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MLS Orlando City SC

Orlando City SC Announces Formal Affiliation with English Premier League's Stoke City FC

May 6, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando City SC and English Premier League side Stoke City FC have entered a multi-faceted affiliation initiating a forward-thinking partnership, the clubs announced today. The affiliation will ignite shared brand awareness and collaboration opportunities across business and competition levels for both sides.

The Citys will work together on player-exchange opportunities, accessibility to shared scouting and player-recruitment systems as well as cross-promotional opportunities to enhance fan experiences. Details of an official marketing campaign will be released at a later date.

"It was very clear that we've always had a good relationship with Stoke City and it came down to us wanting to reignite that synergy and bring our clubs closer together," added Orlando City Founder and President Phil Rawlins. "This will be our only partnership in England, and we hope to kindle passions for both our clubs in each other's markets."

Stoke City is the second oldest professional soccer club in the world with 153 years of existence. The Potter's recent successes, including reaching the 2011 FA Cup final and establishing itself as a top 10 team in one of soccer's top leagues, have been aided by their exceptional scouting network - recruiting the talents of Austrian national team striker Marko Arnautovi?, England national team goalkeeper Jack Butland, Dutch national team defender Erik Pieters, United States Men's National Team defender/midfielder Geoff Cameron and French midfielder Giannelli Imbula.

The link between both sides goes back to the Lions' roots. Rawlins spent 15 years as an owner and director of Stoke City, and head coach Adrian Heath began his career with the Potters, registering 95 appearances between 1979 and 1982. Additionally, Orlando's starting left-back Brek Shea, Orlando City B's head coach Anthony Pulis, captain Lewis Neal and former Orlando City standout James O'Connor played for Stoke City.

Both teams have also met in the past, when the Potters visited the Lions for a friendly on July 28, 2012.

Orlando City's partnership with Portuguese team S.L. Benfica, which provided the Lions with one of Major League Soccer's most promising players, Rafael Ramos, remains a strong part of the Club. The 21-year-old defender, who recently signed a new deal with the Lions, ranks fourth in City's MLS history in minutes logged with 2628, and has registered four assists.

Boasting a strong tourism economy with over 66 million visitors to Orlando last year, the new affiliation with Stoke City will also create stronger ties to the United Kingdom, who rank second to Canada as the largest group of international visitors to the City Beautiful.

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