tryouts on 11/24 & 11/25: http://cityislanders.com/club-news/...-announce-pro-team-tryout-for-november-24-25/
Is it just me or does the future of HCI seem to be fading... http://cityislanders.com/club-news/islanders-club-president-tiago-lopes-leaving-harrisburg/
The got rid of the Philly Union approved Pres/GM, no surprise there. And they didn't do very well this year.
We will see. There hasn't been much positive information coming out of Harrisburg, but there usually isn't much going on at this time of year, so I'm not going to read too much into it yet. I do know that he was getting paid a significant amount of money (as far as what the organization was able to afford) due to his relationship with the Union, so I'm sure that the finances of the situation made this separation necessary. It would be good for the future of this franchise to have something released soon about where games are going to be played next year, so the rumors about the club's demise are squashed.
Here's their new President Roy Mehl. And here's the article. He's a local with both soccer and business experience in the region. http://cityislanders.com/club-news/roy-mehl-named-general-manager-of-harrisburg-city-islanders/
Neil Shaffer was a solid fullback for us. Worked his way into starting job with excellent work ethic. Was rumored to be fittest player on the team, and has decent makeup speed. Good team player whose lack of size probably limits his overall upside, but a guy who is a great addition to any lineup because of the intangibles he will bring to the practice field as well as locker room.
http://cityislanders.com/club-news/islanders-announce-new-investors-for-2016-season/ Harrisburg, PA (January 21, 2016) – The Islanders are pleased to announce Susquehanna Capital Corp. as the newest investors in the City Islanders. Incorporated in 2009, Susquehanna Capital Corp. is a stock holding company comprising investments in property and casualty insurance companies. The company retains the outstanding stock of Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company, established 1874 and Lebanon Valley Insurance Company, established 1856.
For 2016: Ten home games next door to Skyline at Metro Bank Park, five home games at Lancaster's Clipper Magazine Stadium: http://cityislanders.com/club-news/city-islanders-relocate-to-metro-bank-park/ http://cityislanders.com/schedule/2015-schedule/ I'm pleasantly surprised that they'll be playing 2/3 of their home games at the Senators' stadium this year; it never seemed to come up as an option as a temporary home in earlier discussions. Living a little closer to Lancaster than Harrisburg, though, I'm also happy with the number of games at Clipper. It seemed like the Barnstormers' ownership that took over a couple of years ago had really been wanting more soccer games there, and for now they're getting them. Hopefully the state budget/stadium funding issue can finally get sorted out sometime sooner than later and we'll get news of there being a revamped Skyline on the way. If not, I have no idea what might happen long term with this team.
I'll be real honest. I'm surprised Harrisburg still even has a team. Not saying the the Union was investing lots of money, but without them, and without a stadium i'm surprised the Islanders didn't move or fold. This season will be really telling, for what the future holds. ps. They will never get the city to build them a stadium. The state maybe, but the city is broke. I'm a fan of HCI, but if I still lived there and was a voter, I would certainly vote against any city funding going to that Stadium, or any Stadium for that matter.
I think even moving to a baseball stadium, I'm guessing both the on and off the field experience will improve this season. I think it may help to get more of the casual soccer fans out to a game. With the league improving, they had to make some type of improvement. Also, it seems like the team has more people working in the front office. So maybe that will also help them to improve attendance. Hope they do well on and off the field. You know Bill Becher will figure out how to put a good team on the field.
I don't think that soccer works well in a baseball stadium. That being said I think we'll have better vision of the play at Metro Bank Park than at the Clip.
http://www.npsl.com/news_article/show/624491?referrer_id=2168389 As for the NPSL, Ebanks thinks that although it is very competitive, there’s still room for growth. “There’s room for growth in any league. Soccer in America is growing every day,” he says. Ebanks will begin his season on Saturday, March 28, when the City Islanders take on the Richmond Kickers in an away match.
Red Bulls II will be in action next week on Friday, March 18, when they host Harrisburg City Islanders at 1 p.m. at the Red Bulls Training Facility.
2016 LH USOC May 11 in Fredericksburg, VA Fredericksburg FC (NPSL) 1 West Chester United (PA) 1 (West Chester United wins 8-7 on penalties.) Ryan Zinkhan's penalty kick for Fredericksburg in the 87th minute forced overtime. West Chester hosts the Harrisburg City Islanders in second round.
Name change! Now it's CITY ISLANDERS FC. http://www.brotherlygame.com/2016/5...ace-central-pa-drop-harrisburg-from-club-name
2016 LH USOC: June 1 City Islanders FC (USL) v. Chattanooga FC (NPSL) Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, TN 7:30pm
2016 LH USOC ROUND 4 AWAY TEAM HOME TEAM VENUE June 15 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) 7:00 Philadelphia Union (MLS) Talen Energy Stadium – Chester, PA June 15 Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) 7:00 Columbus Crew (MLS) Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium – Columbus, OH June 15 Orlando City SC (MLS) 7:00 Jacksonville Armada (NASL) Southern Oak Stadium – Jacksonville, FL June 15 New York Cosmos (NASL) 7:00 New York City FC (MLS) Fordham University – Bronx, NY June 15 NYRB (MLS) 7:05 Rochester Rhinos (USL) Rhinos Stadium – Rochester, NY June 15 New England Revolution (MLS) 7:30 Carolina RailHawks (NASL) WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, NC June 15 Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) 7:30 DC United (MLS) Maryland Soccerplex – Boyds, MD June 15 Sporting Kansas City (MLS) 8:00 Minnesota United (NASL) National Sports Center – Blaine, MN June 15 Indy Eleven (NASL) 8:30 Chicago Fire (MLS) Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL June 15 Oklahoma City Energy (USL) 8:30 FC Dallas (MLS) Westcott Field – Dallas, TX June 15 San Antonio FC (USL) 8:30 Houston Dynamo (MLS) BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston, TX June 15 Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL) 9:00 Colorado Rapids (MLS) Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, CO June 15 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL) 10:00 Real Salt Lake (MLS) Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy, UT June 15 Kitsap Pumas (PDL) 10:30 Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA June 15 San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 10:30 Portland Timbers (MLS) Providence Park – Portland, OR June 15 La Maquina (USASA) 10:30 Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) StubHub Center – Carson, CA
http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/08/spanish_midfielder_jose_barril.html Spanish midfielder Jose Barril helping City Islanders compete until final whistle
I've heard nothing of the sort. I do know that the connection between the City Islanders FC and Lancaster (specifically Clipper Magazine Stadium) is dead. Not sure what effect the way the league wants to run the schedule next year will affect the way they would be able to use FNB Field, since the folks at FNB want back to back games within a couple days so they don't have to relay sod each time the Isles play there. But there have been no rumblings of folding that I've heard.
Brendan Doherty @DohertySoccer Harrisburg dropping from USL to the ASL to help that circuit get USSF D3 sanctioning