Orlando City B

Orlando City B
Full name Orlando City B
Nickname(s) Lions, OCB
Founded June 30, 2015 (2015-06-30)
Stadium Montverde Academy
Montverde, Florida
Capacity 3,500
Owner Orlando City SC
Head Coach Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita
League USL League One
2017 (USL) 9th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
Website Club website

Orlando City B (or OCB for short) is a USL League One club that began play in 2016. Owned by Orlando City SC and based at the Orlando City Development Academy in Montverde, Florida, the club plays its home games at Montverde Academy.[1] The club played in the United Soccer League in 2016 and 2017[2], and will play in the newly launched USL League One beginning in 2019.[3]

History

On June 30, 2015, Orlando City SC announced that they would operate a USL club starting in 2016[4] in the Central Florida area. The team would be their USL affiliate, and Orlando City and Louisville City (their USL affiliate club for 2015) had negotiated a "long-term formal partnership" to replace their affiliation arrangement.[5]

Orlando City also announced that Anthony Pulis would coach the new team. Pulis was a player for Orlando City SC's USL club from 2011–14 and is the son of Tony Pulis, former manager of numerous English Premier League sides, most recently West Bromwich Albion F.C.[5] On August 11, 2015, Arizona United announced that Rob Valentino would retire from playing[6] and that he would be an assistant coach for Orlando's new USL team.[7]

On October 15, 2015, the club was officially introduced as Orlando City B, with home games to be played in Melbourne at the Titan Soccer Complex on the campus of EFSC campus.[8] In addition, OCB announced its first three player signings (pending USSF approval); defenders Mikey Ambrose and Kyle Callan-McFadden and midfielder Tony Rocha.[9] On December 17, Lewis Neal was signed to Orlando City B to provide leadership and an experienced presence on the team.[10]

On August 12, 2016, in a game against New York Red Bulls II, Orlando City B participated in the first competitive match in North America to employ Video Assistant Referee technology.[11]

Location

Tim Holt, Orlando's vice president of development, said that they would be looking for a stadium in Central Florida in order to facilitate the training of emerging players with the MLS team. Holt was the president of USL until May 2015.[4] Eastern Florida State College's stadium was visited by team personnel as a possible location.[12]

On August 21, 2015, the VP for athletics at Eastern Florida State College claimed in a pitch to the Brevard County Tourist Development Council's Sports Commission that the college's Titan Soccer Complex and a stadium in Deland are among the finalists to host games for the USL team.[13] Said plan was approved and the Titan Sports Complex at ECSC will be OCB's official home venue for the 2016 season.[8][9]

For the 2017 season in the USL, Orlando City B played at Orlando City's home stadium, Orlando City Stadium. For 2019 in USL League One, the team will play at Montverde Academy.[14]

Year-by-year

As of November 20, 2017
Year USL Regular season Position Playoffs
P W L D GF GA Pts Conf. Overall
2016 309138354935 8th 19th Conference Quarterfinals
2017 32101012373642 9th 18th Did not qualify
2018 On Hiatus

Head Coaches

  • Includes USL regular season and playoffs
CoachNationalityStartEndGamesWinLossDrawWin %
Anthony Pulis  Wales June 30, 2015 November 20, 2017 63 19 24 20 030.16

References

  1. ↑ "Orlando City B Joining USL DIII for 2019 Season". September 10, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Orlando City B Elects to Forgo 2018 USL Division II Season". January 12, 2018.
  3. ↑ "MLS-owned team becomes fourth announced club in Southeast region". September 10, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Tenorio, Paul (June 30, 2015), Orlando City to own, operate USL franchise in 2016, Orlando Sentinel, retrieved July 31, 2015 .
  5. 1 2 Orlando City SC announce plans to field USL team in 2016, ending Louisville affiliation, MLSsoccer.com, June 30, 2015, retrieved July 31, 2015 .
  6. ↑ Rob Valentino To Retire and Coach With Orlando City SC USL Club, August 11, 2015 .
  7. ↑ Tenorio, Paul (August 11, 2015), Former Orlando City defender Rob Valentino named assistant coach of USL team, Orlando Sentinel .
  8. 1 2 "USL Welcomes Back Orlando City SC for 2016". United Soccer League. October 15, 2015. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Orlando City Announces Orlando City B, Signs Defenders Mikey Ambrose, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Midfielder Tony Rocha, October 15, 2015
  10. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2015/12/17/lewis-neal-re-joins-orlando-city-family-extended-role
  11. ↑ Borg, Simon (12 August 2016). "MLS, USL receive IFAB approval for live video assistant referee experiments". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  12. ↑ Malone, Giles (July 1, 2015), Eastern Florida State Could Be Home To Orlando City Soccer Minor League Team, retrieved August 5, 2015 .
  13. ↑ Berman, Dave (August 21, 2015), "Melbourne could get soccer team with Orlando City ties", Florida Today, Gannett Company .
  14. ↑ https://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2018/09/06/orlando-city-b-joins-usl-division-iii-inaugural-season
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