http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ng-role-at-NASL-side-Jacksonville-Armada.html Tony Meola playing for keeps after being handed first head coaching role at NASL side Jacksonville Armada Former US stopper discusses struggle to break free from game's goalkeeper coach stigma and how Bruce Arena convinced him to take the job
http://flagshipfooty.com/2016/01/07/armada-to-host-orlando-city-and-nyrb/ team will possibly play against Orlando City on February 13th. friendly shown on the page against the NYRB scheduled for February 27th
http://www.fifa.com/live-scores/new...nded-meola-stepping-off-his-line-2779512.html A goalkeeper? A striker trapped in crossed white lines at the back of the field? A pundit? A hustler? A story-teller. He may be all those things, but Tony Meola is a winner first and foremost. And that attitude, that of a proud pioneer of the game in the States, bleeds through at every turn. “I always played for trophies,” he said.
An article from NASL.com on Meola's coaching debut: http://www.nasl.com/news/2016/04/06/tony-meola-returns-close-to-home-for-head-coaching-debut Hopefully the Armada can begin 2016 with a W.
2016 LH USOC June 1 The Villages SC (PDL) v. Jacksonville Armada (NASL) Southern Oak Stadium – Jacksonville, FL 7pm
well we have a protest and The Villages are very likely gone: http://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/201...sc-ineligible-player-us-open-cup-2016-battery
http://www.npsl.com/news_article/show/654690?referrer_id=1510764 Jacksonville Armada U-23 made it two-in-a-row on Friday night with another come-from-behind 3-2 win over Storm FC at Pembroke Pines Charter High School. Armada U-23 (2-1-0, 1st NPSL Sunshine Conference) slid to the top of the table after scoring its first-ever road win and rallying in the second half for the second-straight week after four second-half goals helped Jacksonville to a 4-2 win over Kraze United last Saturday.
U.S. Open Cup, Schedule: THIRD ROUND June 1 in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville Armada (NASL) vs. Charleston Battery (USL) June 1 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Chattanooga FC (NPSL) vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) June 1 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) vs. FC Cincinnati (USL) June 1 in Cary, N.C. Carolina RailHawks (NASL) vs. Charlotte Independence (USL) June 1 inFort Lauderdale, Fla. Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) vs. Richmond Kickers (USL) June 1in Miami, Fla. Miami FC (NASL) vs. Wilmington Hammerheads (USL) June 1 in Indianapolis, Ind. Indy Eleven (NASL) vs. Louisville City FC (USL) June 1 in Rochester, N.Y. Rochester Rhinos (USL) vs. Lansdowne Bhoys FC (N.Y.) June 1 in Peoria, Ariz. Arizona United (USL) vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL) June 1 in Fenton, Mo. Saint Louis FC (USL) vs. Minnesota United FC (NASL) June 1 in WestDes Moines, Iowa Des Moines Menace (PDL) vs. San Antonio FC (USL) June 1 in Yukon, Okla. Rayo OKC (NASL) vs. OKC Energy FC (USL) June 1 in Sacramento, Calif. Sac Republic FC (USL) vs. Kitsap Pumas (PDL) June 1 inWestminster, Calif. La Maquina (Calif.) vs. LA Wolves FC (Calif.) June 1 in Jamaica, N.Y. New York Cosmos (NASL) vs. Jersey Express (PDL)
ROUND 4 AWAY TEAM SCORE 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
Good win against Charleston. And a great opportunity against Orlando City. Realistically will be a tough game but OC has been somewhat disappointing this year.
1st ever away win for the Armada - good to see that! Ottawa has actually been a still lately, so this is a legit good win.
Jacksonville getting behind new coach http://www.oneworldsports.com/stories/nasl-jacksonville-getting-behind-new-coach Mark Lowry, a 31-year-old self-professed student of the game, took over on an interim basis. That was made permanent last week as Jacksonville is 2-5-2 in the nine games Lowry has been in charge. The changes are notable as Lowry had made a commitment to installing a consistent philosophy and giving his young players valuable minutes. Since taking over, he has won over the locker room, no small feat on a team that was going nowhere with a roster battered and bruised by a long season.
http://www.nasl.com/news/2016/11/22/excited-mark-lowry-eager-for-the-2017-season 'EXCITED' MARK LOWRY EAGER FOR THE 2017 SEASON After a strong finish to 2016, Lowry's roster is taking shape as excitement builds in Jacksonville Matthew Levine (@NASLInsider} | Nov 22, 2016
As a follower of US soccer I was skeptical in 2011 when the “top” USL teams broke away and subsequently the NASL was formed. The NASL folks & trans unabashedly stated they planned on competing with the MLS ala Donald Trump’/ failed fall USFL experiment. While I respect the fact they didn’t want to be viewed as a minor league or feeder league to MLS I felt the approach to poking the MLS bear quite silly. Jump ahead now to the Armada. Tremendous marketing, publicity, and vision- to an extent. The opener at Everbank was highly anticipated. The crest & collateral marketing material was major league. Their flaw was pushing a team rather than an experience. You can’t tout the team and then go out and stink the place up. They should’ve heavily prmototed SEC 904 and the cool gameday experience, not a weak roster or unproven former National Team goalie. Witnessing my first NASL match after countless USL & MLS matches I was severely disappointed at the level of play. I have no doubt that the postage stamp feel of the fieldat Comminity First Park contributed, but the level of play was on par or worse at times then most USL matches I’ve attended. Seeing the pagentry and commitment the Armada made to dressing up a baseball stadium (it really did feel like a real footy ground) I knew immediately their fatal flaw was going NASL- the salaries & travel combined with costs of playing in someone else’s facility would be crazy. They should’ve started in USL and built something rather than immediately thinking they could sustain that 17k or even 7k mark. The story of FC Cincinnati comes to mind- very similar strong ownership & fan support, but after a season in USL where they averaged 14,000 fans they are flirting with MLS while the Armada are flirting with Bolles High School.
http://www.empireofsoccer.com/sources-jacksonville-armada-leave-nasl-target-usl-move-56140/ Those issues may be the deciding factor when assessing the Armada’s availability to play the 2017 season in USL. In the absence of the Baseball Grounds, Jacksonville University or the University of North Florida may serve to solve the team’s short term stadium needs.
I thought the franchise agreements for teams in the NASL and USL required three year commitments. That would mean that Jacksonville could only move to the USL this year if there was no NASL...or face an inevitable lawsuit. In that case, the earliest they could move would be 2018. But I admit to not being sure...
unless of course Sunil and the USSF made an agreement with everyone concerned in order to free them up to move...
http://jacksonville.com/sports/2016...-cole-pepper-says-his-job-has-been-eliminated The trimming of the Jacksonville Armada staff continues. Thursday the Armada’s Director of Broadcasting confirmed his position has been eliminated following word that the Armada had released five players on Wednesday.
Maybe Shad Khan will come to the rescue and buy the team. Could probably do so for pennies on the dollar. And obviously he loves soccer.
Guess I should have read the news... NASL is taking over the team as they look for a new owner... http://jacksonville.com/sports/2017-01-07/north-american-soccer-league-taking-over-armada Silverbacks in Atlanta were unable to after a year of the NASL taking control. Hopefully that doesnt happen to the Armada.
But they (most likely) will get a new owner. I guess there are a good number of people in the city who have the financial chops and love the game enough to absorb big losses in the near term to make it happen. Obviously, Shad Khan tops the list and that would be awesome for the franchise. Another possibility is that it's someone from outside the city. We know a couple of groups have talked to Mark Frisch about buying the team...while he's done some "interesting" things while owning the club there's no reason for him to lie about that and no way that the other owners wouldn't already be strongly vetting any possible new owners.