Bethlehem Steel FC
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| Full name | Bethlehem Steel Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | ||
| Stadium |
Goodman Stadium Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | ||
| Capacity | 16,000 | ||
| Owner | Keystone S&E | ||
| Head Coach | Brendan Burke | ||
| League | USL | ||
| 2016 | Inaugural season | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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| Active teams of the Philadelphia Union | |||
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| MLS | USL | PDL | |
Bethlehem Steel FC is an American professional soccer team based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, part of the Lehigh Valley region. Founded in 2015, the team plays in the United Soccer League, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team is the official affiliate of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. Its colors are navy blue, gold, and red. Brendan Burke is the Steel's Head coach.
Colors and badge
On October 27, 2015, Bethlehem Steel FC's name, crest, and colors were officially announced during a ceremony held at the ArtsQuest at SteelStacks. "Steel FC" alludes to the historical Bethlehem Steel F.C., which played from 1907 to 1930.[1] The origin of the clubs' name is the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, which was once America's second-largest steel producer and largest shipbuilder and was important to the economy of the area. The name was chosen following a fan poll held between September 8, 2015 and September 28, 2015; the other three options were Lehigh Valley Steel SC, Lehigh Valley Blast, and Steel FC.[2]
The colors of Bethlehem Steel FC are navy blue and gold, and red, combining the primary colors of both the original Bethlehem Steel F.C. and the Philadelphia Union. The team's crest is elongated, representing the foundation of a new player development program and extension of the Union brand. Its gold rivets symbolize the relationship between the Bethelehem and Philadelphia clubs. The Union's rattlesnake alludes to the "Join, or Die" political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin that was featured in the 1754 Pennsylvania Gazette, and is also reminiscent of the Gadsden flag, another Revolutionary icon. The red beam in the middle of the crest is a tribute to the original logo of Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Before sponsoring a team in the USL, the Philadelphia Union commemorated the original Bethlehem Steel F.C. once before. In February 2013, the club unveiled a third kit with Steel F.C.'s colors, featuring a black jersey with white trim, a sublimated Union logo, and a Steel F.C. jock tag.[3][4][5][6][7]
Sponsorship
| Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Adidas | Lehigh Valley Health Network |
Facilities
Stadium
Bethlehem Steel FC will play home matches at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem, also home to the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks football team. It features 16,000 seats and a natural grass field.
Training facility
Bethlehem Steel FC will practice at the training fields next to Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, where the Union play their home games.
Players
Union Academy product Derrick Jones was the first player signed by Steel FC on December 3, 2015. [8]
Current Roster
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of May 1, 2016.
Coaching staff
-
Brendan Burke – Head Coach - Jeff Cook – Assistant Coach
- Stephen Hogan – Assistant Coach
- Dave Peck – Athletic Development Coach
- Yaseen Khan – Athletic Trainer
- Brandon Chomisky – Team Coordinator
Coaching and Technical Staff as of February 3, 2016[9]
References
- ↑ "Press release". October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Philadelphia Union open fan vote for USL team name". October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Jersey Week: Union pay homage to Bethlehem Steel with retro 3rd shirt". MLSsoccer.com.
- ↑ "Philadelphia Union honors Bethlehem Steel soccer club on new jerseys". lehighvalleylive.com.
- ↑ "The Philadelphia Union: Following the Ghosts of Bethlehem's Soccer Tradition" by Stephen Barrow, 7 July 2012
- ↑ "Philadelphia Union unveil new third jersey, inspired by Bethlehem Steel". Philly.com.
- ↑ "Todo Sobre Camisetas: Philadelphia Union Adidas Third Jersey 2013". todosobrecamisetas.blogspot.com.ar.
- ↑ "Bethlehem Steel FC Sign Union Academy Product Derrick Jones". Philadelphia Union. December 3, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
- ↑ "Coaching and Technical Staff".
External links
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