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Fury’s Pugh Bullish on Club’s Move to USL

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/28/16, 10:03AM EDT

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President believes move ensures Ottawa has a strong pro side for ‘many years to come’


Photo courtesy Ottawa Fury FC

Ottawa Fury FC President John Pugh said on Thursday his club’s move to the USL for the 2017 season would allow the Fury to take a next step forward, while also ensuring their long-term prospects as they enter their fourth professional season next year.

“We think the USL is the best place to move that forward to the next step and make sure Ottawa has a pro team for many years to come," Pugh told The Telegraph’s Bob Williams. “Our fans want pro soccer to continue here. Whether it's Cincinnati or Carolina is really not the biggest deal for them. They want to see the kind of soccer they have seen over the past three years and enjoy the game-day experience.”

Fury FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies became the most recent members of the USL on Tuesday, with both set to compete alongside previously announced expansion side Reno 1868 FC next season. As an organization that had roots in the USL’s W-League, PDL and Super Y League before joining the professional ranks, Pugh has been impressed by the USL’s growth over the past two seasons that has seen the league surpass 30 teams across the United States and Canada.

Ottawa figures to fit solidly into the USL’s Eastern Conference, where it will be able to foster a number of regional rivalries, including between Fury FC and Toronto FC II, which should be a highlight in the new season. With the move now made, Pugh believes the future for Fury FC and its supporters is very bright.

“The USL is a really high-caliber soccer league which is attracting big crowds and experiencing tremendous growth,” Pugh told Williams. "For us, it's an opportunity to bring stability and sustainability to our program here. We've been going for three seasons and are drawing around 5,500 people per game.”

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