Rough Riders Become a W-League Affiliate of 2009 WPS Champions
Plainview, N.Y. (Thursday, March 4, 2010) – The Long Island Rough Riders of the USL W-League formally announced today that it has formed a partnership with the 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer champion Sky Blue FC.
“An important part of the Sky Blue FC mission is to develop relationships like the one we have with the Long Island Rough Riders W-League team,” Sky Blue FC General Manager Gerry Marrone commented. “This partnership is especially significant since this organization represents one of the ‘soccer hotbeds’ in the entire country. Soccer is a passion for Long Island, and the numbers and quality of their programs makes this a great connection with Sky Blue FC and Women’s Professional Soccer.”
The partnership with the Rough Riders includes the areas of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens. It will entail player identification whereby Rough Riders women players will be evaluated by the Sky Blue FC coaching staff during the season. In addition, Sky Blue FC will host youth tournaments involving the Junior Rough Riders along with their affiliate clubs at one of this year’s Sky Blue FC home games.
“This partnership with Sky Blue FC further illustrates our commitment to player development,” Rough Riders General Manager Flavio Ferri stated. “This also affords our players the opportunity to be directly exposed to the highest level with the WPS defending national champions.”
An additional mission between the two clubs is to provide a platform for professional hopefuls to develop their game.
"There is a wealth of female talent on Long Island,” Ferri continued. “The close proximity of both franchises will make it more accessible for possible player exchange and identification.”
The Rough Riders join the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues in serving as an official development club to Sky Blue FC.
The Rough Riders Women’s Team are currently hosting tryouts for the 2010 season - www.liroughriders.com/women
The Rough Riders play its home matchs at Cy Donnelly Stadium on the campus of Saint Anthony High School in South Huntington, and tickets for its upcoming season of play are available now by calling 1-516-622-TIXX (8499) or logging onto www.liroughriders.com.
ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND ROUGH RIDERS
The Long Island Rough Riders have been part of the Long Island soccer scene since their inception in 1994. The Rough Riders men and women’s team won their first National Championship in 1995. The Rough Riders men’s team featured former US National Team members Chris Armas, Tony Meola, MLS All Star Giovanni Savarese and Jimmy Rooney along with US Olympic Team Member and current Rough Riders Coaching Director, John Diffley. Since their initial success, the Rough Riders men’s team has gone on to win the United Soccer League (USL) 2nd Division National Championship in 2002 and has sent numerous players to Major League Soccer (MLS).
In 2007, the Rough Riders acquired a W-League franchise. During the 2008 season, the Rough Riders women’s team qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals. Former Rough Riders women’s team member Sue Weber was drafted by the Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) and currently plays for the Philadelphia Independence.
ABOUT SKY BLUE FC
Operated by Sky Blue Soccer, Sky Blue FC is the New Jersey/New York franchise in Women’s Professional Soccer. In 2009, Sky Blue FC captured the inaugural WPS Championship presented by MedImmune with an inspirational run through the playoffs. Sky Blue FC plays its home matches at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. Website: www.SkyBlueFC.com
ABOUT WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER (WPS)
Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), with eight teams across the United States, features the best players from around the world. Sky Blue FC of New Jersey became the first-ever WPS Champions in 2009. The 2010 24-game schedule runs from April 10-September 12 and includes six original WPS teams - Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Saint Louis Athletica, Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) and Washington Freedom - and two expansion teams, Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence. For more information, visit the WPS official website at www.womensprosoccer.com or follow all the news at www.twitter.com/womensprosoccer.
ABOUT UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES (USL)
Founded in 1986, United Soccer Leagues has become the largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America by building on the vision, commitment, and passion of players, fans, and investors. Now in its third decade of operation, USL continues to be a driving force in the growth of soccer in the United States, Canada, and Caribbean. USL provides a clearly defined path for the progression of male and female soccer players beginning at the youth level (USL Super Y-League/USL Super-20 League), continuing up through the amateur level (USL Premier Development League/USL W-League) and on up to the professional level (USL First Division/USL Second Division). A platform for countless players to reach for their dreams each year, USL is devoted to developing the sport at the grassroots level in every community across the region. Form more information, visit the USL official website at www.uslsoccer.com.
