PHILADELPHIA, Penn. (Nov. 12, 2019) – The United Soccer League (USL) announced today that Philadelphia Lone Star FC will become the newest member of USL League Two, as it joins for the 2020 season.
“Since its founding in 2001, Philadelphia Lone Star has become an incredibly important institution within Philadelphia’s vibrant soccer community,” said Joel Nash, Vice President of USL League Two. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome them to League Two, and to help them connect with more players and fans from the area than ever before in the future.”
In joining USL League Two, Philadelphia Lone Star FC will offer a proven pathway to professional soccer for its players, both those at the elite collegiate level and the top academy-age players from the region. On top of the valuable experience of playing in the nation’s most competitive pre-professional environment, League Two also provides growth opportunities for its coaches, executives and communities.
“We are committed to providing the best possible platform for our players to move on to the professional ranks,” said Paul Konneh, President and Executive Director of Philadelphia Lone Star FC. “We are always evolving to support this vision, and we feel that joining USL League Two will help us achieve this goal while also allowing our city, community, coaches, and executives to shine.”
Nicknamed “The Stars,” Philadelphia Lone Star has risen to local and regional prominence over the last 18 years. The club has strong Liberian roots — it was founded by Bobby Ali, a Liberian immigrant who fled civil war in his home country, and has always maintained a proud tradition of Liberian and West African players in its squad. The club’s name is derived from the nickname of the Liberian national team, who are also called the Lone Stars.
In 2015, Philadelphia Lone Star achieved a historic result by defeating the Puerto Rican national team. After finding success on the pitch in recent seasons, the Stars will look to reach new heights and build on their proud history by joining League Two.
The club will play its home matches at the South Philadelphia Athletic Super Site on Bigler St., which is less than a 10-minute walk from the nearest SEPTA Broad Street Line rapid transit station.
Learn more by following @PhillyLoneStar on social media and visit the club’s website philadelphialonestarfc.com for the latest club updates.
About USL League Two
A part of United Soccer Leagues, LLC, which also operates the USL Championship, USL League One, Super Y League and the new USL Academy, USL League Two is the top pre-professional soccer league in North America, offering a summer platform for aspiring professionals across the United States and Canada. League Two is the defined and proven pathway for players to progress to the ranks of professional soccer, while its clubs become fixtures in the communities where they operate.
More than 70 percent of all MLS SuperDraft selections since 2010 have League Two experience, including 66 alumni chosen in 2018 and 61 in 2019. Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent, Newcastle United’s DeAndre Yedlin, and Atlanta United’s Brad Guzan are among the many U.S. National Team players to have competed in USL League Two before making their professional debuts. For more information on USL League Two, visit the league website or follow @USLLeagueTwo on social media.