NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
24 September 2003

NEW ‘CITY ISLANDERS’ PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR SOCCER COMING TO HARRISBURG CITY ISLAND

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed and new franchise principal Eric D. Pettis today announced that a new outdoor professional soccer team will begin play on Harrisburg City Island starting in April of 2004. The new team, to be known as the Harrisburg City Islanders, will play in the Pro Soccer League(PSL) division of the United Soccer Leagues at Skyline Sports Complex.

Reed said the new professional soccer team will play a 20-game season, running from April through August, as well as several additional games in the annual national Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition extending into September. The team’s roster will feature approximately 20-players. The Pro Soccer League is one of the nation’s top professional soccer leagues, and is near the pinnacle of the United Soccer Leagues’ five different divisions of play.

Mayor Reed said the new franchise is owned and operated by principal Eric D. Pettis, who is President of the locally-based Comprehensive Financial Services, Inc., and Pennsylvania Pension Planners, Inc. Pettis played collegiate soccer for Bloomsburg University, and was head coach of the Bishop McDevitt High School Soccer team from 1985–1995. For the past five years he has been actively involved with youth soccer leagues in the Greater Harrisburg Region.

“This is an exciting development for Harrisburg area soccer fans,” said the Mayor. “Soccer remains the world’s most popular sport, and it continues to grow in both fan interest as well as participation in the U.S. Fan oriented and family-friendly, the new Harrisburg City Islanders are a major addition to the region’s professional sports offerings, and we look forward to their great success on City Island.”

Pettis, who will serve as team President, said “we’re excited and proud to be bringing professional soccer to City Island. We are committed to providing high-quality professional soccer, outstanding entertainment and strong support for the many great youth and amateur soccer programs in the midstate. We are also very enthusiastic about being a part of Harrisburg’s and the downtown’s growing popularity, and hope to become a key partner in continuing that resurgence.”

Pettis said the top management team for the new franchise has been selected, and includes new Head Coach Bill Becher, one of the midstate’s most recognizable soccer personalities. The St. Louis native had an outstanding career in the Major Indoor Soccer League, scoring 280 goals and 254 assists during a 458 game career that included nine years of play with the former Harrisburg Heat. Belcher has remained in the midstate since, serving as the Coaching Director for the Lower Dauphin Soccer Association.

Other front office personnel for the new City Islanders team will include Christopher Barker as Vice President, Chuck Fox as Secretary/Treasurer, and Joe Sierko as team General Manager. Sierko was formerly Director of Sales and Marketing for the Harrisburg Heat.

Reed and Pettis said the team will immediately begin establishing offices, marketing plans, ticket sales and player evaluations. The team has selected the Alvis Group as its official communications firm, and persons wanting more interest on the City Islanders are encouraged to visit the team’s official website at www.cityislanders.com.

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