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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

January 18, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers open preseason training camp Monday in Portland as coaches and players return to the training field for the first time in 2012. The Timbers have seven weeks to prepare for the upcoming MLS campaign, which begins with First Kick on Monday, March 12, against the Philadelphia Union at JELD-WEN Field on ESPN2.

In addition to training in the Rose City, the Timbers will spend 12 days in Carson, Calif., for a preseason camp. While in Southern California, they will play a series of preseason matches against other MLS sides; specific game details will be announced in the coming days.

The Timbers wrap up preseason preparations with a four-team tournament at JELD-WEN Field from Feb. 27 through March 4. In addition to the Timbers, the tournament will feature MLS sides Chivas USA and the San Jose Earthquakes and top-flight Swedish club AIK. Click here for additional information regarding the preseason tournament in Portland.

The Timbers will train in Portland for the first two weeks of preseason before departing for their camp in Southern California on Feb. 5.

Timbers' replica third kits go on sale Tuesday, Jan. 24 at adidas Timbers Team Store

Replicas of the Timbers' retro-inspired third jersey go on sale Tuesday, Jan. 24, through the adidas Timbers Team Store at JELD-WEN Field and online at shop.portlandtimbers.com.

Authentic third kits remain available as part of limited-edition gift sets that include an authentic third jersey and a unique Timbers scarf, which is made of 100 percent recycled cotton. The set also includes a collectible gift box featuring a photo collage of historic Timbers images.

The adidas Timbers Team Store is located at JELD-WEN Field and is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"˜Dribble Oregon' tour comes to an end with the final stop in Bend

During the month of January, the Timbers set out to visit four communities around the state as part of "Dribble Oregon," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors. The popular four-stop tour, which saw Timbers players and staff travel over 1,100 miles, came to a close Tuesday in Bend.

In Bend, Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins and defender Steve Purdy joined mascot Timber Joey and front office staff to participate in a series of events and engage with area fans. The two players and Timber Joey were the key figures in a school assembly at Pilot Butte Middle School before assisting free youth soccer clinics at Cascade Indoor Sports. The trip to Bend concluded with a pub event at Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill, where Perkins and Purdy participated in a Q&A with fans.

Dribble Oregon kicked off in Southern Oregon's Klamath Falls on Jan. 8, and also took the club to the cities of Eugene/Springfield and Salem. While on the road, Timbers players did a series of video blogs of their experiences around the state. Links to the video blogs: Klamath Falls | Eugene/Springfield | Salem .

Timbers, Timbers U-23s set for 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

U.S. Soccer recently announced several changes to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. Among the strategic changes, which will be implemented beginning in 2012, the 99th edition of the tournament, there will be an expanded, 64-team field. That field will include both the Timbers and the club's development team, the Portland Timbers U-23s.

The 64-team field for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup represents the largest in the modern era (1995 to present). All Division I, II and III professional U.S. clubs will be participating in the tournament proper for the first time, including all 16 U.S.-based MLS clubs. Click here for other tournament details.

United Soccer Leagues has also unveiled its list of 16 Premier Development League clubs, including the Timbers U-23s, which will participate in the upcoming U.S. Open Cup. The Timbers U-23s qualified for their first U.S. Open Cup tournament by finishing as the second-highest placing U.S. club in the PDL's Northwest Division in 2011. Click here to learn the other PDL clubs joining the Timbers U-23s in the tournament.

The U.S. Open Cup, a single-elimination tournament, has crowned a champion for 98 consecutive years beginning in 1914. Every winning team's name is engraved on the base of the Dewar Challenge Trophy, which dates to the first year of the tournament and currently resides at U.S. Soccer House in Chicago.

Club announces two changes to 2012 TV schedule

The Timbers have announced two changes to their television schedule for the upcoming 2012 MLS season.

The club's match on June 30 at the Colorado Rapids at 6 p.m. (Pacific) will now air live on KPDX. The Sept. 29 match against D.C. United at JELD-WEN Field will now be broadcast on KPTV; kickoff remains the same at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Timbers in the Community: Upcoming community appearances

The Timbers will be out in the community during the first week of preseason, with two meet-and-greet events scheduled during the week of Jan. 23-28.

On Thursday, Jan. 26, Timbers Homegrown Player Brent Richards will be at the Papa Murphy's in West Linn (2000 8th Avenue, West Linn) from 5-6 p.m. to meet with fans and sign autographs.

Goalkeeper Troy Perkins and midfielder Sal Zizzo will be on hand with Volkswagen at the Portland Auto Show at the Oregon Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 2-3:30 p.m., meeting with fans and signing autographs.

Colombian defender Hayner Mosquera joins Timbers

The Timbers continued to bolster their backline ahead of the 2012 MLS campaign, announcing the signing of Colombian defender Hanyer Mosquera on Tuesday.

Mosquera, 25, joins the Timbers after playing the past six seasons in Colombia, including the last two with first-division side Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros. Click here for more on the signing of Mosquera.

A native of Istmina, Colombia, Mosquera played in 34 matches, scored two goals and aided in 10 shutouts in league play for La Equidad in 2011. He anchored La Equidad's backline during the Apertura campaign, starting 22 games, including six playoff matches, and scored in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Envigado to guide the club to the finals against Atlético Nacional.

"Hanyer is a player we've had our eye on for 18 months," said Wilkinson. "He has all the attributes needed to become one of the top defenders in MLS."

Timbers select four players in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft

Major League Soccer held the 2012 Supplemental Draft on Tuesday. With the eighth pick in each of the four rounds of the draft, the Timbers drafted four players, selecting goalkeeper Doug Herrick (St. Mary's College), midfielder Miguel Ibarra (UC Irvine), defender Ryan Kawulok (Timbers U-23s/Univ. of Portland) and midfielder Logan McDaniel (Loyola Marymount Univ.).

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. 26 at 8 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 17 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 open 2012 regular-season schedule March 12

The Timbers open their 34-game, 2012 regular-season schedule on Monday, March 12, against the Philadelphia Union at JELD-WEN Field on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific). Click here for the full 2012 schedule and additional schedule information.

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.

Join the Timbers' Season Ticket Waiting List

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.

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