Long Island Rough Riders News Release - www.liroughriders.com
Thursday, March 4, 2010
PLAINVIEW, NY -- The Long Island Rough Riders of the USL W-League formally announced that it has formed a partnership with the 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer champion Sky Blue FC.
“An important part of the Sky Blue FC mission is to develop relationships like the one we have with the Long Island Rough Riders W-League team,” Sky Blue FC General Manager Gerry Marrone commented. “This partnership is especially significant since this organization represents one of the ‘soccer hotbeds’ in the entire country. Soccer is a passion for Long Island, and the numbers and quality of their programs makes this a great connection with Sky Blue FC and Women’s Professional Soccer.”
The partnership with the Rough Riders includes the areas of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens. It will entail player identification whereby Rough Riders women players will be evaluated by the Sky Blue FC coaching staff during the season. In addition, Sky Blue FC will host youth tournaments involving the Junior Rough Riders along with their affiliate clubs at one of this year’s Sky Blue FC home games.
“This partnership with Sky Blue FC further illustrates our commitment to player development,” Rough Riders General Manager Flavio Ferri stated. “This also affords our players the opportunity to be directly exposed to the highest level with the WPS defending national champions.”
An additional mission between the two clubs is to provide a platform for professional hopefuls to develop their game.
"There is a wealth of female talent on Long Island,” Ferri continued. “The close proximity of both franchises will make it more accessible for possible player exchange and identification.”
The Rough Riders join the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues in serving as an official development club to Sky Blue FC.
The Rough Riders women’s team are currently hosting tryouts for the 2010 season - www.liroughriders.com/women
The Rough Riders play its home matches at Cy Donnelly Stadium on the campus of Saint Anthony High School in South Huntington, and tickets for its upcoming season of play are available now by calling 1-516-622-TIXX (8499) or logging onto www.liroughriders.com.
