NASL Jacksonville Armada FC

Armada FC Weekly | Armada FC Has Sights Set on Saturday's Inaugural NASL Match

Published on April 2, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Jacksonville Armada FC News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 2, 2015) - In one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Armada FC will set sail on its maiden voyage in the North American Soccer League with its first-ever regular season match against FC Edmonton at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at EverBank Field. The match is presented by McDonald's.

The Armada FC has its sights set high for its debut, not only on the field but also in the stands. The club is hoping to set a modern-era NASL regular season attendance record, which is currently held by Ottawa Fury FC with 14,593 in attendance in its July 20, 2014, match with the New York Cosmos.

Jacksonville already holds the NASL preseason attendance record, which was set in its inaugural match in a friendly against Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union on Feb. 7, 2015, when 13,934 fans showed up to witness the Armada FC defeat the Union 3-1 at EverBank Field. The effort is anchored by the Set The Record JAX campaign, which was announced on Monday, March 23. Fans can buy tickets by going to SetTheRecordJAX.com or calling 1.844.2.Armada.

DROPPING THE ANCHOR

Professional soccer officially makes it return to Jacksonville on Saturday with the first regular season match since Sept. 4, 1999, when the Jacksonville Cyclones of the USL A-League defeated the New Orleans Storm.

The Armada FC will be playing its third match at EverBank Field in 2015 and are 1-1 with a win over the Union and a loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The match will follow the Armada FC Can-Doo Kickoff Festival presented by Community First Credit Union at Metropolitan Park, which is a canned craft beer and music festival headlined by O.A.R. The festival runs from Noon-7 p.m. At 6:55 p.m., the Armada FC supporters group Section 904 will lead the March to the Match from Met Park to EverBank Field.

Jacksonville was awarded an NASL club on July 25, 2013, after a league meeting in Dallas. Owner Mark Frisch and general manager Dario Sala formed the Sunshine Soccer Group to bring professional soccer in Jacksonville. On Feb. 18, 2014, the club was officially branded the Jacksonville Armada FC. On June 11, 2014, the club announced Argentinian José Luis Villarreal as head coach and later announced on Jan. 26, 2015, that he would be joined at the helm with long-time friend and Lionel Messi mentor Guillermo Hoyos as co-head coach. On Oct. 21, 2014, Orlando City SC goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo was signed as the first player in club history.

SCOUTING THE EDDIES

Led by Scottish-born head coach Colin Miller, FC Edmonton finished in ninth place in the 2014 NASL Spring Season, going 2-7, but fought back for a third-place finish in the fall. The Eddies also made it to the semifinals of the Canadian Championship before losing the second leg to MLS' Montreal Impact. Miller, who is in his fifth year at the helm of FC Edmonton, holds more than 60 caps with the Canadian men's national team and has served as the national team's interim head coach twice.

MIdfielder Ritchie Jones, who began his career with Manchester United, has served as the captain for much of the preseason and is expected to play a major role. Veteran goalkeeper Matt VanOekel, who comes to the Eddies after five years in Minnesota, is expected to challenge John Smits for the starting spot.

The Eddies spent their preseason training in Jacksonville and finished 2-1-1 in friendlies with both wins coming over NPSL squad Jacksonville United FC. FC Edmonton played to a scoreless draw with the Carolina RailHawks on March 28 at EverBank Field in the second leg of the Armada FC Four-Team Challenge. On March 25 in the first leg at Jacksonville University, the Eddies fell 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

TEAM NAMES 2015 CAPTAINS

Earlier this week, the team voted on its 2015 captains and selected GK Miguel Gallardo, F Alhassane Keita, MF Marcos Flores and MF Jaime Castrillón. All respected veterans on the team, the group has more than 48 years of combined professional playing experience between them.

LAST TIME OUT

The Armada FC fell 2-0 last Saturday to the Tampa Bay Rowdies at EverBank Field. Jacksonville had only one normal starter in its first-half lineup - defender Fabricio Ortiz - and fell behind 1-0 in the first half when Tampa Bay's Keith Savage converted on a close-range shot. The Rowdies' Brian Shriver added a header that found the back of the net in the 58th minute. Armada FC forward Jemal Johnson had the club's best chance in the 74th minute when he fired a shot at the far left post that Tampa Bay keeper Kamil Contofalsky stopped on a diving save.

UP NEXT

The Armada FC will head to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to take on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 at Lockhart Stadium.

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