Reading United News Release - www.readingunitedac.com
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
READING, Pa. – On Wednesday Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union will make the annual trek to Reading where they’ll match up against their player development partners, Reading United A.C. in a friendly match at Wilson High School's Gurski Stadium scheduled for 7 p.m. It will be the fifth time the partner clubs have met in what has become a summer soccer tradition.
Last year, the Union used goals from Antoine Hoppenot and Reading alum Aaron Wheeler to defeat a United side loaded with MLS prospects 2-0. Reading has yet to defeat its professional partners in the annual exhibition match.
This year, the Union arrive in town featuring more United alums on their roster than ever before. Former Reading stars Ray Gaddis, Andrew Wenger, Aaron Wheeler and Leo Fernandes will all be back in Reading, where they'll be joined by fellow Union stars Zac MacMath, Amobi Okugo, Vincent Nogueira and Sebastien Le Toux.
Reading United A.C. and the Philadelphia Union inked a player development agreement in 2009 that made Reading the exclusive PDL Development Partner of the Philadelphia Union. In turn, the Union have benefitted from this partnership, as a quartet of Union players are Reading United alum: Wheeler (2009), Wenger (2009-2010), Gaddis (2010-2011) and Fernandes (2012) have collectively combined for 50 appearances this year for the Union, including 39 starts.
Additionally, Union manager Jim Curtin has ties to United, as he was previously the Reading Super-20 Men’s coach.