Reading United News Release -- www.readingunitedac.com
Thursday, June 6, 2013
READING, Pa. -- On a map, Reading and Philadelphia are seperated by 60 miles. On the soccer field, the two cities are much closer. Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union partnered with Reading United A.C. of the Premier Development League in 2009. The two player development partners now share a close bond on and off the field, with each side growing stronger because of the partnership. The unique relationship shared by the clubs will be on full display Friday evening as the Union travel to Reading for their annual summer friendly.
As one of the top clubs in the Premier Development League, Reading United has had tremendous success in developing professional soccer players. Currently, United have twenty-five former players playing the beautiful game in leagues throughout the United States and Europe. Three of those alums, Ray Gaddis, Leo Fernandes, and Aaron Wheeler, play just down the road at PPL Park, proudly pulling on a Philadelphia Union jersey during the MLS season. For these pros, Friday represents a homecoming.
Wheeler played for Reading while the club was still known as the Rage. Wheeler’s breakthrough 2009 season earned him Most Valuable Player honors and catapulted Reading to the 2009 Regular Season Championship. The 6-foot-4 forward signed with the Union on January 19th and made his MLS debut on Wednesday night against Columbus.
Gaddis spent two summers playing on United’s suffocating backline. He caught the eye of the Philadelphia technical staff at the first United-Union friendly in 2010 and was selected by the Union in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. Gaddis is now a fixture in the Union’s starting line-up, having started every match for the Union in 2013.
On May 18th, Fernandes made his MLS debut at PPL Park in a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire. A summer ago, Fernandes suited up for Reading United against Philadelphia. Asked about last year’s match, Fernandes said, “It was a great experience. That was the number one thing I was looking forward to the whole summer was the chance to play against professional soccer players.” At this year’s friendly, he’ll trade in the white jersey of Reading United for a blue and gold Union kit.
The three Reading alums on Philadelphia’s roster aren’t the only ones representing both cities. United Head Coach Brendan Burke also got the call from PPL Park; he joined the Union coaching staff ahead of the 2011 MLS season. “The friendly is kind of a celebration,” Coach Burke shared during in interview shortly after the 2013 friendly was announced.
The Philadelphia Union make their annual trek to Don Thomas Stadium coming off their best all-around performance of the 2013 season. A three goal outburst in the first half and a solid defensive performance powered the Union past the Columbus Crew by a 3-0 score line. The win lifted Philadelphia back into an Eastern Conference playoff spot at the midpoint point of the season approaches.
The Union are led by Jack McInerney and Sebastien Le Toux. McInerney’s ten goals currently lead Major League Soccer. Based on his red-hot form, McInerney was also selected to join the United States Men’s National Team camp ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup. Le Toux, the Union’s franchise leader in goals scored, rejoined the Union in the offseason. The dynamic Frenchman has six assists to lead Major League Soccer.