North Texas Premier Soccer Association
Division 1A (Spring Season)
Thursday 17th March 2016
Kick off 18.45 Actual 18.57
Somerset United 3 Dallas City F.C. 3, attendance 15
15′ 1-0
35′ 1-1
62′ 2-1
69′ 2-2
81′ 3-2
87′ 3-3
@ The Colony Five Star Soccer Complex, Pitch 2
4100, Blair Oaks Drive
The Colony, TX 75056
No admission or programme.
Second visit to the Five Star Soccer Complex, having previously done Pitch 6 here.
Major League Soccer
Sunday 6th March 2016
Kick off 14.00 Actual 14.20
Orlando City S.C. 2 Real Salt Lake 2, attendance 60,147
26′ 0-1 J. Plata (pen)
66′ 0-2 J. Plata
90′ + 4, 1-2 C. Larin
90′ + 5, 2-2 A. Winter
@ Orlando Citrus Bowl
1, Citrus Bowl Place
Orlando, FL 32805
Admission $23.55 + $7.53 fees, print at home ticket
No programme.
This was high on the priority list as it is the last scheduled season at the Citrus Bowl before Orlando City S.C. move to their brand new ‘soccer specific’ stadium in 2017. The stadium was opened in 1936 and has undergone two periods of renovation. The first was from 1999-2002 and then in 2014 the bottom two tiers were demolished, with the third tier remaining in place, and the lower section totally rebuilt. The stadium now has a capacity of 61,348 and has had an artificial pitch since 2010. It was one of nine venues used in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and will host games in the upcoming Copa America Centenario this Summer. With OCSC moving out, it will be primarily used for American Football.
Now, onto the match. Disappointed not to see Brazilian superstar Kaka in the home ranks, as were well over half the crowd judging by the number of replica shirts bearing his name. I should imagine Coach Adrian Heath was just as disappointed, as his team are woeful without him. Both teams had a man sent off in the first half and RSL will wonder how they managed to throw away a two goal lead in stoppage time. Apparently, today’s attendance was only bettered by four clubs worldwide this weekend. Can’t be too often that can be said about an MLS crowd and this one was genuine, unlike some of the joke numbers that the likes of San Jose Earthquakes and F.C. Dallas claim !
We had parked in a factory yard, less than ten minutes walk away, for $10 and were on the right side of the stadium for a quick getaway to the airport and a flight home at 8pm.
Friendly
Saturday 5th March 2016
Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.10
University South Florida Bulls 1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 3, attendance 1,500
38′ 1-0 N. Bartman
63′ 1-1 D. King
83′ 1-2 F. Adu
90′ 1-3 T. Heinemann
@ Corbett Soccer Stadium
4800, Elm Drive
Tampa, FL 33617
$5 admission
Team sheet free, double printed card.
The Corbett Stadium was opened in 2011 and has a capacity of 3,000, with nearly 1,000 seats and has a bowl feel to it with grass banking on three sides. Apparently, the furthest seat from the pitch here, is nearer than the nearest seat was to the pitch at their former stadium, which is still in use for track & field.
Parked in the same car park as we had used for the basketball on Wednesday, but it was free tonight, as opposed to $10 charged then. A decent game that was played at a competitive pace throughout. Got a bit chilly towards the end so had to put on a jacket, but not bad for a night game in early March.
North Texas Premier Soccer Association
Division 1B (Spring Season)
Monday 29th February 2016
Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.09
Gamtex F.C. 1 Dartos 0, attendance 13
32′ 1-0
@ Premier Park, Pitch 1
1115, Elam Road
Balch Springs, TX 75180
No admission or programme.
I had Googled ‘Gamtex’ and come up with what I thought was a ‘works’ team. However, it turns out they are immigrants from The Gambia, now living in Texas !
There are occasionally an odd game or two during midweek in this league due to pitch unavailability on Sunday’s or even due to cancellation due to weather. Apparently, if one complex is unfit for play, then the whole day’s schedule is cancelled and rescheduled the week after the last block of fixtures. At least it keeps all teams on the same number of games played.
Premier Park is a complex of seven parallel pitches, all floodlit. The only facility on site is the Groundsmans Shed that has toilets round the back. Tonight’s game, on Pitch 1, is nearest this and also the car park.
North Texas Premier Soccer Association
Division 1A (Spring Season)
Sunday 28th February 2016
Kick off 17.00 Actual 17.13
Matadors 2 Dallas City F.C. 2, attendance 14
21′ 1-0
66′ 1-1
81′ 1-2
89′ 2-2
@ The Colony Five Star Soccer Complex, Pitch 6
4100, Blair Oaks Drive
The Colony, TX 75056
No admission or programme.
There are eight pitches here, this one being floodlit and having a couple of sections of metal bleachers. There is a building at the centre of the complex that has toilets and a thriving refreshment bar, mainly due to the amount of women’s and youth teams playing.
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.
