NYCFC, Orlando City, and Houston coming to Charleston! Villa, Kaka, and Super Frank http://charlestonbattery.com/news/ccc-2015-new-clubs-world-class-stars/
Orlando, nycfc, houston and the battery. Feb 21-28 Kaka, Lampard, Villa http://charlestonbattery.com/news/ccc-2015-new-clubs-world-class-stars/
Past Winners: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Challenge_Cup#Past_tournament_champions Interestingly, other than 2011-12 DCU & 2013 Chicago, the rest of the Winners have won something during Regular Season / Playoffs: 2004: CLB - Supporters' Shield 2005: SJE - Supporters' Shield 2006: HOU - MLS Cup 2007: HOU - MLS Cup 2008: SJE - Wooden Spoon 2009: RSL - MLS Cup 2010: DCU - Wooden Spoon 2011: DCU - Won Nothing (Missed Playoffs) 2012: DCU - Won Nothing (2nd in East) 2013: CHI - Won Nothing (6th in East) 2014: DCU - Eastern Conference (Regular Season) 2015: TBD - (Houston maybe the "Favorites" here, being the only Past Winners of the tournament.) With 2 Expansion Sides and Houston in transition, perhaps this is the best chance for the Battery to finally win the tournament in front of home crowd (after coming close twice in 2008 & 2011)?
I like this lineup a lot. Can't wait. Hopefully the big names make it down. It'll be really cool to see the two expansion sides especially.
Get to see Mark Watson again.....Orlando hired him as an assistant coach (Ian Fuller is still coaching too). http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...se-earthquakes-mark-watson-20141110-post.html
2015 CCC SCHEDULE Saturday, February 21st 5:00pm Charleston Battery vs. Houston Dynamo 7:30pm New York City FC vs. Orlando City Lions Wednesday, February 25th 5:00pm New York City FC vs. Houston Dynamo 7:30pm Charleston Battery vs. Orlando City Lions Saturday, February 28th 5:00pm Orlando City Lions vs. Houston Dynamo 7:30pm Charleston Battery vs. New York City FC
would have been nice to see Lamps, especially as a Chelsea fan. But it will be great to get back to the Baud after a long off season.
you can always come out on Thursday nights, when the over 35&45 leagues start back up. Pub is always open for Thursday night games.
I would like to make it out to all three nights, but it looks like I can only make one. Are there any matches where the "big names" are more likely to sit? Not sure what the philosophy is in these preseason tournaments.
historically the clubs tend to run out their first team on the last night as to see what they look like before the beginning of the season the following week. The nice thing about the tourney being the week prior to MLS kicking off is that typically the tinkering is just about done so the teams are looking for competitive matches to test their squads.
Cool. Yeah, last year the Sounders had a strong side on the last night with Martins, Yedlin, etc. Couldn't remember the other sides. Wasn't sure if it was like the last preseason match in the NFL where they're trying to make judgments on their final cuts. Thanks for the response.
A few snaps by Mrs. BT from the media luncheon this afternoon at the 3 Lions Pub: http://www.kimmorgangregory.com/SPO...ATTERY/Charleston-BATTERY-2015/CCC-MEDIA-DAY/
She's been official for several many years.....just never got an invite for the media luncheon, even though she would get asked "why weren't you there?". Since Betsy hasn't been running the office, it hasn't been the same.......
I mean't THE official club photographer for this week and you're right, it has not been the same. Lost that family feeling.
Some Day 1 photos from Mrs. BT: Charleston vs Houston http://www.kimmorgangregory.com/SPO...ton-BATTERY-2015/BATTERY-HOUSTON-Dynamo-2015/ New York vs Orlando http://www.kimmorgangregory.com/SPO...ton-BATTERY-2015/NEW-YORK-CITY-FC-vs-ORLANDO/
Some day 2 photos from Charleston v Orlando (aka The Monsoon Bowl): http://www.kimmorgangregory.com/SPO...arleston-BATTERY-2015/BATTERY-vs-Orlando-CCC/
Day 2 continued, Houston v New York (pre-monsoon) http://www.kimmorgangregory.com/SPO...ton-BATTERY-2015/HOUSTON-DYNAMO-vs-NY-FC-CCC/