2016 Bethlehem Steel schedule
Here's the schedule for the debut season of Bethlehem Steel FC, the Union's new minor league team.
Named after the legendary American soccer dynasty of the early 20th century, Steel competes in the USL, the third division of American soccer's league hierarchy. The team is owned and operated by the Union. It plays its home games at Lehigh University's Goodman Stadium, and will train in Chester during the week alongside the first team.
Steel's season starts with a visit to FC Montreal, the Impact's USL affiliate, on Friday, March 25 at venerable Olympic Stadium. The first home game will be the following weekend, on Sunday, April 3 against expansion team FC Cincinnati. It so happens that Cincinnati's squad includes three former Union players: Austin Berry, Antoine Hoppenot and academy product Jimmy McLaughlin.
The most important purpose for MLS clubs owning their own USL teams is to give substantive playing time to products of the team's academy without shipping them to another organization's development structure.
McLaughlin didn't have that opportunity with the Union. Nor did the two other homegrown players in Union history, Zach Pfeffer and Cristhian Hernández. They, like McLaughlin, are no longer with the club.
But the next generation of Union academy talent will have no such problem. Not for nothing was Steel's first ever signing one such player: midfielder Derrick Jones. The Ghana native moved to Philadelphia in 2011, then joined a vibrant community of West African immingrant children who play for Southwest Philadelphia-based Junior Lone Star FC.
Jones was spotted by the Union while playing for Junior Lone Star, and in 2013 was welcomed into the team's academy.
Steel has made a few other signings since, mostly players from other USL clubs. Its roster isn't fully fleshed out yet. You might see some of the Union's draft picks end up there, especially late-round selections such as defenders Taylor Washington and Mitchell Lurie.
Here's the full 2016 Bethlehem Steel schedule. And by the way, I've heard that the team will unveil its jerseys (and start selling them) in late March.
Friday, March 25: at FC Montreal, time TBD
Sunday, April 3: vs. FC Cincinnati, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 10: at New York Red Bulls II, 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 17: vs. Richmond Kickers, time TBD
Sunday, April 24: vs. Charleston Battery, time TBD
Sunday, May 1: vs. Louisville City, Goodman Stadium, time TBD
Saturday, May 7: at Orlando City B, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 15: vs. FC Montreal, time TBD
Sunday, May 22: at Harrisburg City Islanders (Clipper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster), time TBD
Saturday, May 28: at Rochester Rhinos, time TBD
Sunday, June 5: vs. New York Red Bulls II, time TBD
Friday, June 10: at Charlotte Independence, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, June 17: at Wilmington Hammerheads, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 25: at Richmond Kickers, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 2: at FC Cincinnati, time TBD
Wednesday, July 6: at Toronto FC II, time TBD
Sunday, July 10: vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, time TBD
Thursday, July 14: vs. Wilmington Hammerheads, time TBD
Thursday, July 21: vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, time TBD
Sunday, July 24: vs. Rochester Rhinos, time TBD
Sunday, July 31: vs. Toronto FC II, time TBD
Sunday, August 7: vs. Charlotte Independence, TBD
Saturday, August 13: at Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 21: at FC Montreal, Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 27: at Louisville City, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 30: at Harrisburg City Islanders (Metro Bank Park), time TBD
Sunday, September 4: vs. New York Red Bulls II, time TBD
Saturday, September 10: at Charleston Battery, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 18: vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, time TBD
Sunday, September 25: vs. Orlando City B, time TBD