Houston FC Named New PDL Franchise
Published on February 3, 2017 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - The Premier Development League has awarded Houston Football Club, which will compete in the Southern Conference, a franchise ahead of the 2017 regular season.
"We are excited to have a PDL team in Houston," PDL Director Todd Eason said. "Under the direction of Bruce Talbot, who has plenty of experience in the game and coaching connections, we're sure that Houston FC will be a high-performing team on and off the field. We feel that Mr. Talbot and his staff will be able to capture the most elite players in that region to help them on their path to the professional level."
Houston FC is led by President Jeff Fetzer, who is an active advocate of Houston youth soccer volunteering and holds numerous leadership positions with local soccer clubs. Fetzer attained his Bachelor's degree in Finance from Indiana University and his Master of Business Administration from Rice University.
"Establishing a team at the pinnacle of amateur soccer has long been a dream of ours, and we are committed to the long-term development of our players," Fetzer said. "We look forward to contributing to the global game in our local soccer community."
Talbot, who played collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has coaching experience at North Carolina and Clemson University and will serve as Head Coach for Houston FC. Along with prior PDL head coaching experience, Talbot has also worked with multiple youth clubs as Director of Coaching and Player Development, including Lonestar Soccer Club and Capital Area Soccer League.
"We are thrilled with the opportunity to be a part of the PDL and to continue to grow soccer in the Houston community," Talbot said. "I'm looking forward to working with Ian Spooner from San Jac Athletics, local colleges and local clubs in order to provide college-aged players a platform to improve their game."
The PDL, a part of the United Soccer Leagues - which also operates the Division II USL and Super Y League - has served as a major development platform for aspiring professional players since 1995. A total of 566 PDL alums have been selected in Major League SuperDrafts since 2000, while nearly 70 percent of MLS draftees since 2010 have had PDL experience.
Among the PDL alumni currently competing professionally are 2016 MLS Rookie of the Year Jordan Morris, 2016 Defender of the Year Matt Hedges and U.S. Men's National Team members Gyasi Zardes, Brad Guzan, Sacha Kljestan, Geoff Cameron, DeAndre Yedlin and Darlington Nagbe.
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The proven developmental leader in North American soccer's evolving tiered structure, the PDL featured 67 teams within four conferences throughout the United States and Canada during the 2016 season. Fourteen of the PDL's current members are owned and operated by a Major League Soccer or United Soccer League club, or holding a partnership with an MLS or USL club. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals, with nearly 70 percent of MLS draftees since 2010 having PDL experience. The PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions.
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from February 3, 2017
- 72 SYL Players Named for 2017 USL Experience - USL
- San Antonio FC Academy Teams Accepted to U.S. Soccer Development - San Antonio FC
- Houston FC Named New PDL Franchise - USL
- San Antonio FC Signs Defender Sebastien Ibeagha - San Antonio FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
