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Teixeira in London for tryout with Palace UK

August 29, 2008 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace FC USA is pleased to announce that Val Teixeira has joined Crystal Palace Football Club in England on trial in an effort to boost the team's attacking capabilities. After reaching the playoffs for promotion to the Barclays Premier League last season, the parent club has suffered a surprisingly poor start to the '08-'09 Coca Cola Championship campaign, failing to find the back of the net in their first three league matches.

Portuguese native Teixeira signed for Palace USA before the start of the 2008 USL2 season and played a crucial role in the Baltimore team's qualification for the league playoffs and in their historic US Open Cup run. The former Benfica Juniors players spent the previous nine seasons with the New Hampshire Phantoms and the Rhode Island Stingrays, both of USL2.

"We picked Val up after seeing him play so well for New Hampshire when we played them last season," remarked Palace USA Co-Manager Jim Cherneski, a team-mate of Teixeira's at the Rhode Island Stingrays in 2001 and 2002. "He caused us a lot of problems in that game. He's got one of the best left feet I've ever seen."

Cherneski went on to explain how important Teixeira's contribution was this season: "Between setting up and scoring goals, it was probably 11 in 17 games. I was talking to Mick Jones, the Assistant Manager over in the UK, and told him about Val and he said let's get him over there. Val's only been there a couple of days and the feedback is already very positive. He's done well in training and they do want to see him in a game, so he'll be lining up probably against Arsenal's reserves next week. He's scored some absolute crackers with his left this season - his goal against Pittsburgh was probably our goal of the year. Without his incredible no-look pass to Matthew Mbuta for our second goal against Harrisburg in the Cup, we wouldn't have had the chance to knock the New York Red Bulls in the next round."

Cherneski's fellow Co-Manager Pete Medd added: "This is our system at work - this is why we exist. Hopefully Val is just one of many players to get this opportunity. It's all about timing - Val hit his best form at the right time and they had a need for a left-sided attacking player so we felt Val was ready."

"We are the only club in America that can offer this opportunity to its players." Medd concluded.

Crystal Palace FC USA - a direct extension of Crystal Palace Football Club, a 103-year old, $100 million club based in London, England - is proud to bring big-league, professional, outdoor soccer back to Baltimore, providing area residents with a world-class, family entertainment experience. For more information please visit www.CrystalPalaceUSA.com

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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.

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