Major League Soccer

Sunday 10th July 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.18

Sporting Kansas City 3 New York City F.C. 1,  attendance 19,881

8′ 1-0 B. Feilhaber

14′ 1-1 F. Lampard

16′ 2-1 J. Medranda

51′ 3-1 I. Opara

@ Children’s Mercy Park

1, Sporting Way

Kansas City, KS 66111

Admission $43 + $9.90 fees, Print at home ticket.

Team sheet free, single card, printed double sided.

It was a comfortable drive from the baseball, with free parking across the road at Kansas Motor Speedway, no more than 5. Minutes walk from the stadium.

It has to be said, even by American standards, this is an awful name for a stadium, having originally being named Livestrong Sporting Park, then plain old Sporting Park, since it opened in 2011. Then again, as long as a large enough chunk of money is thrown at the club, then there is no interest whatsoever in what Sponsors name it is given.  How long before we see a Hemorrhoid Stadium or Viagra Park ? The stadium actually seats 18,467, but capacity is set at 21,000 for SKC matches with standing room. There certainly looked less than the quoted crowd for tonights game.

It started off pretty well, but tailed off badly in the second half. Before the game, I have to say I didn’t recognise any player listed for SKC and despite having the misfortune of seeing NYCFC a couple of times previously, it was still only Pirlo, Villa and a slightly less overweight than last time, Lampard that rang a bell. I still don’t know how  the visitors are challenging for the title, as once again they were dire. Then again, the M.L.S. as a whole is of a very poor standard anyway, so a team wouldn’t necessarily need to have any quality to finish top of the pile.

After the match we headed east, to Independence, MO, as a couple of our party liked the sound of the place. At night, it looked deserted and unwelcoming, but we booked into a hotel and found somewhere to eat, so at least it ticked a couple of boxes. Perhaps it would look better in daylight.

Friendly Match

Saturday 9th July 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.20

Club Leon 1 C.A. Monarcas Morelia 2,  attendance 6,062

45′ + 2, 0-1

81′ 1-1

85′ 1-2

@ Dell Diamond

3400, East Palm Valley Boulevard

Round Rock, TX 78664

$55  Admission +$ 1.50 fees, Print at home ticket *

No programme.

I had called in here en route to the afternoon match as it was only 8 miles out of the way. I needed to suss out the car parking options as I wouldn’t have much time to spare. As it turned out it was half an hour, as despite only arriving here at 6.50pm, the game kicked off 20 minutes late.

One thing that is certainly worth a mention. The cost of printing the ticket at home was just $1.50, unlike the total rip off prices charged by most ticket agencies, especially Ticketmaster, who are one of the worst for this. When printed off, the ticket size was minute. Whilst walking round the stadium in the morning I was surprised to see the ticket office open so early, so thought I would just make sure that the ticket barcode would scan correctly. Without even asking, the girl on the desk offered to print a replacement for me, actually producing a proper ticket instead. Always nice to have a real ticket to keep as a souvenir.

As was the case this afternoon, it was another game, played in a manner not expected in a friendly. Good atmosphere too, Leon being the better supported of the two sides.

Dell Diamond is home to the Round Rock Express, the AAA M.i.L.B. team who are affiliated to the Texas Rangers of M.L.B. It was opened in April 2000 and has a capacity of 11,631.

Friendly Match (Interjet Cup)

Saturday 9th July 2016

Kick off 15.00 Actual 15.06

Club America 1 Club Santos Laguna 1,  attendance 15,000

85′ 0-1

86′ 1-1

@ The Alamodome

100, Montana Street

San Antonio, TX 78203

Admission $54 + $8.01 fees (resale) Print at home ticket

No programme.

Just like the Mexican National team, many club sides play friendlies here in U.S.A. to give their fans now living north of the border an opportunity to see their teams in the flesh. Tickets were only available through a resale website, which seemed odd, but no problem purchasing one. Even better, from my point of view, was the fact that it was an afternoon kick off which opened up the possibility of a double.

The Alamodome is home to the University Texas San Antonio Roadrunners American Football team and also hosts the annual N.C.A.A. Alamo Bowl game. It has previously been home to San Antonio Spurs in the N.B.A. from 1993 to 2002, hosted a couple of the N.H.L.’s Dallas Stars games, back in 1994 and 1995 and even hosted the New Orleans Saints, of the N.F.L., for 3 games, after Hurricane Katrina had damaged their own stadium.

The stadium holds 65,000, although the record attendance for a sporting event was 66,166 for the 2007 Alamo Bowl game between Penn State and Texas A&M.

Despite being a friendly, it was anything but, and seemed very niggly throughout. Club America had a man sent off after 38 minutes for an over the top challenge and this didn’t help the flow of the game and just as it looked like ending scoreless, we somehow managed two goals out of nowhere. I had parked in the car park right outside the stadium for $20 , as I needed a quick getaway, although with the stadium being close to Downtown San Antonio, then it would be difficult to park for free anyway. Luckily, the game didn’t overrun too badly and I was heading back north by 5pm, on my way to the second match of the day.

United States Soccer Development Academy

U18 Quarter Final

Thursday 7th July 2016

Kick off 19.30 Actual 19.27

F.C. Dallas U18 1 Sporting Kansas CityU18 0 (AET),  attendance 325

108′ 1-0

@ Toyota Soccer Center, Pitch 4

9200, World Cup Way

Frisco, TX 75034

No admission or programme.

Toyota Soccer Center is a 17 pitch complex situated immediately north of Toyota Stadium. According to the complex map, Pitch 4 is the ‘ feature game field’.

F.C. Dallas had enough chances to win half a dozen matches. By the time they got the winner I had resigned myself to having to endure penalties. Just to make it a little easier for Dallas the visitors had a man red carded on 116 minutes.

Heading back south I was passed by a couple of unmarked vehicles with blue flashing lights. Sadly, it transpired, they were heading to downtown Dallas where 5 police officers had been murdered.

National Premier Soccer League

South Central Conference

Saturday 2nd July 2016

Kick off 12.00 Actual 12.06

Corinthians F.C. San Antonio 4 Houston Regals S.C.A. 0,  attendance 78

53′ 1-0

59′ 2-0

65′ 3-0

89′ 4-0 (pen)

@ Manuel Vidrio Soccer Complex

999, Shadow Mist

Leon Valley, TX 78238

No admission or programme.

I was all set for this one as a 3pm kick off. At around 11.30pm on Friday night I noticed on their twitter account a conversation where it mentioned it would be kicking off at noon. A tweet at 7.30am on the day of the game was sent to try and confirm which time was correct, as it is a good 4 hour drive to San Antonio at best, so I was going to have to set off now anyway, just in case. I only arrived at the ground at 11.56 am and a minute later they tweeted a reply saying the game was indeed at noon !

I was surprised there was no admission charge, unless they had given up by this time ? There was a small refreshment table set up and a nice cheeseburger, or two, went down very well at a bargain $2 each. Water was only $1 a bottle as well, which was certainly needed as the temperature gauge on the car was showing 96 degrees when I arrived. Full marks also go to the young lad taking the orders, as he is the first person in the States to understand what you are ordering when asking for water. Others just look at you blankly, before another person in the queue translates for you so you get your ‘waarduur’ as requested.

This was the third time I had seen the bottom of the table visitors this season and the second consecutive 4-0 thrashing I have seen them take. They are not good, and as they say, the league table doesn’t lie.

National Premier Soccer League

South Central Conference

Wednesday 29th June 2016

Kick off 18.00 Actual 18.09

Shreveport Rafters F.C. 0 Dallas City F.C. 3,  attendance 500

22′ 0-1

42′ 0-2

57′ 0-3

@ Lee Hedges Stadium

6115, East Kings Highway

Shreveport, LA 71105

$11 Admission (only $10 bought in advance)

No programme.

This was my last opportunity to be chauffeured for a while, this being a trip east along the I-20 into Louisiana and the nearest town to the Texan border on this route. It would also complete the only states that are sensible to drive to out of Texas, having already been to Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma. There is of course the state of New Mexico, to the west, but the nearest city where I know for sure that they play ‘soccer’ is Albuquerque, a mere 650 miles away. Heading north, through Oklahoma State, would bring in Kansas and Missouri though, at 365 miles and 420 miles respectively. Today was only 193 miles each way.

Six o’clock seemed rather early for two part time clubs to be kicking off midweek, especially as there were floodlights here. Despite both teams being out of the changing rooms ten minutes before the scheduled start, the female Referee still managed to get the game started nine minutes late. This was a sign of things to come with a totally inept display where she was completely out of her depth. The Assessor sat in the stands would certainly be in for a late night.

Rafters are one of the better supported teams in this league and the fans certainly deserve a better team on the pitch than this. Dallas didn’t have to be that good to win at a stroll. One thing that really did grate after a while was the constant playing of adverts each time the ball went out of play…..Rafters throw in sponsored by such and such steak house……Billy’s Burger Bar corner kick, etc.etc. This is one American trait that has no place whatsoever in the world of proper football.

Premier Development League

Southern Conference

Monday 27th June 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.03

Oklahoma City Energy F.C. U23 5 St. Louis F.C. U23 1,  attendance 56

2′ 1-0 (pen)

13′ 2-0

21′ 3-0

25′ 4-0

30′ 4-1

47′ 5-1

@ Norman High School Soccer Complex

24th Avenue Southeast

Norman, OK 73071

$8 Admission

No programme.

The Premier Development League sits at the fourth level of ‘soccer’ in the U.S.A. alongside the National Premier Soccer League as the top level men’s amateur competition. There are currently 65 teams competing in four conferences, which in turn are split into ten regional divisions. Unfortunately, from a Groundhoppers point of view, the season is far too short, running from May ’til July, with the play offs finished by early August.

This was all over very early on and it became something of a damage limitation excercise for St. Louis, especially when they conceded so early in the second half having rallied somewhat leading up to the interval. It was the first time I had been chauffeured to a match and despite it being a mere 370 mile round trip, it was a welcome change.

National Premier Soccer League

South Central Conference

Sunday 26th June 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.03

Houston Dutch Lions F.C. 4 Houston Regals S.C.A. 0,  attendance 102

1′ 1-0

12′ 2-0

69′ 3-0 (pen)

76′ 4-0

@ Dutch Lions F.C. Soccer Facility

14562, I-45 S

Conroe, TX 77384

$10 Admission

Programme free, 4 pages.

This would be the last day I would drive to a game with a ‘hopper for company for the foreseeable future. A mere 205 miles south to Conroe, just north of Houston, adjacent to the I-45 highway.

Dutch Lions needed a win to guarantee their place in the play offs and bottom of the table Regals were unlikely to deny them, especially after going 2-0 down so early. It was already game over and two more were added late on before Regals had a man red carded five minutes from time.

Dutch Lions were founded in 2011 as Texas Dutch Lions F.C. and played their inaugural season in the U.S.L. Premier Development League. On 1st April 2013 their official name was changed to Houston Dutch Lions F.C.