Colorado Rapids Women News Release -- www.forcesoccer.org
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado’s longest-operating women’s sports franchise will be back in action this spring with a new look.
The Colorado Force FC has agreed to align with the Colorado Rapids MLS franchise, and will play as the Colorado Rapids Women beginning in the 2012 W-League season.
Management of the franchise, founded in Fort Collins in 1996, will continue to operate in Northern Colorado with business offices in Fort Collins; ownership is also unchanged.
While the team will now train and play matches at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park facility -- home of the MLS Rapids -- the players and coaches will continue to conduct camps and clinics in Northern Colorado. Exhibition matches are also planned for Northern Colorado sites.
Franchise co-founder Amy Snider said the affiliation with the Rapids marks a logical next step for the organization. Initiated as the Fort Collins Force, the team became the Colorado Force in 2009 and moved its matches to Loveland in order to reach to a wider Northern Colorado fan base.
“Now we’re able to showcase the highest level of women’s competition for all of Colorado,” Snider said.
The professional WPS league will be suspending play this summer, which means the pro-am W-League stands as the top level of competition in North America. “What I am most proud of is, that 16 years later, we continue to support an opportunity for women to play soccer at an elite level,” Snider said.
Snider said the Rapids contribute a range of benefits to the Force franchise, including sponsorship, financial and organizational resources, marketing and support for team training.
“Having the Rapids Women as part of our soccer club is a huge step for the Rapids organization,” said Colorado Rapids President Tim Hinchey. “We’re thrilled to be able to provide top quality women’s soccer as part of our club.”
Daniel Clitnovici, the head coach of the W-League team adds, "I think this a great step in the right direction not only for the Force/Rapids merger but also for women’s soccer in Colorado and the USA. Being part of the Colorado Rapids gives these elite players an opportunity to experience the Professional life of soccer whilst still keeping their amateur status".
Coach Clinovici adds, "We have started putting to together a very strong team and we hope in the very near future to complete some more signings for the 2012 season so that the Colorado Rapids W-League team can be as competitive and the name holds it to be".
Anyone interested in trying out for the Colorado Rapids W-League or U/20’s teams will need to contact Head Coach: Daniel Clitnovici at daniel@forcesoccer.org.