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Crystal Palace Baltimore Signs Top Bermuda Striker

March 2, 2009 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore is pleased to announce the signing of John Barry Nusum from fellow USL2 team, the Bermuda Hogges. The 27- year-old Bermudian national adds significant experience and talent to Palace's roster.

"We're obviously ecstatic to have John at Crystal Palace," said Palace Baltimore President and Co-Manager, Pete Medd. "He's one of the top strikers we've played against. He's a real handful, as evidenced by his two goals in Bermuda's upset of Trinidad & Tobago in World Cup qualifying last year. We're looking for John to replace the goals we're losing with the departure of Gary Brooks, and we think he's more than capable of doing the job."

Med continued: "This deal was done in close partnership with the Bermuda Hogges, who gave the deal their full blessing. This was a unique situation of a player in his prime who, if he does well, can go to England and play - he definitely has the pedigree. The Hogges saw that opportunity for John, with the owners, Paul Scope, Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne, behind the move 100%."

Hogges' co-owner Paul Scope remarked: "The Bermuda Hogges are delighted that John Barry Nusum has agreed to join Crystal Palace Baltimore for the upcoming 2009 season in USL2. We are well aware that John wants to remain a full time professional and has ambitions to succeed at the highest levels and this move will facilitate those aspirations. John is based in Philadelphia and has dual nationality as a Bermudian and American, so a move to Baltimore also makes sense for him personally. The Hogges have a very good working relationship with Palace USA, having joined the USL together in 2007 and we wish John and Crystal Palace every success in the future."

Since graduating from Furman University as their all-time leading scorer with 61 goals, Nusum has been a solid producer throughout his career in the A-League, the Major Indoor Soccer League, and for the Bermudian National Team. After the Columbus Crew drafted Nusum 35th overall in the 2002 MLS Superdraft, Nusum's first season in professional soccer was in the A-League (USL1 equivalent) with the Atlanta Silverbacks. He has since played for the Toronto Lynx, Virginia Beach Mariners and Bermuda Hogges.

The 6' 1" striker has proven his value as captain of the Bermudian National Team after leading Bermuda in goals during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup. Of his 17 total goals in 22 National Team appearances, none were more significant than the two he scored in Bermuda's shock defeat of Trinidad and Tobago in the second qualifying round of the 2010 World Cup.

Nusum is currently playing indoor soccer with the Philadelphia Kixx of the National Indoor Soccer League. He will join the Palace squad shortly after March 22 if the Kixx fail to make the NISL playoffs (or in early April if the Kixx progress) in time for Palace's regular season opener on April 17 at UMBC.

Crystal Palace Baltimore's pre-season exhibition schedule kicks off at 7:00pm on Thursday, March 12, 2009 against the New York Red Bulls of MLS at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Palace's regular season begins at 7:30pm on April 17, 2009 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at UMBC Stadium. The full schedule can be found at http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com/Schedule.php

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