The schedule is set, and the competitors have been identified. The 2015 USL-Premier Development League (PDL), which FC LONDON won in 2012, is a showcase of local and international soccer talent, and FC LONDON CEO Ian Campbell and Head Coach Martin Painter are lining up some excitement — both on and off the field — with a team that will be primarily made up of Canadian and French players this year.
“We always look internationally as the roster comes together, as the Europeans bring an extra flair to the field,” said Painter, FC LONDON’S head coach. “The mix of culture and talent from around the globe is what continues to make FC LONDON one of the strongest teams in North America.”
Several Canadian players are rejoining the team from the 2014 squad, including keepers Mark Haynes and Scott Shewfelt. After the end of the 2014 PDL season, Haynes anchored London Marconi men’s team to a national championship.
Other Canadian players returning include Londoners Quinn Duncan, Matt Cattalano, Conner Mcfall, Tyler Hemming and Younan Samra. Denver Spearman has been an anchor with the team since joining in 2012 to contribute to the North American Championship that year, and Aaron Schneebeli from the KW area will anchor at the back. Another notable returnee is Hamilton’s Sandro Rajokvic, who stood out in midfield for the squad in 2014 before suffering an injury mid-season that put him out of the lineup for the remainder of the year.
“I’m coming in healthy and looking to make a difference in our results this year,” said Rajokvic. “I’m excited to be back on the field with both some of my 2014 teammates and some new talented players.”
Those talented players include James Pucci, who racked up 10 goals and 3 assists in 13 games for FC LONDON in 2014 to earn a sixth-place finish in North American points and a first-place finish in shots with 46. His 79th minute bicycle kick versus the Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 in London last year still gathers hits on YouTube. That, combined with his exciting personality, certainly make Pucci a fan favourite.
Another notable international returnee this year is French defender Aurelien Norest, while the team has added other French Internationals, including midfielder Pierre Mangold and defender Jeannin Takumi. The international roster is rounded out by returning Englishman Danny Deakin and Alejandro Pastor, a playmaking striker who Painter expects will mesh well with the striking power of Italian Pucci.
On the business operations side, charity events, sponsorship, staffing, venue and equipment selection are all under way as FC LONDON looks to continue its reputation as a high-quality entertainment option within the London sports landscape.
“This league never fails to impress, and the new affiliations with MLS teams is something that brings a new level of competition to the field,” said CEO Ian Campbell. “Between the college successes, professional signings and the continual growth of the sport across the country, it couldn’t be a better time for FC LONDON to bring Soccer Saturdays as a component of top quality soccer and sports entertainment in the city.”
For more information about FC LONDON, check out www.FCLONDON.ca.
– Submitted by FC LONDON
