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Ironbound SC joins PDL

"Express" to compete in Northeast Division, go on European Showcase

Newark, NJ - United Soccer Leagues today announced that Ironbound SC has been awarded a Premier Development League Franchise that will compete in the upcoming season. The Ironbound SC Express will compete in the Northeast Division playing its inaugural match on May 9th versus USL newcomers the NJ Rangers. Ironbound SC is a founding member of Super Y League and one of the premier inner city soccer programs in the Country servicing over 1,000 youngsters with programs on the recreational, developmental, and elite levels.

The Express will be owned and operated by long time Ironbound supporter Mr. Jose Branco. Mr. Branco is a successful engineer who's company , EIC Associates is regularly awarded multi-million dollar contracts, throughout the eastern seaboard of the United States. "Joe Branco has been a major supporter of our organization for a long time, giving inner city youngsters the opportunity to play the game at the highest level. We are honored that he has decided to partner with us to take this critical step in creating a complete soccer development organization." Said Ironbound SC chairman Albert Coutinho.

"The Express will allow us to give the best college age players in the region, many of whom came from our youth program, the opportunity to continue their development in the hopes of becoming professional players." Said Branco " We believe that many of our players have the talent necessary to become professionals either in Europe or in MLS. The PDL is a fundamental tool for the development of the game in this country, and we are proud to become a part of it." Continued Branco

The Express will play its home games at NJIT Stadium, in Newark, New Jersey. Branco is an alumnus of NJIT and pleased to be "playing at home". " NJIT is one of the finest facilities in the region and playing there will help set the tone for the type of organization we hope to run" said Branco. He continued " we will be making upgrades to the facility so as to provide even better conditions for the fans we hope to attract to our games."

The General Manager of the Express will be long time NJ soccer standout Joe Manso. Manso, named State and Region 1 Coach of the year in 2000 and again in 2007, has a lengthy soccer resume which includes multiple state and regional championships on the Men's Amateur Level for Sport Club Portuguese in Newark. SCP is one of the oldest soccer organizations in the country, and will serve as the social home of the project as well as fielding a reserve U23 team for the Express Manso is no stranger to the USL having led the Jersey Dragons to the D-3, now USL 2, playoffs in both the 1994 and 1995 seasons. " In all my 40 years of involvement with the game in this country, I can honestly say that the PDL is the singularly most important project I have seen in aiding the development of professional players." Said Manso

The Express will be coached by George Vichniakov, who holds a UEFA coaching License and played professionally in his native Russia for Torpedo Moscow. " I look forward to this new challenge in my career in helping to make this Franchise a model for professional player development. We have many talented players at our disposal and an ownership that will give us whatever resources we need to be successful. I am extremely optimistic about the future of the Express." Said Vichniakov.

Vichniakov continued, " We feel that we can be competitive right off the bat and challenge for a spot in the playoffs. We will be playing a modern, attractive style that will highlight the highly technical nature of players we will be seeking out. I am especially excited about our European Showcase from July 4th-13th , where we will play 3 matches against professional sides in Portugal. We believe that there is a strong market in the mid-first division and upper second division level for American players in Europe. Our program calls for a yearly tour to different European countries to explore those possibilities."