Sound the Kitsap Pumas will have events on three separate days.

The Sounders will play the LA Galaxy Monday at 3:00 PM at the Home Depot Center in their first-ever pre-season match against an opponent. (Seattle Times preview) Tuesday at 4:00 PM at Oxnard College the Sounders will face another side in training, Chinese Super Club Shandong Luneng Taishan. Wednesday night at 7:00 PM Seattle will be at PDL side Ventura County Fusion. Friday at 7:00 PM the Sounders play the San Jose Earthquakes at Cal Poly SLO.

Last week: Matt Gaschk looks at how camp went last week on SoundersFC.com



The Kitsap Pumas will announce their first-ever head coach at a press conference Tuesday at 10:30 AM. On Wednesday the new coach will join the Pumas staff to watch USA-Mexico at Clearwater Casino in a gathering that is open to the public. On Saturday the Pumas will hold their first-ever open tryouts session in Poulsbo at 10:00 AM.

Kitsap Soccer Club Launches “Pyramid Viewing Party at the Clearwater Casino”

Fans will also meet the club’s new head coach, Wed., Feb. 11 beginning at 3 p.m.

Bremerton, Wash. – Soccer fans on the Kitsap Peninsula now have a home base for high-level international and regional soccer broadcasts. Beginning this Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 in the Clearwater Casino’s state-of-the-art sports bar, Pyramid Breweries and the Kitsap Soccer Club will launch the first in a series of viewing parties for peninsula soccer fans ages 18 and over.

The centerpiece of the day will be the US v. Mexico match, which is a qualifier for each country heading in to the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa.

Fans can expect to see the match on over six big-screen television systems. Pyramid Breweries will provide beer specials from their famous line of products. The casino meanwhile will offer Corona beer and food specials.

“We’ve long wanted to reach out to the soccer community,” said Clearwater Casino promotions director Curtis Patnode. “With the launch of a pro team on the peninsula the time is perfect.”

Additionally, following this Tuesday’s announcement of the club’s first-ever head coach, fans will have a chance to “Meet the Coach,” live and on-site during the telecast.

“All of us at Pyramid are excited to be a part of this incredible alliance and what will surely become a long-running series of events. We couldn’t ask for better partners in the Casino and the club,” said Pyramid’s regional director of distribution Brian Holloway.

The event will begin at 3 p.m. and will end at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The Clearwater Casino is located off highway 305 just north of the Agate Pass bridge connecting Bainbridge Island and Suquamish.

For further information please contact Ben Pecora, Executive Director, at 360-377-6008 at the Pumas offices.

Around the Sound of Soccer for February 3rd

We've got some fine articles to point you towards today.

Soccer365.com talks with Sounders midfielder Brad Evans.

Dave Clark from Sounder at Heart has been busy recently. First he's the guest on this podcast that is good listening, especially for people catching up with the Sounders scene. Next Dave has posted an interview with Sounders' draft pick Micheal Fucito on his blog.

Sounders FC are off to Ventura County California to continue training. They aren't alone. Jose Romero is with the club and will be a main source of updates and news for fans in the coming weeks.

The Everett Herald has a feature on Ben Dragavon's fight to be Seattle's third goalkeeper.

The Seattle Times has a story on club soccer dreams and high school soccer realities.

San Jose Earthquakes are set to sign former USL Sounder Cam Weaver.

The Kitsap Pumas have launched a "Design our crest" contest. Pass along the details to your favorite artist.

Did you miss the SuperSearch Finale Sunday night? Sounders FC has a video highlight reel for you:

Contest: design the Kitsap Pumas crest

From www.KitsapSoccerClub.com

“Design Our Crest” Contest Kicks Off Monday, Feb. 2, 2009

Bremerton, Wash. – One of the great traditions for a soccer club is the unveiling of its crest. Many of the greatest clubs on the planet have crests that have endured for decades – and in some cases, for over a hundred years.

The Kitsap Soccer Club (Pumas) will carry on this tradition and is looking to YOU - our fans - to make it happen — designing our crest!

“We want to get this community excited and involved in their team. We started with the naming contest, which had an overwhelming success. This now leads to the design of our crest, and more to come,” said Ben Pecora, Executive Director.

Requirements for the crest are as follows:

* The team’s colors (royal blue, gold, black and white) must be incorporated
* The crest must reproduce in greyscale (black and white)
* Deadline for submittals is midnight February 28, 2009
* Winner of the contest, to receive four covered grandstand tickets to the Pumas’ first-ever Opening Night match
* All designs must be originals


Our crest design is open to all ages and art teachers are encouraged to get your classes involved!

Please submit your entry to info@kitsapsoccerclub.com with the subject line “Crest Entry.”

We are set to kick off our inaugural season this spring, so don't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass you by!

For further information please contact Ben Pecora, Executive Director, at 360-377-6008 or Vicki Williams at the Pumas offices.

Kitsap Pumas announce open tryouts Feb. 14 in Poulsbo

Bremerton, Wash. – The new, professional Kitsap Soccer Club will hold its first-ever open tryouts for prospective professional players, Saturday, February 14, 2009 at the North Kitsap High School Stadium (artificial turf) located at 18360 Caldart Ave. NE Poulsbo, Washington.

To pre-register, please visit the club website, www.kitsapsoccerclub.com. There, trialists will find and complete a medical and liability waiver and official pre-registration form.

The registration fee is $25.

Filling out the on-line form does not constitute full registration. Trialists must then submit their forms via e-mail, fax, postal service mail or on-site at the tryout itself.

Trialists will undergo a fitness and skills evaluation lasting approximately three hours.

Check-in begins at 10 a.m. sharp. The trials begin at 11 a.m. sharp.

Deadline for on-line registration is noon, February 13, 2009.

NOTE: It is strongly encouraged that trialists pre-register prior to arrival at the tryout. an on-site registration team will be on-hand from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Feb. 14^th.

For further information please contact Ben Pecora, Executive Director, at 360-377-6008 or Vicki Williams at the Pumas offices.

The SOUND of soccer: Wolves, Tide, Pumas schedules released

All on the same day? Yep. Today the United Soccer Leagues has released the 2009 Premier Development League (PDL) slate of matches. Now we know the home dates for Seattle Wolves FC, Tacoma Tide FC and Kitsap Pumas SC.

GOALSeattle.com has ALL of the home club HOME matches in our handy "Local Matches Calendar." Welcome to the SOUND of soccer!



Seattle Wolves FC make their historic debut in USL soccer on Wednesday May 13 at 7:00 PM when they host Tacoma Tide FC at Starfire. Kitsap Pumas make their historic USL debut two nights later when the Tide again play the spoilers in Bremerton on Friday May 15 at 7:00 PM at Bremerton Memorial Stadium. Tacoma's home debut is Sunday May 17 at 3:00 PM against Cascade Surge.

U-23 clubs from local rivals Vancouver and Portland come in to Seattle to take on the Wolves this summer, too. Portland Timbers U-23's come to Starfire on Wednesday May 20 while the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency visit on Saturday night June 20.



In all of that hailstorm of local matches, we actually have very few conflicts. Tacoma Tide FC have two matches on the same days as the Sounders. We'll see if they adjust. Kitsap Pumas are in Seattle to take on the Wolves the same night that the Sounders host Columbus Crew. That's mostly it.

Around the Sound of Soccer for January 27th

The Major League Soccer and Premier Development League schedules should be out...tomorrow! Thus much of my summer will then be planned...Sounders FC, Wolves FC, Tide FC, Pumas...

The Kitsap Pumas are quietly making headway as they prepare for their first season. Chuck Stark checks in with the Bremerton bunch in today's Kitsap Sun. The Pumas will announce shortly that they'll be taking fan submissions for club crest ideas.

The newly christened Seattle Wolves FC PDL club that will play the Pumas and Tacoma Tide FC this summer are going to be in the amateur category. If you are keeping score that means Kitsap will be pro and pay players, while Tacoma and Seattle will stay amateur and look for college talent.

Sounders FC continue to get great coverage from local papers and KING 5 TV. Be sure to drop by the blogs at the Seattle Times (Romero) and Tacoma News Tribune (Ruiz).

More today on the Sounders acquisition of Patrick Ianni in the Times, P-I, TNT.

Rich Myre of the Everett Herald looks at Kasey Keller 'Bringing it all back home.'

Blogger Dave Clark talked with Steve Zakuani, SSFC's top draft pick.

Blogger 'Ness' looks at how the 2009 Sounders' roster reflects the world's game.

In England, Adrian Hanauer's Cambridge United club continue battles over their venue.

Kitsap Soccer Club Strikes On-Line Agreement with Brown Paper Tickets

Kitsap Pumas press release:

Bremerton, Wash. – The new, professional Kitsap Soccer Club has launched an on-line ticketing agreement with Seattle’s Brown Paper Tickets. This arrangement will allow the club to sell all of its tickets and ticket packages and ticketing needs for its inaugural season.

Brown Paper Tickets – “The first and only fair-trade ticketing service” - is a local firm headquartered in the Fremont district of Seattle.

Brown Paper’s partnership with the club represents the first alliance of Brown Paper Tickets and a professional sports franchise.

“We are quite pleased to announce this partnership,” said Pumas owner Robin Waite. “This is a Northwest firm with Northwest roots doing very good things right here in our own communities – plus they do the best job in the industry of keeping costs low and affordable for the fans. It’s a win-win.”

The firm was founded by William Scott Jordan, also the founder of an event listing website called EventNation.com in the 1990’s. The forums on EventNation gave event-goers the opportunity to discuss all aspects of live events, including experiences with different ticketing services. Watching the forum discussions, William saw a trend - people were unhappy with the enormous service charges tacked onto their ticket purchases, as well as the lack of customer service provided by ticketing companies.


Video: Kitsap Pumas announce club name in November 2008.

He decided to fix the problem, and in 2000, Brown Paper Tickets was born. The defining points of the business were, and continue to be, low service fees and excellent customer service. William wanted to create a service that would be accessible to everyone, and made the decision to never charge event producers to sign up or sell tickets - Brown Paper Tickets' service is completely free to event producers. The per-ticket service charge that ticket buyers pay is just $0.99 plus 2.5% of the ticket price, which is the lowest in the industry.

“Brown Paper Tickets is proud to be working with the Kitsap Soccer Club for a few different reasons,” said Carley Borgen, Director of Marketing for Brown Paper Tickets. “As a community-oriented organization, they align well with the goals of our company. We're excited to enter into our first professional sports franchise partnership, and the fact that they're local makes this even more special.”

Brown Paper Tickets boasts a 24-hour staffed call center for both ticket purchases and producer tech support, with online ticket sales available 24 hours a day. United States Postal Service First Class shipping for tickets is free of charge, but Brown Paper Tickets also offers Will Call as an option, and will soon be offering Print-At-Home technology. The service is scalable - producers can sell tickets to events for anywhere from 2 - 10,000 attendees or more.

Brown Paper Tickets operates as a Not-Just-For-Profit business. Not-Just-For-Profit companies realize that while it's good to have a profitable business, it's essential to give back to the community. One of the ways the firm gives back is by donating 5% of its profits to charitable organizations involved with human rights, children, animals, and the environment. Ticket buyers are given the ability to choose the category toward which they would like their percentage to go.

“This alliance allows us to meet key objectives regarding ticketing,” said club executive director Ben Pecora. “First, we now offer an ultra-low-cost option to folks wishing to purchase on-line. Yet, the most important aspect of our partnership is additionally two-fold: Brown Paper is a company with a commitment to the community and it is a local firm. The Kitsap Pumas hold these values highly and see ourselves in this exact light.”

2009 Kitsap Soccer Club season tickets are priced as follows:

• Covered Grandstand - $90
• Open Grandstand - $75
• End Zones and Family Seating - $45

For further information please contact Ben Pecora, Executive Director, at 360-377-6008 or Vicki Williams at the Pumas offices. www.KitsapSoccerClub.com

Five clubs, five questions for 2009: Seattle Sounders FC

We've reached the top level of Puget Sound soccer and the top club in our region in our "Five Questions" series. In 2009 all other local sides will fight it out in the shadows of the debut of Seattle Sounders FC into Major League Soccer.

Five questions for Sounders FC

1. Can Sounders FC present a truly 'world class' soccer experience at Qwest Field?

Major League Soccer fans on messages boards around the country have been obsessing about Qwest Field's soccer pedigree since the day Seattle was awarded an MLS franchise. We are 2 1/2 months away from our first home match, and they are waiting to see if Sounders management can make good on their promise to make Qwest "great" for soccer. The to-do list includes a pristine pitch for every match (no NFL lines), soccer-friendly staff that 'get' what footie fans are like, 100% open concessions, non-intrusive public announcements, a willingness to let the fans create the atmosphere. So...what's going to happen?

2. Who are these season ticket holders, and do they like to make noise?
Nearly as big a mystery as our future starting roster is who all of the people are that have come out of the woodwork and bought Sounders season tickets. It's all good, but I can't help but wonder what percentage of ticket members are Seahawks holders just giving MLS 'a try.' Will they like what they see? Do they 'get the game?' Can they bring the noise, world soccer style?



3. Is Sigi 'up for it?'

Take a breath, Mr. Schmid. Now comes the really hard part. You'll need to be a master conductor to get the new Seattle team playing a happy tune. You've graciously complimented Adrian Hanauer and Chris Henderson on the players they handed off to you last month. I hope you can get them playing as a team sooner rather than later. I'd rather be counting victories than minutes between goals scored in 2009. You've also said you are not 'starting from scratch.' Here's hoping you don't do too much 'head scratching' when training camp kicks off in a few weeks.

4. How will the Ljunberg saga play out?

Freddie has had the surgery that is supposed to decrease the likelihood of further hamstring injuries. When he rejoins the club he will have missed all of training camp and Sigi will have had to build an attack without him. If that attack is successful minus Ljungberg, will Sigi keep Freddie benched? Was Seattle's DP signing a mistake? Will the Sounders look back and wish they had Freddie's salary to spread around other club needs? If Freddie is a success, will he become the talk of the town?

5. Can Kasey keep them out?

Kasey Keller will defend a goal while wearing a 'Seattle' crest for the first time in his long career. How will he do? He's been chomping at the bit to get going, but once he does will he like what he's been chomping for?

Can he organize a defense that has never played together before? Will he feel 'heat' from Chris Eylander as a back-up, or will he feel 'secure' as a starter to the point of distraction?



Five clubs, five questions:
Kitsap Pumas
Tacoma Tide FC
Seattle Wolves FC (PCSL)
Seattle PDL

Five clubs, five questions for 2009: Seattle PDL

No local club is shrouded in more mystery right now than the Seattle Premier Development League (PDL) club set to debut in 2009. We learned about this new team when the United Soccer Leagues (USL) announced their 2009 PDL alignment. Along with the new club in Kitsap and the returning Tacoma Tide FC, the league threw the name of Seattle ('To be announced') into the Northwest Division.

Instantly the question became "who is starting this club?" Is it Seattle Wolves FC, who have just returned from the USL meetings with information about going 'pro' in 2010? Is it Seattle Sounders FC, who could use the club as a 'replacement' for a side in the just-closed MLS reserve league? Is it another group entirely?

Alas, we still don't know. However, I do have some hints that lead me to believe this new club will be run by Seattle Wolves FC. When asked about the new club, a person from the Sounders' side responded with "we've got enough to do building the parent club," while the Wolves said "No comment, but we'll have more to say on this very soon."

Five questions for Seattle PDL

1. Who owns you, and how will that affect your 2009 season?

If Seattle Wolves 'own' Seattle PDL, then it is a club destined to try for a higher league in the very near future. If Sounders FC 'own' Seattle PDL then it is a club destined to become a talented 'reserve side' for players to advance their craft and keep their edge.

2. Are you serious?

Will Seattle PDL be 'serious' about running a competitive club and trying to draw fan interest? Is that possible in Seattle at this level (USA 4th division)? Many years ago the USL Sounders had a 'Selects' side that played, and there was also the Seattle / Everett 'Bigfoot,' at basically the same level. The Sounders ended the Selects team when the finances became a drain. Not sure how/why the Bigfoot moved around and then folded.

If this new club is part of the Seattle Wolves, then it will be interesting to see how they juggle the commitment they've also made to play in the PCSL next summer.

Is it possible that this club will be *both* a Wolves club and a Sounders FC reserve side?

3. Will you be pro or amateur?

We are back to the ownership thing...or are we? It is possible that whomever owns and runs Seattle PDL the club could be 'pro' either way. The Sounders would want a pro side so they could slide players up and down from the parent roster. Seattle Wolves might also want to start pro in anticipation of 2010 and a leap to the USL-2.

4. Where will you get your players?

You'll need players, but you've got competition on all sides of Puget Sound. Kitsap Pumas are going to pay their players. Tacoma Tide FC will recruit college talent with amateur status. The PCSL Wolves will also have a roster of amateurs. If Seattle PDL goes 'pro' then that makes it all the tougher on Kitsap to sign players. If they go amateur, then Seattle college players might want to stay at home instead of fighting the traffic to Tacoma.

5. Will soccer fans warm-up to all of the possible rivalries?

Seattle PDL, you do know that you have a tremendous opportunity in 2009, don't you? You'll have rivals in Tacoma and Bremerton...but even more you'll suddenly be the 'placeholder' for the Emerald City in matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps (Residency) and Portland Timbers (U-23's). You'll be the local linchpin of "Cascadia Cup Jr." or something like that. Will that help you get some fans out to your games?

The mystery around Seattle PDL should start getting solved sometime in January. The PDL season kicks off May 1st.

Five clubs, five questions:
Kitsap Pumas
Tacoma Tide FC
Seattle Wolves FC (PCSL)

Next: Seattle Sounders FC

Five clubs, five questions for 2009: Seattle Wolves FC

Seattle Sounders FC weren't the only Seattle soccer club dropping big news and big surprises in 2008. Seattle Wolves FC began the year by jumping up to the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) and ended it with a public pledge to bring a second professional club to the Emerald City in 2010.

The Wolves' desire to join the national United Soccer Leagues Second Division was an eye-opener on at least two fronts. First, they'd be joining a league with only an east coast (and Bermuda) presence. Second, they'd be trying to sell soccer entertainment in the same town as Major League Soccer (MLS) Sounders FC.

In 2009 the Wolves look to be staying in the PCSL. The league website now lists them as a member for next campaign.





Five questions for Seattle Wolves FC

1. How will the Wolves use a second year in the PCSL to prepare for the pros in 2010?

This general question is really better addressed by dividing up club areas, which I've done in the questions below. You would think that 2009 in the PCSL would be all about getting ready for a possible huge jump to the professional ranks in 2010. It will be interesting to see how the Wolves make progress in several areas.

2. How will the Wolves improve their roster?

Right now the Wolves' roster is a combination of local high-level players, college talent as available, and former professionals. Will they use 2009 as a chance to connect with new talent and bring in players with an eye on 2010? Technical Director Alex Weaver seems to have the pedigree (Manchester United Schools) and connections to help the Wolves in this area.

3. How will the Wolves improve their fan experience?

The Wolves sold tickets to matches in 2009 and offered give-aways of jerseys and other drawings. Starfire Sports Complex was home, and more than a few times the club played in the main stadium. Will the Wolves secure the stadium for all matches in 2009? How else will they try to increase their fan base?


4. How will the Wolves improve their amount of exposure to the media?

It was a 15-year uphill battle to get constant coverage for the USL-1 Seattle Sounders. Entering the USL-2 does not automatically mean the Wolves will get increased media coverage. The Wolves understand soccer and the Seattle market, and seem to have a good vision of where they fit in. The club website is well-run, but they'll need to occasionally make the local papers to break through to a larger soccer audience.

5. How important is winning the PCSL crown?

The Wolves are winners. It is hard to imagine them 'taking the eye off the ball' by looking too far forward to 2010. Last year SWFC finished third in the PCSL regular season table and then made it to the Final before falling to Victoria United in the Sheila Anderson Memorial Challenge Cup. The Wolves would later claim the J.F. Kennedy Cup by beating the best clubs from Oregon and BC. On the pitch, winning a PCSL crown before promotion would be a great accomplishment. Off of the pitch it would be a nice selling-point highlighting the club's winning traditions.

Visit: www.SeattleWolvesFC.com

Five clubs, five questions:
Kitsap Pumas
Tacoma Tide FC

Next: The mysterious 2009 Seattle PDL side