Mark Simpson of Virginia Cavalry FC on Pitch Pass Podcast

Listen to  Virginia Cavalry FC Director of Soccer Opporations, Mark Simpson on Pitch Pass. He discusses his new team and role. Mark was an assistant coach at D.C. United and an MLS Cup-winning goalkeeper for the Black-and-Red.

click to listen: Pitch Pass Bonus Episode: Mark Simpson

Cavalry FC to host SoccerFest 2013 in Leesburg, VA

Cavalry FC's inaugural SoccerFest will be held on June 29 and 30 on the fields at Morven Park in Leesburg.
 
Operated in conjunction with our partner Brotman|Winter|Fried, an experienced organizer of such events, SoccerFest will consist of special Cavalry FC games, contests, competitions, giveaways and prizes – and soccer matches.  Lots of soccer matches.  Hour upon active hour of soccer matches, four-on-four for the age, skill level and fun of everyone.


Come out and play with Virginia Cavalry FC for SoccerFest 2013.  Find details on what will be going on and how to get your team on the field at CavalryFCSoccerFest.com.

Virginia Cavalry FC launch official club logo

On the heels of announcing its name and receiving approval to move forward with the stadium, the Ashburn-based Virginia Cavalry FC have officially unveiled its primary logo on the team's Facebook and Twitter pages today.

With the North American Soccer League (NASL) set for its league-wide opening kick this weekend, Virginia Cavalry FC is set for its inaugural season in 2014.

Virginia Cavalry FC Official Logo

It will take the pitch with a predominantly red, black and silver logo, consisting of a traditional shield outlined in silver and white and divided into four quadrants, with the top two quadrants framing a silhouette of a rearing horse and the interlocking letters VAC.

A black banner arcs across the shield's lower half, containing the stacked words "Virginia Cavalry."  Below the banner are the letters "FC", which stands for Football Club.

"I absolutely love our logo. It has different significant pieces which represent our club wonderfully well," said Mark Simpson, the club's Director of Soccer Operations.  "It's classic and traditional and will be something our players will be proud to wear and our fans will identify with."

Complimenting the Cavalry FC design team, Simpson said that the logo was expertly designed to be modern, unique and identifiable while paying homage to the look of traditional soccer logos common with European and South American clubs.

"Whether on jerseys as a badge or on the fans' scarves, this logo will be a strong presence for Virginia Cavalry FC," Simpson said.

The club plans to utilize specific elements of the primary logo, such as the horse and the interlocking letters, as secondary marks for alternate jerseys and fan clothing.

Simpson noted that the team's name, Cavalry FC, connects directly with the definition of a cavalry as a singular unit working together for a common purpose.

"That's the mentality we want to promote within this club," said Simpson, a veteran of professional soccer who owns four championship rings from his days with DC United.

Virginia Cavalry FC will play its home matches in the forthcoming stadium at One Loudoun near the interchange of Route 7 and Loudoun County Parkway.

Former UVA Goalkeeper, National Champ Diego Restrepo signs with Rowdies

Former University of Virginia goalkeeper Diego Restrepo has signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL. Restrepo helped Virginia to a National Championship in 2009. Congrats to Diego.

Official Rowdies Player Announcement: click here

NASL Virginia franchise name unvailing set for Feb. 6

Soccer legend Harkes, NBC Sports’ Thaler introduce newest NASL franchise

 

Ashburn, VA – January 23, 2013 – While NASL Virginia’s wildly successful Kick The Vote ’13 campaign continues, and the battle between potential names Cavalry, Dominion and Stallions rages on, the organization has announced the location and star-studded lineup for the Team Name Unveiling on February 6, 2013.

 

The event, to coincide with a viewing party of the U.S. Men’s National Team Qualifier versus Honduras, will be held at Bungalow Lakehouse in Sterling, Virginia, and will feature Russ Thaler of NBC Sports as our emcee and John Harkes as our special guest.

 

Thaler is the Studio Host for MLS on NBC and NBC Sports Network and has covered soccer in America for a dozen years.  Harkes is a legendary name in the soccer world, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and has played in England, the U.S. and on numerous World Cup teams; John also resides in Northern Virginia. 

 

 

WHO:		NASL Virginia Emcee: Russ Thaler Special Guest: John Harkes
WHAT:		Team Name Unveiling U.S. Men's National Team Viewing Party
WHERE:		Bungalow Lakehouse 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling, VA 20165
WHEN:		Wednesday, February 6 Event begins: 3:30 pm Kickoff: 4:00 pm Name Unveiling: Approximately 5:50 pm

 

The Bungalow Lakehouse (for directions click here) is clearly working to become the go-to bar for soccer fans across Northern Virginia.  Bungalow Lake House has 96 tap heads in 3 bars with over 44 state-of-the-art video flat screens and the largest big screen in Northern Virginia at 19 feet! They also offer gourmet food from Chef Jason Maddens.

 

NASL Virginia’s Kick The Vote ’13 contest is presented by Edelman Financial Services, the Buffalo Wing Factory & Pub, Mountcastle Plastic Surgery and Sonak Family Chiropractic.

 

This unveiling will culminate an amazing campaign as NASL Virginia has fielded thousands of submissions from across Virginia, the D.C. metro area and around the world, made via NASLVirginia.com, Facebook.com/NASLVirginia, through Twitter @NASLVirginia and #KickTheVote13 and our unique iPhone app.

 

“We can’t wait to share our new identity and brand with our growing and rabid fan base,” said VIP Sports & Entertainment founder and CEO Bob Farren. “The event is going to be special as we cheer on the U.S. team and are joined by great soccer names like John Harkes and Russ Thaler. This is just the start of many great nights for our franchise.”

NASL Virginia narrow potential club name down to three

NASL VIRGINIA: ANNOUNCES TEAM NAME FINALISTS

Loudoun-based club narrows field to Cavalry, Dominion, Stallions

Ashburn, VA – January 3, 2013 – After thousands of suggested names poured into VIP Sports & Entertainment and NASL Virginia in just a few weeks, the candidate list has been narrowed for the contest’s final phase, Kick the Vote ’13. Starting today, soccer fans in Northern Virginia and around the globe are encouraged to cast their vote for one of the following three names:

                      CAVALRY               DOMINION               STALLIONS

NASL Virginia asking fans to name new team

NASL VIRGINIA: ONE MONTH LEFT TO SUBMIT NAMES FOR NEW SOCCER TEAM

 

Phase 2 begins December 19 and will culminate February 6, 2013

Ashburn, VA – November 19, 2012 – With hundreds of names pouring in during the first phase of NASL Virginia’s Name The Team contest, the organization has announced that we will extend the deadline for submission until noon on Wednesday, December 19. NASL Virginia will then initiate ‘Phase 2’ of the contest, whereby fans will choose from one of three finalists.

“The volume and quality of names we are receiving is overwhelming,” said Bob Farren, President and CEO of VIP Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of NASL VIrginia. “We will have some very difficult work to do to cull the list down to three final choices for fans on December 19. It is a great problem to have.”

Fans are encouraged to submit names for their new soccer team at NASLvirginia.com, at Facebook.com/NASLVirginia and at various locations across Northern Virginia. The contest is presented by Edelman Financial Services, Buffalo Wing Factory & Pub, Mountcastle Plastic Surgery and Sonak Family Chiropractic.

By 2014, the NASL will consist of 11 teams and their split-season format will run from Spring to July 4 and then Summer to early November, with the champion determined by the winner of the Spring Championship hosting the winner of the Fall Championship. The NASL Virginia franchise will host at least 16 regular season home games.

NASL Virginia’s Name The Team contest will conclude with a fan celebration on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at a location to be announced. This event will be in conjunction with a watch party during the United States Men’s Team World Cup Qualifier verses Honduras. At this celebration and party we will unveil the soccer team’s name, logo and home jersey.

# # #

About the NASL: The North American Soccer League (NASL) is sanctioned as America’s Second Division of Professional Soccer by the United States Soccer Federation, just below Major League Soccer. The NASL is a professional men’s soccer league with eight current teams in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The NASL’s history reaches back to the late 1960’s and the original inception of a professional soccer league in the United States. The NASL was best known for great teams like the New York Cosmos, the Washington Diplomats, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the Tampa Bay Rowdies and world-class players like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia.

The league was reestablished in late 2009 and began league play on April 9, 2011 and the Minnesota Stars were the inaugural season’s champions and the Tampa Bay Rowdies recently won this year’s NASL Championship. The league will expand to nine teams with the return of the NY Cosmos in 2013 and to 12 teams with the introduction of Virginia and Ottawa for 2014.

About VIP Sports & Entertainment: The mission of VIP S&E is to provide the families of Northern Virginia with an unprecedented level of affordable entertainment all year long, for generations to come. The centerpiece of VIP’s community-focused endeavor is a stunning, innovative 5,500-general admission ballpark complex in the One Loudoun multi-purpose development near Dulles International Airport. The state-of-the-art facility will be designed to comfortably host Loudoun Hounds professional baseball, NASL professional soccer, high school and other amateur sports, as well as premium concerts, festivals, fairs and community events. With a range of unique amenities and distinctive features, VIP’s venue will truly be a place of “Universal Appeal With a Neighborhood Feel™.”

Q & A with David D'Onofrio and Mark Simpson of NASL Virginia

via IMSoccer News:


This is a great read to learn even more about the newest professional soccer club that has come to Virginia.


A Q & A with David D’Onofrio, Entertainment Director of Communications and Mark Simpson, Director of Soccer Operations for VIP Sports & Entertainment, on the NASL’s newest club.

Read Full Story: Loudoun County Officially Newest Member of NASL

VIP Sports and Entertainment bring NASL Soccer to Loudoun County

VIP S&E ADDS SOCCER TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA SPORTS LINEUP

NASL franchise gains footing in Loudoun County

via NASL Virginia Facebook page

Ashburn, VA – November 5, 2012 – Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional sports and entertainment options to Northern Virginia, VIP Sports & Entertainment announces that it is partnering with Loudoun Professional Soccer, LLC (LPS), who have been awarded a franchise in the North American Soccer League (NASL).  The franchise will debut in 2014 playing its home games at the future Ballpark located at One Loudoun in Ashburn, VA.

“The NASL has a long and glorious tradition as a quality professional league and we are proud to join them in 2014,” said Bob Farren, Chairman & Founder of VIP Sports & Entertainment. “We believe the addition of professional soccer significantly enhances the entertainment options we can offer our fans and we are extraordinarily happy to welcome the NASL to Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. region.”

Accompanying this announcement is the launch of a Name The Team contest to have our fans determine the name of the franchise.  Fans are encouraged to submit names for their new soccer team at NASLvirginia.com, presented by Edelman Financial Services, Buffalo Wing Factory & Pub, Mountcastle Plastic Surgery and Sonak Family Chiropractic.

“The NASL is delighted to add Virginia to the league as our 11th team, beginning play in 2014,” said Commissioner David Downs.  “Over the past year we have gotten to know the owners and management group here quite well, and share their strong belief that this team will be successful in every sense of the word in this rapidly growing and vibrant community in Northern Virginia.”

By 2014, the NASL will consist of 11 teams and their split-season format will run from Spring to July 4 and then Summer to early November with the champion determined by the winner of the Spring Championship hosting the winner of the Fall Championship. VIP Sports & Entertainment will host at least 16 home regular season games.

LPS President Joe Travez added his thoughts on the world’s game: “We will work with NASL and its partner Traffic Sports, headquartered in Brazil, to bring the global game home to Loudoun County through various international matches. It is an exciting opportunity to expand Virginia’s role in the world sports market.”

Farren noted, “The opportunity to expand the lineup of professional sports in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia with the quality of an NASL franchise is a tremendous compliment to our plans at the Ballpark. We all look forward to tapping into the power of the youth soccer network of the DC Region and finding fans all across the region to be a part of the future success of this team.”

Among the goals of VIP’s soccer franchise will be the development of an academy system, formed by teaming up with several established youth soccer clubs including Loudoun Soccer, the largest club of its kind in Virginia.  Former DC United Goalkeeper and Coach Mark Simpson will be the club’s Director of Soccer Operations. 

About the NASL: The North American Soccer League (NASL) is sanctioned as America’s Second Division of Professional Soccer by the United States Soccer Federation, just below Major League Soccer. The NASL is a professional men’s soccer league with eight current teams in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The NASL’s history reaches back to the late 1960’s and the original inception of a professional soccer league in the United States. The NASL was best known for great teams like the New York Cosmos, the Washington Diplomats, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the Tampa Bay Rowdies and world-class players like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia.

The league was reestablished in late 2009 and began league play on April 9, 2011 and the Minnesota Stars were the inaugural season’s champions and the Tampa Bay Rowdies recently won this year’s NASL Championship. The league will expand to nine teams with the return of the NY Cosmos in 2013 and to 12 teams with the introduction of Virginia and Ottawa for 2014.

About VIP Sports & Entertainment: The mission of VIP S&E is to provide the families of Northern Virginia with an unprecedented level of affordable entertainment all year long, for generations to come.  The centerpiece of VIP’s community-focused endeavor is a stunning, innovative 5,500-general admission ballpark complex in the One Loudoun multi-purpose development near Dulles International Airport.  The state-of-the-art facility will be designed to comfortably host Loudoun Hounds professional baseball, NASL professional soccer, high school and other amateur sports, as well as premium concerts, festivals, fairs and community events.  With a range of unique amenities and distinctive features, VIP’s venue will truly be a place of “Universal Appeal With a Neighborhood Feel™.”

NASL Adding Team in Virginia

The North American Soccer League (NASL) will be adding a new team to the league that is scheduled to start play in Loudoun County, VA beginning in 2014. (Washington Business Journal Story)

To learn more about the NASL Virginia club you can visit their official website: www.naslvirginia.com, like their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NaslVirginia, and even follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/naslvirginia.

Virginia Native, D.C. United midfielder Conor Shanosky loaned to NASL club

Conor Shanosky is one of only four D.C. United Academy players that have gone on to sign a homegrown player contract with United. With a crowded roster at midfield for the Black and Red, United announced today that Shanosky has been loaned to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL for the upcoming 2012 season. See: Conor Shanosky loaned to Fort Lauderdale Strikers

The twenty-year-old Potomac Falls High School product signed with United back in 2010 but has yet to see time with the first team in an official MLS match. Shanosky told VASoccerNews:

"I'm anxious to play and really want to prove myself."

This past off season the 6'4" midfielder, who played on the U.S. Under-20 MNT, took part in the Generation Adidas Tour with fellow up-and-coming MLS players in Holland and played some of its best reserve teams including Ajax, FC Volendam, and Almere City FC.

VASoccerNews Q&A: Sterling native, D.C. United player Conor Shanosky on his Generation Adidas experience

Former Richmond Kicker and Winchester, VA native aiming for final NASL Playoff spot

John Gilkerson is looking to help his team the NSC Minnesota Stars grab the final playoff spot in the North American Soccer League (NASL) as the regualar season wraps up.

Gilkerson is a former Richmond Kicker and a native of Winchester, VA.  who began his professional career in 2008, when the New York Red Bulls selected him in the Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft.

Currently the NSC Minnesota Stars face a difficult two-game road trip to try to clinch the final available spot. The team finishes its season series Saturday night at 6 p.m. CDT against FC Tampa Bay at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Stars can finish anywhere from fourth to seventh place in the eight-team NASL

Best of luck to John and his team!

2008 Rookie of the Year Re-Signs with Richmond after MLS Stint

RICHMOND, VA – (Monday, February 14, 2011) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that midfielder Stanley Nyazamba will return to Richmond for the 2011 season, pending USSF and Visa approval.

“It is our pleasure to welcome Stanley back to Richmond,” comments Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer. “He made an immediate impact in his brief time with us in 2008 and I know he is eager to make a similar impact second time around. Our fans loved Stanley's style, passion and enthusiasm for the game and there is no doubt Kickers fans will be excited about his return.”

Named 2008 USL-2 Rookie of the Year, Nyazamba quickly became one of the Kickers top scorers, tallying eight goals and two assists overall for 18 points. Picking up Team of the Week honors on two occasions, he concluded his rookie campaign third on the team in scoring, and finished in the top 10 in goals and points in the league. Following the Kickers 2008 campaign, Nyazamba became the 22nd Kicker to advance to Major League Soccer, signing a developmental contract with the Columbus Crew. Most recently, the native of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe spent the 2010 season with the NASL side FC Tampa Bay where he posted over 1,000 minutes in 25 appearances, adding two assists.
Drafted in the second round of the 2008 Major Indoor Soccer League College Draft by the now-defunct Detroit Ignition, Nyazamba joined the Kickers professional squad upon graduating from Lee University of the NAIA Conference. The three-time All-Conference First Team honoree earned a place on the 2007 All-American First Team and was named a NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete his senior season. During his tenure at Lee, the Flames posted a record of 53-14-2 and made two NAIA National Tournament appearances. Adding 12 goals and 20 assists his senior year, the 6’1” midfielder finished with 28 goals and 44 points over three seasons, eclipsing the All-Time Assists Leader at Lee University with 60 assists overall.

Reserve your 2011 Season Passes and join the Richmond Kickers when they open the USL PRO campaign, hosting Orlando City on Saturday, April 2 at 5:00 p.m. at Richmond City Stadium. Taking the field for their 19th season, the Kickers will compete alongside American Division rivals Charlotte Eagles, Charleston Battery, Orlando City and Wilmington Hammerheads and will also face National and International opponents Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, FC New York, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester Rhinos, Antigua Barracuda FC, Los Angeles Blues, Puerto Rico United and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico of the 24-game season. Visit RichmondKickers.com for schedules and ticket information.

#27 Stanley Nyazamba Midfielder 6’1” 172 lbs Hometown: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

NASL Provisiona​lly Sanctioned as Division 2 Profession​al Outdoor Soccer League for 2011 Season

NASL Required to Fulfill Certain Requirements to Obtain Full Sanctioning Beyond 2011

CHICAGO (Feb. 12, 2011) – The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors provisionally sanctioned the North American Soccer League (NASL) to operate a Division 2 men’s outdoor professional soccer league in the United States. The sanctioning was approved this weekend at U.S. Soccer’s Annual General Meeting in Las Vegas. 

The provisional sanctioning allows the NASL to operate a Division 2 league during the 2011 season. The NASL will need to meet certain requirements defined by the Board of Directors to be granted full sanctioning beyond the 2011 season.

“Division 2 soccer is an important element in the success and popularity of the sport in the United States and we are pleased the NASL will play professional games in their markets this season,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “The Federation’s continued interest is in sustainability and stability at the Division 2 level of professional soccer.”

American Soccer Didn't Start with Pele: Part 6 of 7 - The Pro Game in the Early 1950s

The Pro Game in the Early 1950's

Philadelphia Pro Soccer

As young players in the ‘40s, we often watched the Philadelphia Americans and the Philadelphia Nationals—our local pro teams in the old American Soccer League. Eventually we trained with the pros as we moved up the soccer ladder. By the time we signed with the pros in the mid-’50s, Bahr, McLaughlin, Hynes, and our heroes from our junior days were well-established stars. For Americans, Bahr and McLaughlin had no equals. We learned from both--Bahr with his end-to-end hustle, his ball control, his long accurate passes, his 40-yard throws, his take-charge leadership, and his powerful shots on goal. The smaller McLaughlin inspired us with his finesse, dribbling opponents one-on-one throughout the game--lithe, snaking through defenses, setting up other attackers with deadly through passes, a little guy taking on the biggest defenders, bouncing up from bruising tackles, and also possessing a devastating shot.

I joined the Philadelphia Uhrik Truckers, named after owner Tony Uhrik, a Philadelphia trucking magnate, in 1955. The “Truckers” had taken the old Philadelphia Americans’ franchise, and won back-to-back American Soccer League titles in 1955 and 1956. Jimmy Mills, the ageless Haverford University coach who recently passed away at 96, coached the Uhriks. I’ll always remember Jimmy’s Scottish accent booming out, “Give it a bit more ginger, lads.”

The ASL was semi-pro, the only recognized professional league In the U.S. at the time. Players were also in the old German-American League (GAL) in New York “under the table,” but the “pros” were in the ASL.

The “modern ASL,” formed in 1933 with exclusive rights from the USSF to operate professional soccer on the Eastern seaboard, by mid-1950 was on reasonably solid footing. The ASL had initiated its foreign tours in 1946, earning money from the games. Dominated by New York and Philadelphia teams, the ASL represented with the GAL, the peak of soccer in the eastern U.S. at the time. Ethnic teams like New York Hakoah. Brooklyn Hispano, Newark Portuguese, Newark Ukrainians, and Ludlow Luisitano competed along¬side American-grown talent from the Philadelphia and Baltimore areas. In the mid-‘50s, there was nowhere else to go to play top-level soccer in the U.S.--at least on the East coast. The other top amateur leagues in the country were the National Soccer League of Chicago, St. Louis Major League, and the Greater Los Angeles League. All of these except for the ASL and St. Louis Leagues remain active to this day.

The ASL contributed to the growth of U.S. soccer by keeping the pro game alive until the upsurge in pro teams in the late ‘60s, bringing foreign teams to play the ASL All-Stars and each other, and providing players for the U.S. National Teams. The ASL attracted hundreds of coaches, referees, administrators, and spectators who later would become the basis for the growth of pro soccer.

The Philadelphia pro teams often attracted several thousand spectators in this soccer-hungry town, whereas away games were often played before sparse crowds with little media attention in dusty ovals. For example, the Brooklyn Hispano played on a cinder field which served as a parking lot during the week, with the tire tracks often making the path of the ball unpredictable. Metropolitan Oval in New York’s Bronx was often our destination after a three-hour drive where we played rain or shine before several hundred standing and often hostile spectators. Being on the touch line, the fans could yell at both opposing players and officials indiscriminately. After these games, we often had to exit in a circle, fists at the ready, as fans tried to get at us, forgoing the single shower to jump in our cars for the long ride home. The referee disappeared equally as fast.

Whatever criticisms have been leveled at the ASL, thousands of youngsters had heroes to emulate and exciting soccer to watch. We could shoot for a pro spot after college, as some of us did, to continue our playing. We could watch world-class foreign teams, marveling at their skills and speed. It was the best soccer around for the period, and American-born players more than held their own. The ASL also kept pro soccer alive until the mid-’60s arrival of the new professional leagues--the United Soccer Association (1967), the National Professional Soccer League (1967), and then the North American Soccer League (1968).

---

To read the entire piece written by Len Oliver of DC Stoddert select the links for parts 1 - 7 or click here for the entire piece.

Part 1 - “Street Soccer” Memories
Part 2 - Youth Soccer with the Lighthouse Boys Club
Part 3 - Philadelphia Junior Soccer in the 1940's
Part 4 - Playing With the Big Guys: Amateur Soccer in the Early 1950's
Part 5 - High School and College Soccer--Products of the Clubs
Part 6 - The Pro Game in the Early 50's
Part 7 - In Retrospect