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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

January 5, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers technical staff, led by general manager Gavin Wilkinson and head coach John Spencer, have departed for Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the MLS adidas Player Combine to observe 60 prospects ahead of the upcoming 2012 MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas. The combine opens Friday and runs through Tuesday, Jan. 10.

The MLS Player Combine features top college seniors, Generation adidas players, international invitees, additional collegiate players from NCAA Division I, II and III schools and NAIA schools. Players will display their talents in a series of matches over the course of the combine, which will be streamed live on www.MLSsoccer.com .

Following the combine, the Timbers will participate in their second MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, Jan. 12, in Kansas City, Mo. The 2012 MLS SuperDraft will consist of two rounds, with the first being broadcast live on ESPN2 at 9 a.m. (Pacific). The Timbers hold the No. 8 and No. 27 selections entering the draft. Click here for 2012 MLS SuperDraft details.

Portland selected midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe with the No. 2 overall pick as well as defender Chris Taylor in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

Timbers announce 2012 regular-season schedule

A day highly anticipated by fans, Major League Soccer today unveiled the Timbers' full 34-match, 2012 regular-season schedule, which kicks off Monday, March 12, against the Philadelphia Union at JELD-WEN Field on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Between national broadcasts and the Timbers' local television partners all 34 regular-season matches will be broadcast on live TV in 2012. Included among the 12 nationally televised games, the Timbers play host to Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC on NBC on Saturday, Sept. 15, at JELD-WEN Field.

Every regular-season match will once again feature a live radio broadcast on Sportsradio 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

Under the new MLS competition format, the Timbers will play a conference-based schedule in 2012, taking on each of their eight Western Conference opponents three times and each Eastern Conference club once during the regular season. Click here for the full 2012 schedule and additional schedule information.

Timbers kick off "Dribble Oregon" community tour Sunday in Klamath Falls

Timbers players Eric Alexander and Freddie Braun along with Timber Joey and members of the front office will visit the Southern Oregon community of Klamath Falls on Sunday to open "Dribble Oregon," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors.

Dribble Oregon is a four-stop community tour, taking the club around Oregon to engage with area fans. The tour begins this weekend in Klamath Falls, the corporate headquarters of Timbers founding partner JELD-WEN, and will also include the cities of Eugene (Jan. 14), Salem (Jan.15) and Bend (Jan. 17).

As part of Dribble Oregon, the Timbers will take part in three events in each city, including a free youth soccer clinic, community event and a meet-and-greet at a local pub. Click here for the complete schedule and event locations at each of the four stops along Dribble Oregon.

While in Klamath Falls, the Timbers will conduct their youth soccer clinic at Mike's Fieldhouse for kids ages 5-13 over two sessions from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register for the clinic, contact Angela Durant at basinunited.angela@gmail.com or (541) 273-1152. Fans can meet both Alexander and Braun as part of the pub event Sunday afternoon at The Creamery Brewpub & Grill from 3-5 p.m.

Forward Brent Richards signs as the Timbers' first Homegrown Player

In another milestone signing, the Timbers on Wednesday signed forward and Timbers U-23s product Brent Richards as the club's first Homegrown Player. From Camas, Wash., Richards recently completed a standout collegiate career at the University of Washington.

He joins the Timbers' first team after three seasons with the Timbers U-23s, the club's development team, from 2009-11. During his time with the Timbers U-23s, Richards registered 26 goals and 12 assists in 37 games to become the team's all-time leading scorer. He was a part of the Timbers U-23s' historic season in 2010 in which they became the Premier Development League's first undefeated league champion.

As a youth, Richards played club soccer for Eastside United FC, a Timbers-affiliated club in Gresham, Ore., and was a member of the Oregon ODP program. He attended Camas High School, where he won two state championships (2006, 2008) and was named Washington's Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior prep season in 2008. Click here to learn more about Richards.

Timbers to open 2012 preseason Jan. 23 in Portland

On Wednesday, the Timbers unveiled details of their 2012 preseason and announced that the club will begin its preseason preparations on Monday, Jan. 23, in Portland.

After reporting for camp on Friday, Jan. 20, the Timbers kick off preseason training on Monday, Jan. 23. The club will train in the Rose City for the first two weeks before heading to the Los Angeles area for a 12-day camp at The Home Depot Center from Feb. 5-16. Details regarding preseason matches while in Southern California will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Timbers then return to Portland for the remainder of preseason training and will wrap up preparations for the upcoming season by playing host to a four-team tournament at JELD-WEN Field from Feb. 27 through March 4. The round-robin tournament will feature the host Timbers along with MLS sides Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes and top-flight Swedish club AIK. Click here for additional information regarding the preseason tournament in Portland.

Tickets for the preseason tournament go on sale Monday, Feb. 6, at the JELD-WEN Field box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Tune in to "˜Talk Timbers,' presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, on 750 AM The Game

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, airs each week on 750 AM The Game. Hosted by John Strong, Talk Timbers will feature interviews with club officials, coaches, players and special guests. The show will provide team news and the latest information from around MLS as the 2012 season approaches.

The next four Talk Timbers shows are: Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 AM The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com .

Timbers season tickets for 2012 are sold out

Season tickets for the Timbers' 2012 campaign are sold out. Due to increased demand, the Timbers raised the number of season tickets available by more than 2,000 seats, capping season ticket sales in 2012 at 14,750 seats.

Fans interested in joining the Timbers' Season Ticket Waiting List can contact a Timbers ticket representative at (503) 553-5555 or by email at ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com . With a $50 per-seat refundable deposit to join the waiting list, fans can secure the chance to purchase season tickets when they become available, have priority for additional ticket plans released by the club and have access to special pre-sale opportunities among other benefits.

Timbers U-23s to hold two player combines in March

The Timbers' development team, the Timbers U-23s, who compete in United Soccer Leagues' Premier Development League, has scheduled two-day tryouts on March 10-11 and March 24-25 in advance of the 2012 season. The team's combines will take place in the Portland area; the location will be announced at a later date.

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from January 5, 2012


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