North Texas Premier Soccer Association

Division 1B (Spring Season)

Sunday 21st February 2016

Kick off 11.00 Actual 11.11

Inter Dallas 2 Crusaders A.S.F. 3,  attendance 6

27′ 0-1

44′ 1-1

62′ 2-1

86′ 2-2

90 + 1′ 2-3

@ R. E. Good Soccer Complex, Pitch 5

Elm Fork Drive

Carrollton, TX 75056

No admission or programme.

This was my first dip into the N.T.P.S.A. Teams don’t have their own grounds, but games are allocated by the league, although most tend to play ‘home’ games at a set number of venues nearest to where they are based. The standard is nothing special and games involve Rolling Substitutions much like Step 7 in England. As a league rule, all players must wear the same coloured shirts, although shorts and socks do not need to match. Not too bad today, but I can imagine some teams will take this to the extreme. At least all games have 3 officials, which apparently goes right from the top divisions 1A and 1B, down to Division 5.

Todays game took place at a complex of 5 pitches, three of full size. The pitch was floodlit and had a few sections of metal bleachers dotted around. There was a brick building nearer the youth pitches that has toilets and a refreshment stand.

International Friendly

Wednesday 10th February 2016

Kick off 20.00 Actual 20.36

Mexico 2 Senegal 0,  attendance 15,588

73′ 1-0 J. Duenas

87′ 2-0 R. Pizarro

@ Marlins Park

501, Marlins Way

Miami, FL 33126

$30 admission  + $9.50 fees, print at home ticket *

No programme.

My ticket had been acquired the day they went on sale and a reasonable flight was booked at $106 return. On entering the stadium it became apparent that the top tier, where my seat was located, would not be opening, so a ‘new’ ticket was issued from a booth on the bottom level concourse, where it was total chaos. I was told I had been reallocated an excellent seat near the front, which yes, had it been for the Miami Marlins and a MLB game, this was correct as it was right behind the home plate. Certainly not the case for football however. With the crowd so sparse it was never going to be a problem as I just moved and sat wherever I wanted, trying out all the stands at some point.

Mexico, playing without their European based players, just about edged it although Senegal were worth a goal for their efforts.

As mentioned, this is a baseball stadium that has been home to Miami Marlins since 2012. It has a capacity of 37,442, making it the third smallest stadium in MLB.

Texas Premier Soccer League

Saturday 23rd January 2016

Kick off 15.00 Actual 15.11

Austin Real Cuauhtemoc F.C. 3 Houston Hurricanes F.C. 2,  attendance 58

2′ 1-0

39′ 1-1

56′ 2-1

68′ 2-2

73′ 3-2 (pen)

@ McMaster Athletic Complex

101, W. L. Walden Drive

Georgetown, TX 78626

No admission or programme.

Easier to locate this game venue as Houston Hurricanes have a good up to date Facebook page. My original plan was to do this and follow up with the 5pm kick off at the same complex, hopefully on a different pitch, between Austin Lonestar F.C. and San Antonio Generals F.C.  also in the TPSL. However, I got neither, as I arrived at 2.30pm  to see my planned second game nearing completion. Apparently the kick off was altered at short notice, but not to worry as both clubs use the same pitch anyway. Another case of how Mickey Mouse this league is.

Texas Premier Soccer League

Saturday 16th January 2016

Kick off 17.00 Actual 17.09

Dallas Clash S.C. 7 San Antonio Generals F.C. 0,  attendance 42

6′ 1-0

12′ 2-0

21′ 3-0

55′ 4-0 (pen)

70′ 5-0 (pen)

75′ 6-0

88′ 7-0

@ Mountain View College Football Stadium

4849, West Illinois Avenue

Dallas, TX 75211

No admission or programme.

This one took some tracking down. The venue on Dallas Clash Facebook page was different to the information on the league page. The Dallas Clash page was all in Spanish and despite an enquiry, admittedly in English, I received no reply. I did get a reply from the TPSL, who said they were right, but then replied again saying that the Dallas Clash information was indeed correct after all. Talk about Mickey Mouse !

As for the game, well, bottom of the table SAG were absolutely awful and no match for one of the title favourites. Talking to some of the home supporters about their away game the previous week, down at Brownsville Bravos, on the Mexican border, I was told it was a mere 8 hours drive each way. Now there’s dedication for you.

Following photos of poor quality due to camera malfunction.

Texas Premier Soccer League

Saturday 9th January 2016

Kick off 15.00 Actual 14.57

Temple United F.C. 1 Houston Hurricanes F.C. 5,  attendance 30

21′ 0-1

23′ 0-2

45′ 0-3

52′ 1-3 (pen)

53′ 1-4

58′ 1-5

@ Ferenc Korompai Soccer Complex

1909, Curtis B. Elliot Drive

Temple, TX 76501

No admission or programme.

This was my first game in the T.P.S.L. , a league that runs from October to March. I’m not really sure what level it sits at in playing terms as the season runs opposite to the three professional levels in USA. It is totally lacking facility wise with players changing in their cars or at pitch side. A few of the away players used the toilet block, the only structure of any note on site. Takes me back to the days of Sunday morning Pub Football in England.

Temple United are new to the league this season and their very young side are finding it a real challenge, although to their credit, they never gave up, even when they went down to 10 men following a straight red card with 27 minutes left.

Following photos of poor quality due to camera malfunction.

U.S. Open Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

Saturday 21st November 2015

Kick off 19.30 actual 19.40

Los Angeles Wolves F.C. 2 Cal F.C. 1. attendance 85.

21′ 1-0

42′ 2-0

75′ 2-1

@ Toyota Sports Complex

555 Maple Avenue,

Torrance, CA 90503

$5 admission

No programme.

The venue here is basic to say the least. Just two artificial pitches running parallel, both with floodlights and tonight’s game was on Pitch 1, which is nearest the entrance and the only building on site, a toilet block. The players change elsewhere and come to the ground kitted out ready for action.

Both sides play in the United Premier Soccer League and the main difference between the sides was LAW player Sam Higgins who scored both their goals and looked a good prospect.

North American Soccer League

Saturday 3rd October 2015

Kick off 19.30 Actual 19.36

San Antonio Scorpions F.C. 2  Fort Lauderdale Strikers F.C. 4   attendance 7,832

10′ 0-1 Stefano

15′ 0-2  Marlon Freitas

40′ 0-3  Stefano

56′ 1-3. K. Tyrpak

79′ 2-3. S. DeRoux

86′ 2-4  Stefano

@ Toyota Field

5106 David Edwards Drive,

San Antonio, TX 78233

$15 admission

Programme free, 12 pages.

This was such an improvement on the game I saw at F.C. Dallas, probably as the supporters here are real football people and actually understand the game.

At halftime it could easily have been 0-10 as SAS were totally overran by a rampant FLS. Really good game to watch as a neutral.

The capacity here is 8,296 and tonight’s attendance was the highest since the ground opened in April 2013. The ground is ‘soccer specific’ and designed to be increased up to 18,000 seats if required.

Major League Soccer

Saturday 12th September 2015

Kick off 19.30 Actual 19.38

F.C. Dallas 2 New York City F.C. 1, attendance 16,937

45′ 1-0 T. Akindele

45+4′ 2-0 Michel

70′ 2-1 P. Mullins (pen)

@ Toyota Stadium

9200 World Cup Way,

Frisco, TX 75034

Admission $38

Programme free, 4 pages

Toyota Stadium cost $80 million to build and was opened on August 6th 2005 taking on the name of its current sponsor in September 2013 and has a capacity of 20,295.

When arriving at the ground, which is a fair drag north of Dallas, there was a long queue to get into the car park right next to the stadium, despite it being $20 for the privilege, but across the road, no more than 50 yards away it was free to park. Just shows that people really are lazy, or have money to burn. Probably the former.

When  arriving here in Dallas, my plan was to get a season ticket here and when FC Dallas were away visit other stadiums. However, having endured a game sat amongst some of the least knowledgable football supporters you could ever come across, then this might be my only time I ever bother to visit here.

There  was the loudmouth sat a few rows back giving a commentary to his mate, which was bad enough, especially as he hadn’t got much idea about the game, before the real clincher came when it was announced that a Dallas player had been awarded a yellow card, prompting a number of idiots to stand up and give a round of applause and whooping “go Dallas “! What an embarrassment.

I will probably have to get used to getting up and down in my seat as constant streams of late comers arrive well into the game and then having found their seat, come straight back out to go and get food and drink, before then missing the last 10 minutes of the half to go and get yet another drink and hot dog and repeating this action at least once more in the second half. Why on earth has the stadium been built with the seats facing the pitch ?  A vast majority of the crowd have certainly not come to see any of the sport on offer, especially if it gets in the way of eating and drinking, followed by more eating and drinking.

As for the match. Very poor standard, despite Pirlo, Lampard and Villa in action for the visitors, although all three were substituted. Both sides would struggle in League Two in England on this showing.

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