South Florida Newcastle Fans to make road trip to Orlando July 23

In a couple of weeks a group of South Florida Newcastle Supporters will make a trip up to Orlando. It's this coming Saturday July 23, 2011. As Orlando City of USL Pro (U.S. 3rd Division) will receive Newcastle United (English Premier League) at the Citrus Bowl

The group (who are also Fort Lauderdale Strikers Fans) are led by Mark Featherstone and plan on making the trip to Orlando to support Newcastle.

The group he is traveling with is also planning to go to Epcot (and drink around the world!) that same Saturday and then go to the game, heading back home on Sunday.

If you want to join them contact: Mark Featherstone email: baldguy67@hotmail.com You can also reach him at 954-330-3024. During work hours please text and he will get back with you.

Dedicated ToonArmy Sections: 111 and 112 - $25

We hope Tampa Newcastle Fans and Rowdies fans join them as we hope to see that Orlando team lose big!

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USSF Conspiracy against NASL by Burrito

Si, the title is a little dramatic, Burrito admit that. Pero, the way the United States Soccer Federation has handled this Division 2 matter kind of makes Burrito wonder if they really want NASL to succeed? Burrito listen to teleconference while playing with chew toy and Burrito was the first to cry bloody murder (Well, bark bloody murder) when USSF President, Sunil Gulati said the 5 U.S. based Division 2 teams would be excluded from this years U.S. Open Cup.
Porque? Why? Burrito's first thought was they lazy. Doesn't the tournament start in June? Then someone tweet that the last 2 USOC formats were announced on 5/5/10 & 4/30/09... Sounds like there is plenty of time to Burrito for teams to be included.
Then Burrito go to IMS and see some vato mention idea that maybe NASL wants to skip the tournament this year to save the costs. So Burrito contact his homeboy at Traffic here in Miami and they told Burrito that the NASL is happy they will be playing Division 2 soccer this year. They say the decision for NASL teams to not play the USOC was a USSF decision not that of the NASL... WTF?So we now know it was the Federation that came up with this idea. Is it punishement? Or as Burrito mention laziness? Or could the powers that be MLS, USL and USSF want NASL to fail?
Check this out: USL still claims they are division 2 without meeting the standards...

USL PRO is the strongest, best operated and most sophisticated North American men’s professional soccer league below MLS, both on and off the field. Focused on franchise stability and longevity...

We all know about the longevity of teams in USL throughout the years. That being said, and Burrito hate to be repetitive, pero after years and years of allowing USL to run division 2 at their whim, now, the USSF decides they will impose tough standards. (That in the end have been met). Notice there are no standards for Division 3 teams. Hmmmm...

What was also of concern to Burrito was the fact that when MLS Commissioner Garber was in South Florida to meet with Burrito's compadres los Miami Ultras he stated that for him USL and NASL were both 2nd Division... WTF? No Senor Garber, NASL is Div 2 and USL is underneath them.

To Burrito it seems everyone want NASL to fail. Not letting NASL teams play the USOC is proof that the USSF is run by idiotas! All this drama could have been avoided if they just sit down and talk rather then harm U.S. soccer by denying sanctioning left and right. Time for a revolution, time for new blood at the USSF. Bring down the mafia that runs U.S. soccer! That's it! Burrito gonna run for USSF president. Even a dog can do a better job then these pendejos!

About Burrito:
Burrito is the only soccer blogging dawg in the known universe! Since 1998! Join Burrito's twitter or he hit you on head with quesadilla! Burrito Supports the Strikers and wants MLS back in South Florida. You can follow Burrito on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Burritofutbol BTW, pictures are all stolen. If you own them and want them taken down contact Burrito. But Burrito is a dog, so good luck.

SF Soccer news: NASL sanctioning issues, Strikers, Beckham, Marine Stadium and more.

The main topic of the week so far was the decision by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to pull its provisional Division 2 sanctioning of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
What bothers me is that for years the USSF sat there and watched the United Soccer Leagues (USL) do anything they wanted to soccer in this country from division 2 down. We saw dozens of teams fold, instability reign and nothing was done to correct it.
The moment a proposed league run by the team owners themselves was created, due to the USL's inability to work with its teams, is the moment the USSF decides to create rules and regulations that in my eyes looks like a road block to those opposing the incumbent league they were so used to dealing with. Suddenly, they decided to get strict... kinda makes you go 'hmmmm'.
So, the USSF says the issue was money. Well, the NASL just put up 6 million to cover that hole. If that doesn't ring stability I don't know what does! Let's see if the USSF comes up with another excuse. If they do then I think its obvious that there is more then meets the eye going on behind closed doors.
My message to the USSF: Work with the NASL to get them sanctioned. Create the stability you claim to want and get MLS, NASL and USL to work together for the good of soccer in this country.

Strikers
The NASL has invested too much time and money to stop and not continue business as usual, having said that our local team the Strikers have released their 2011 schedule. You can see it by scrolling down to the previous blog post below.
The Miami Ultras are planning ahead for road trips to Tampa and one to Atlanta. Stay tuned for more information on that!

Beckham to bring MLS to Miami
The news of MLS to Miami continues this time People U.K. states David Beckham is being offered a deal to bring a team to the Magic City. While MLS Commissioner Garber was in South Florida for his meeting with the Miami Ultras, he did mention Beckham has the option of starting a team anywhere in the United States at a reduced price. Apparently the only condition is that it can't be L.A. nor N.Y.
More news from Ministry of Soccer says Beckham Might Buy Miami FC for MLS and Tribal Football has the same report.

Miami Marine Stadium
The Friends of Miami Marine Stadium were graceful enough to include this blog in their monthly news letter after a blog post we published made a little noise. Here is what they had to say:

The blog Football In Miami And Beyond provides up-to-date information on all things soccer in Miami and South Florida. Recently, the blog posted a story about placing a temporary floating soccer field in front of the Miami Marine Stadium. We don't know if this is fully feasible as the field would have to be easily moved and stored- but one already operates in Singapore. This particular story "went viral" and was posted on various soccer and sports blogs nationwide. Think of the possibilities the Stadium offers!

If you want to support the restoration of the Marine Stadium be sure to visit them at http://www.marinestadium.org/Marine Stadium design by Derek Reese

NASL Annual General Meeting in Miami

The North American Soccer League will hold it's Annual General Meeting tomorrow in Miami's Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Biscayne Bay. The event takes place on November 7 and 8 and will bring together representatives from all existing NASL teams starting with the current Champions Puerto Rico Islanders, Carolina RailHawks, Montreal Impact, Miami FC Blues, FC Tampa Bay, Crystal Palace Baltimore and new expansion team FC Edmonton. Also attending will be representatives of two teams that still don't meet USSF's new standards AC St. Louis and NSC Minnesota Stars who are in process of acquiring new investors.

Not attending as you may imagine will be the Rochester Rhinos as they aligned themselves with USL Pro and The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps who will play in MLS next season.

Several topics will be covered including tentative schedule for next season, league staff and future expansion.

The NASL, while busy planning for the 2011 season, was surprised by league member Rochester Rhinos’ announcement earlier this week that they plan to play at the USSF third division level (USL PRO) despite their multi-year commitment with the NASL. The NASL is evaluating all of its options and will proceed accordingly. “It’s unfortunate that the Rochester Rhinos, a team with such a successful track record over its fifteen year history at the second division level, is stepping down to third division," said Aaron Davidson, CEO of the NASL

Read more HERE