Forest City London
Encyclopedia
Forest City London is a Canadian soccer team based in London, Ontario
, Canada
. Founded in 2008, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.
The team plays its home games primarily at the German Club, with selected games at Marconi Field, where they have played since 2009. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.
in 2009, and played their first ever game on May 29, 2009, against Cleveland Internationals
. London won the game 2-1, with the first goal in franchise history being scored by Kevin Zimmermann. London's debut season was a generally positive one; they remained unbeaten over the course of their first ten games, and enjoyed seven wins, including a 3-1 victory on the road against the Cincinnati Kings
, a 5-0 thrashing of Kalamazoo Outrage
that featured a brace from midfielder Thomas Beattie, a 3-1 win on the road against traditional powerhouse Michigan Bucks
in which Zimmermann added another two goals to his tally, and a comprehensive 4-1 victory in the return fixture against Cleveland at the end of June. London's first loss - their first defeat in franchise history - was a 3-1 drop to the Indiana Invaders
at the beginning of July, and it initiated a complete reversal of fortune for the team, who did not win another game all season, and dropped down the divisional standings. They ultimately finished third in the Great Lakes Division, seven points behind divisional champions Kalamazoo, and faced off against Chicago Fire Premier
in the first round of the playoffs; unfortunately for London their stay in the playoffs was brief, as they lost 1-0 to the Illinoisans on a goal by Andre Akpan
. Kevin Zimmermann and Alan McGreal were London's top scorers in their debut season, with 9 and 7 goals respectively, while Anthony Di Biase
contributed 4 assists.
Kevin De Serpa
Anthony Di Biase
Andrew Sousa
Ryan Woods
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Founded in 2008, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.
The team plays its home games primarily at the German Club, with selected games at Marconi Field, where they have played since 2009. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.
History
Forest City London joined the USL Premier Development LeagueUSL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in 2009, and played their first ever game on May 29, 2009, against Cleveland Internationals
Cleveland Internationals
Cleveland Internationals was an American soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2004, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference...
. London won the game 2-1, with the first goal in franchise history being scored by Kevin Zimmermann. London's debut season was a generally positive one; they remained unbeaten over the course of their first ten games, and enjoyed seven wins, including a 3-1 victory on the road against the Cincinnati Kings
Cincinnati Kings
Cincinnati Kings is an American soccer team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2005, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
, a 5-0 thrashing of Kalamazoo Outrage
Kalamazoo Outrage
Kalamazoo Outrage was an American soccer team based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 2007, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
that featured a brace from midfielder Thomas Beattie, a 3-1 win on the road against traditional powerhouse Michigan Bucks
Michigan Bucks
Michigan Bucks is an American soccer team based in Pontiac, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
in which Zimmermann added another two goals to his tally, and a comprehensive 4-1 victory in the return fixture against Cleveland at the end of June. London's first loss - their first defeat in franchise history - was a 3-1 drop to the Indiana Invaders
Indiana Invaders
Indiana Invaders is an American soccer team based in South Bend, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
at the beginning of July, and it initiated a complete reversal of fortune for the team, who did not win another game all season, and dropped down the divisional standings. They ultimately finished third in the Great Lakes Division, seven points behind divisional champions Kalamazoo, and faced off against Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at...
in the first round of the playoffs; unfortunately for London their stay in the playoffs was brief, as they lost 1-0 to the Illinoisans on a goal by Andre Akpan
Andre Akpan
Andre Akpan is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:Akpan was born in Grand Prairie, Texas to a Nigerian father and an American mother...
. Kevin Zimmermann and Alan McGreal were London's top scorers in their debut season, with 9 and 7 goals respectively, while Anthony Di Biase
Anthony Di Biase
Anthony Di Biase is a Canadian soccer player, currently playing for Hamilton Rage in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
contributed 4 assists.
Current roster
As of June 10, 2011.Notable former players
This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.Kevin De Serpa
Kevin De Serpa
Kevin De Serpa is a Canadian soccer player, coach, futsal player, and freestyle footballer, currently playing for Forest City London in the USL Premier Development League.- Career :...
Anthony Di Biase
Anthony Di Biase
Anthony Di Biase is a Canadian soccer player, currently playing for Hamilton Rage in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
Andrew Sousa
Andrew Sousa
Andrew Sousa is an American soccer player.-College and Amateur:Sousa attended Durfee High School, where he served as team det man during his senior year, and played club soccer for Bayside United Det Men, Blackwatch Rhode Island and the Nor'easter's, before beginning his college soccer career at...
Ryan Woods
Ryan Woods
Ryan Woods is an English footballer currently playing for NSC Minnesota Stars in the North American Soccer League.-College and amateur:...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Canada Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Great Lakes | Divisional Semifinals | N/A |
| 2010 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Great Lakes | Conference Semifinals | N/A |
| 2011 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Great Lakes | Conference Quarterfinals | N/A |
Stadia
- TD Waterhouse StadiumTD Waterhouse StadiumTD Waterhouse Stadium is an 8,000-seat Canadian football stadium located at 100 Philip Aziz Avenue on the campus of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. It was built in 2000 at a cost of approximately $10.5-million and replaced J.W...
; London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
(2009–2010) - German Club; London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
(2009–present) - Marconi Field; London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
4 games (2009–2011) - London Portuguese Club; London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
2 games (2009–2010)
Average attendance
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html- 2009: 1,367 (5th in PDL)
- 2010: 1,246 (7th in PDL)
- 2011: 841