On Friday morning, Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland, along with Saline Area Schools Superintendent, Scot Graden, joined Sam Webb on WTKA 1050 AM for a little chat about the upcoming season, and the inaugural Saline Showcase.
Here's the interview:
Less than two weeks before the regular season kicks off for AFC Ann Arbor, the Mighty Oak have released the official 2016 promo video. This year's video features, Ann Arbor's very own, and nationally acclaimed sports broadcaster, Mike Tirico.
Take a look.
At first glance, think it's worth noting the groups of players we have brought in. We're really excited to have multiple players from the University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, Northwood University, Colgate University & the University of Charleston. These programs all compete on a national stage, so for us to pull in more than one player from each program is/was a key factor in our team building process.
We also have some really great stories to tell with the connections to the club that enabled us to sign players like Colin Watson, who came through Manchester United's academy from age 8-16, J.P Rylah who was a YTS at Millwall, Willie Bayemi from the Columbus Crew & French Center Back Matt Braem from Loyola University Chicago. With that said I hope there is a place & time this season to speak about each player on the roster because they will all play a critical role in our team's success.
They definitely have an early opportunity to improve their fitness, acclimate to our system of play & win a spot in the team. These men also have the privilege of shaping our team culture. With that said, I expect training to be competitive as new players enter with hopes of dressing for our NPSL matches.
In football there is only 1 language, with no translators needed, & that's the beautiful game. For me, it's important to bring in a diverse group with different playing histories & influences. Each match on our schedule will call for a different tactic, scheme or individual personality & hopefully with the multiplicity in our roster we have all of our bases covered. 'd also say that the players are excited to be a member of a diverse club and make note that the differences are only cultural as each player we have coming in is accustomed to playing a similar brand of football. So off the field there will be a lot of Google Translate (mostly by me!) taking place, but on the field we will let the football speak for itself.
I've been fortunate to work with some of Northwood's top players the last two summers & have a built a great relationship with their staff of coaches. Northwood has made a name for itself in NCAA Div 2 as a nationally ranked program, so we are fortunate to have James Vaughn & Jack Smith coming in to play with us. The match this weekend vs Northwood will be a good early test for our men & we are thankful that they are coming down to play.
Signing Hector & Dario is a neat football story that should be shared over a pint, but I'll try to briefly shed light on how we were able to sign them. Hector came to the USA in the fall of 2015, after a highlighted career in the Cuban National Team Program. Upon crossing into the USA, he was given a list of people to contact for help in his football career. My name & number happened to be on the list. So he & his close friend (translator) Ernesto contacted me to see if I would be interested in working with Hector. After vetting him thoroughly, I told both Hector & Ernesto that I would love to help Hector sign a pro contract. He spent pre-season with Miami FC of the NASL & then with the Richmond Kickers of the USL. Due to the rules and regulations pertaining to the number of roster spots for international players, Hector was not signed by either club. Based on the relationship we had built over the past 4-5 months he immediately communicated that he would like to come play for AFC Ann Arbor in an effort to push on to a professional contract.
Dario's situation was a little bit different. He was a member of the Cuban Men's National Team this past summer that played in the Gold Cup here in the USA. He came on as a sub vs Mexico and then again vs Trinidad and Tobago. Prior to Cuba's last group stage match vs Guatemala, he defected to the USA with the hopes of signing a professional contract. Along with Hector, Dario spent a month of pre season with Miami FC & was not signed. After which, he chased a few other professional opportunities which didn't pan out. While exploring his options earlier this month, Dario spoke with Hector about his plans. Having known one another since childhood back in Cuba and having played with one another on the international stage, Dario decided to come to AFC Ann Arbor to play with his friend & teammate.
The anticipation of the Mighty Oak roster reveal came to a halt Sunday. AFC Ann Arbor introduced the 2016 team to fans and supporters on Sunday at Revel and Roll. The buzz going into Sunday’s event was huge as the club has remained quiet on this year’s roster.
Supporter Alex Bayoff of the Main St. Hooligans said, “I’m looking forward to the new players and hopefully furthering the club’s success on the field.”
The complete roster will be released tonight at 8pm on afcannarbor.com. Fans who attended Sunday’s event were also given a sneak peak at the season promo video due to launch Monday, April 18th at 10am.
Midfielder Jake Rosen is happy to be apart of the AFC Ann Arbor family. He’s thrilled about the mixture of global, national and local talent. The 2016 roster boasts 17 different players from 10 different counties as well as 12 total players from the state of Michigan.
Forward Dzenan Nezirebic is also excited for the opportunity to join the Mighty Oak.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing a new level of soccer I’ve never had before. Hopefully I can win everything I can with my team.”
Coach Rudland, unfortunately, was unable to attend the event. However, fans did get a special treat as he sent a personal video message to show his appreciation to the fans for supporting the new roster.
This Saturday, April 23rd is the Saline Showcase preseason friendly at Saline High School. Tickets will only be available at the gate ($10 adult/$6 youth/Members get in FREE).
The first regular season match is slated for Friday, April 29th, against Oakland County FC. A limited number of Memberships (season ticket) and Lil’ Hooligans Memberships (youth season ticket) are still available online at afcannarbor.com.
AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School. For questions please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.
With most of our college players not available until sometime in May, the friendly on April 23rd will provide us with an excellent opportunity to evaluate our local players in a real match vs a quality side. Northwood had a historic season this past fall and has been in good form so far this spring. They will provide a competitive stage for our local players to prove themselves. Furthermore, we will use the match as the initial building phase of implementing our team tactical schemes.
Our staff is excited about the individual talent our roster boasts, but still reserved as we all know that the individual quality of the players has to mesh collectively as a unit. So I guess you could say, there really isn't any satisfaction or reward until the ball starts rolling and we see how the groups performs with one another.
It's all about player's winning spots in the team. The team has been built with 3 players in each position so the best man can win the job. The training environment will be competitive, while also aiming to group players together that perform well with one another. This is the essence of balancing individual quality & team needs, which is a fascinating dynamic.
There are definitely challenges in our schedule, as each match will provide a different variable that we have to deal with. With that said, our first 3 matches at home will ignite a desire to perform well in front of our home supporters. The other notable challenge is that we start earlier than most NPSL clubs with the May 7th fixture, so our pre-season plans will be expedited to prepare for that match.
For me, the chemistry on the team has already begun to build through different channels. We have groups of players coming in who know one another through various connections in the game and are excited to be reconnected. Our staff has been diligently building relationships with the incoming players to make sure that each man on the roster feels comfortable. And lastly, when the players arrive we will spend a lot of time together; on the pitch, at team building events and in the Ann Arbor community, which is the best way to establish & strengthen any relationship.
As the club enters its sophomore season, community partnerships have kept the momentum rolling into 2016.
The 2016 campaign welcomes back title sponsor Bank of Ann Arbor and presenting sponsor Audi of Ann Arbor. As title sponsor, Bank of Ann Arbor will once again be shirt sponsor for the 2016 home and away kits. Audi of Ann Arbor will again be featured with their custom “GOOOOAL on the back of the jerseys.
AFC Ann Arbor Co-owner Bilal Saeed has been leading the sponsorship efforts and is pleased to welcome back these two partners.
He added, “Both Bank of Ann Arbor and Audi of Ann Arbor have shown AFC Ann Arbor a great deal of support from Day 1. They're the type of sponsors that do so much for our community that they truly enhance the experience of living in the area. We're proud to be working with businesses that care a great deal about their community. We appreciate their continued support to help us bring semi-pro soccer to Ann Arbor."
In total, 10 sponsors return for the 2016 season with the addition of 9 new partners eager to be apart of the Mighty Oak. AFC Ann Arbor has planted its roots even deeper into the community and very humbled by the support in this area. Saeed added, "Taking that next step by joining the National Premier Soccer League and bringing in new coach Eric Rudland helped the club raise the bar for our sophomore season. All of the new sponsors played a role in our growth and will help us continue to raiser the bar. To have so many great local businesses like MOVE Wellness and The Little Seedling partner with us shows us how much AFC Ann Arbor already means to the community and we're thankful for that."
Bank of Ann Arbor- Official Bank
As the title sponsor of the team and official bank of AFC Ann Arbor, Bank of Ann Arbor has committed long-term to the club and is an integral part of the organization as Official Bank.
Audi of Ann Arbor- Official Car Dealership
Audi North America recently signed a long-term partnership agreement with the MLS and as part of the new agreement; Audi introduced an MLS exclusive logo to enhance the partnership. Audi of Ann Arbor has worked closely with their corporate team to get the approval to integrate this new logo with the Audi of Ann Arbor brand making for a unique, and very exciting partnership for the team.
While Wickfield Properties manages a diverse real estate portfolio, it has developed into one of the largest property and asset managers in the City of Ann Arbor. Wickfield has partnered with AFC Ann Arbor to become the exclusive real estate option for player housing.
Official Restaurants- Jolly Pumpkin, Blue Tractor and The Pretzel Bell
Some of the absolute best restaurants in Ann Arbor have partnered with our club to host team events as well as become the official restaurants of the Mighty Oak.
Absopure- Official Water
As the Official Water of AFC Ann Arbor, Absopure will continue their efforts to keep the team and supporters hydrated with the all new Absopure +.
Constant Motion Productions- Official Video Production Team
Constant Motion Productions (CoMo) is the team behind amazing AFC Ann Arbor videos. CoMo has expanded their footprint in the Ann Arbor area having worked on projects for The Last Word, BTB Burrito and the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to name a few.
MOVE Wellness – Official Fitness & Wellness Partner
MOVE Wellness may be a new sponsor but the staff is quite familiar with AFC Ann Arbor having attended a number of the home matches last year. As the Official Fitness and Wellness Partner, MOVE will be working directly with our team by offering private yoga and pilates instruction for the Mighty Oak.
Arbor Brewing Company – Official Pub
Matt and Rene Greff are no strangers to supporting local events and community projects. So when the two saw the original IndieGoGo campaign, they didn’t hesitate to get involved. Since then, Arbor Brewing has grown their relationship with AFC Ann Arbor to become the Official Pub of the club.
Big George’s – Official Appliance Center
Big George’s gave away (1) TV per home match last season and have extended their partnership into 2016 but will be offering a different variety of giveaway items this season.
Underground Printing- Official Apparel Provider
As the official apparel provider of AFC Ann Arbor, Underground Printing handles all of the team’s merchandising efforts as well as carrying retail product for the club at their three local locations.
BTB Burrito- Official Burrito
Known as an Ann Arbor original, BTB Burrito has been providing the area with amazing burritos, nachos, quesadillas and more for over 12 years and returns as the Official Burrito of AFC Ann Arbor for the second year.
Grizzly Peak - Official Brewery
As the Official Brewery of the Mighty Oak, Grizzly Peak continues to support our club's events and overall mission. As a returning sponsor, Grizzly Peak will continue to play an instrumental role in in helping the club grow.
Molly had to act quickly to address her own family’s need of cloth diaper services and out sprung Little Seedling. Staying true to a parents serving parents approach, Little Seedling offers a wide variety of parenting needs including child passenger safety, cloth-diapering service, baby carriers, and priceless parenting information from the staff.
United Dairy Industry of Michiagn
Milk Means More to UDIM. In Partnership with AFC Ann Arbor, UDIM is dedicated to serving Michigan’s hard working dairy families. The goal is the reconnect the consumers with the people behind the food in promoting locally produced dairy products.
Located in Dundee, MI, Splash Universe provides an escape for your family offering over 100,000 gallons of indoor water park fun. The Mighty Oak encourages you to explore the twisting slides or the 500-gallon bucket which are only a couple of the attractions to enjoy at Splash Universe.
With 26 bowling lanes, today’s hottest arcade games, top-shelf food with an entertainment sports bar, AFC Ann Arbor was thrilled to hold it’s roster reveal event at Revel & Roll. Revel & Roll is without a doubt Ann Arbor’s hottest new family entertainment destination.
The AFC Ann Arbor ownership group parents more than a dozen youth athletes in the area and understands how expensive youth athletic equipment can be. Play It Again Sports – Ann Arbor has provided us all the solution in being this community’s sporting goods store offering new and used equipment at an affordable price
One look inside of the Ann Arbor Location and you will realize the care they have taken to make a bright, clean facility with a brand new pool. Goldfish Swim School is the most comfortable place for your children to learn to swim using a curriculum crafted to not only teach kids how to swim but also build character.
AFC Ann Arbor’s exclusive insurance provider, Farm Bureau Insurance, has committed to the state of Michigan since it was founded in 1949. Beyond the best insurance products and services, they strive to invest in Michigan’s future through programs that support education, health and fitness, and immediate community needs.
The Mighty Oak’s go to architecture and design studio is right here in Ann Arbor at Synecdoche. Lisa and Adam use their small practice environment to work fast nimble in creating and producing design office models that work for personality, lifestyle, and play.
Before Orangetheory even opened it’s brand new location in Ann Arbor, they decided to partner with AFC Ann Arbor to help spread the word of fitness and wellness in the community. Returning as a sponsor for the 2016 campaign, OTF is a proud supporter of AFC Ann Arbor.
The past few month have been really exciting. I've enjoyed the energy of the ownership group, getting to know the club's connections in the community & most of all the challenge of building a competitive team. The busiest aspects of the off season are recruiting & vetting players, along with aligning all of the logistics of the season: staff, training regime, player housing, etc.
I'm really thrilled to be coaching in my back yard. To have the platform to build a team in Ann Arbor is really neat. Also, I always look forward to building relationships with new players, while sharing the game with them. The player manager relationship is very important to me & I'm looking forward to working with all of the men we have coming in.
Fans can expect a team that is prepared to execute a match plan, plays with passion & is eager to prove themselves in the NPSL. I'm looking forward to the support of the Ann Arbor community in the continued growth of our following.
With the addition of Grand Rapids FC, Kalamazoo FC and ourselves, recruiting has become even more competitive. Every club is fighting over the same players, which is far different than years past. We have worked really hard to build on existing relationships for player recruitment & ID all of the players in our back yard. On top of that we are going to supplement our roster with a few international players who will represent us well adding depth to our roster.
On Sunday, April 17th, from 1 to 3pm, AFC Ann Arbor will host “Reveal N Roll,” where the 2016 roster will be introduced to the public for the first time at Ann Arbor’s hottest new family entertainment destination, Revel & Roll.
In addition to meeting the Mighty Oak players, the first 50 fans will also receive free bowling. Audi of Ann Arbor will be co-sponsoring the first autograph opportunity of the year when fans can get their 2016 schedule posters signed by the Mighty Oak. Guests will also have the opportunity to earn discounted games in the Revel & Roll Games Room.
In the off-season, the club hired new Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, as they prepared for their jump to the National Premier Soccer League. Competing at a higher level meant they needed to raise the bar in all aspects of the club, beginning with Coach Rudland.
Over the past few months, Coach Rudland has recruited players from the local, regional and international levels. Rudland will be announcing and introducing all player signings at this event. After player announcements the guys will join everyone for some games of bowling before starting the autograph session.
AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School. For questions and comments please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.
Arbor Brewing Company, The Official Pub of AFC Ann Arbor, has partnered with the club to provide a shuttle to and from ABC on home match days beginning April 29th vs. Oakland County FC.
The pub will be hosting Mighty Oak supporters beginning 2 hours prior to every match and, as the Official Pub, will be serving the club’s “Strength In The Oak” beer along with offering discounts for AFC Ann Arbor membership holders (simply by showing your membership card). Members will also enjoy priority seating on the shuttle.
Arbor Brewing Company owner Matt Greff couldn’t be more excited and added, “Great team, great fans, great beer. Sounds like a match made in heaven and we are looking forward to a winning season!”
The shuttle bus will take supporters from Arbor Brewing to Hollway Field beginning one hour prior to the match and will essentially run every 30 minutes. The last shuttle back from Hollway to Arbor Brewing Company will be 15 minutes after the end of the match.
Individual Match Tickets are now on sale offering fans a discounted price that won’t be offered at the door. The 2016 Membership, Lil’ Hooligans (youth) Membership, and Marquee Matches Package are all still available for purchase.
AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School. For questions please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.
As the Mighty Oak’s highly anticipated sophomore season quickly approaches, fans will have their chance to purchase individual home match tickets for the 2016 season, starting Monday, March 28th. Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Hollway Field will play host to all 10 home matches this season kicking off with the Arbor Day Opener on April 29th at 7pm.
In addition to individual match selection, AFC Ann Arbor fans have bundled ticketing options including the 2016 Membership, Marquee Matches Package, and Lil’ Hooligans (Youth) Membership. Tickets purchased online offer discounts and incentives that will not be offered at the gate on match day. Learn more about the different ticket packages and options below.
Individually Numbered Metal Membership Card serves as a single pass to all home matches. Membership also includes 2016 Scarf, 3 Single Game Guest Passes, which can be used for any regular season home match.
In addition to the 2016 Scarf this ensures a ticket to all 3 Marquee Matches voted by fans: April 29th vs. Oakland County FC, May 30th vs. Grand Rapids FC, and July 3rd vs. Detroit City FC.
Youth Membership for ages 4-12 including admission to all home matches, AFC Ann Arbor mini soccer ball, Exclusive Entry Card + Sticker Collection, exclusive offers and discounts, and post match photos with players.
Save money by purchasing your tickets in advance online. The 10 match home schedule includes 6 NPSL face-offs along with 4 high profile friendlies. Individual match tickets purchased in advance are $8 for adult and $5 for youth. Kids under 4 get in free.
AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School. For questions please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.
Kids ages four to twelve can become a Lil’ Hooligan this season for only $29. The new kids club replaces the youth membership and includes admission to all ten home matches at Hollway Field.
In addition to the season pass, Lil’ Hooligans will receive an exclusive entry card that will act as their season pass. They’ll also receive a custom sticker for each match to collect on their entry card to mark the matches they attended on top of an AFC Ann Arbor mini soccer ball.
Lil’ Hooligans will benefit from a number of other discounts and perks including a mini AFC Ann Arbor soccer ball along with access to post match photos with the team. The most unique perks come in the form of special offers and advantages from sponsors like The Little Seedling, Splash Universe and Goldfish Swim School.
The first special incentive for all Lil’ Hooligans will be the opportunity to be included in the 2016 promotional video for AFC Ann Arbor. Those who wish to take advantage of this special incentive will need to purchase their Lil’ Hooligans membership before March 31st.
To purchase your Lil’ Hooligans membership, visit the AFC Ann Arbor Shop online beginning Friday, March 18th at 10am.
AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School. For questions please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.
We polled our fans to see which matches excited them most for the upcoming 2016 season and the results are in.
The Arbor Day Opener on April 29th vs Oakland County FC, The Memorial Day Classic vs GRFC on May 30th and the July 3rd match vs DCFC are the Mighty Oak’s marquee home matches according to the fans.
As a result, the club has created the Marquee Match Package, which includes (1) ticket to each of the Marquee Matches as well as a 2016 season scarf for only $39.
The package will go on sale this Friday at AFC Ann Arbor's online store.
AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School. For questions please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.
AFC Ann Arbor has teamed up with Saline Area Schools to host the inaugural Saline Showcase on Saturday, April 23rd at the Saline High School Football Stadium. The inaugural event will support Team Katie’s fundraising efforts
The 7pm contest will feature a friendly match against Northwood University Men’s Soccer Team. AFC Ann Arbor Members will receive free admission to the event while general admission tickets will cost $10 and $6 for adult and youth, respectively.
Head Coach Eric Rudland is looking forward to the match on April 23rd.
He added, "The Saline Showcase will be critical in our team building process for 2016 competition in the NPSL, and more importantly our club & community will have an opportunity to donate towards a wonderful cause. I couldn't think of a better way to kick off our 2016 campaign."
Team Katie was formed when past TNT alumni, Amy Robke learned of her co-worker’s daughter’s diagnosis of AML this past fall. The team is comprised of many Saline teachers and friends of the family who have come together to raise money for the cause.
AFC Ann Arbor will donate $2 of every ticket to Team Katie’s fundraising efforts as part of Team In Training’s ongoing efforts to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
Team In Training is the world’s largest, oldest and most successful sports endurance training program in the world! Since its beginning in 1988, more than 625,000 participants have helped TNT and LLS raise more than $1.4 billion to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Other highlights of the event include a halftime match between two club teams from the Saline Area Soccer Association, in addition to honoring a few of the many people who previous and currently Saline soccer greats.
Saline Area Schools Superintendent Scot Graden added, "Saline Area Schools is excited to have this event to showcase our facility and support Team Katie. It is a great chance for our community to experience a great soccer atmosphere while benefiting a very worthy cause."
AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School. For questions and comments please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.
What is t-shirt tag?
-Every week, one of our lucky Twitter followers will be able to win an AFC Ann Arbor t-shirt, compliments of @UGP (Underground Printing)
-In week 1, @AFCAnnArbor originally tagged @MichiganInsider aka Ira Weintraub of WTKA Radio (and team’s Public Address announcer). Ira then tagged @SamWebb77 and #TshirtTag was born and has continued on for weeks, being passed on from follower to follower
-Since then, #TShirtTag continues each week with the winner from the previous week being allowed to “tag” the next winner simply by tweeting and tagging
-To receive a tag, tweet at the previous week winner and lobby them to tag you!
Ann Arbor, MI – The Mighty Oak will visit the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth on Friday March 4th to support “Youth Soccer Night” as the U.S. National Under-17 Hockey Team plays host to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
Fans will have a chance to meet new head coach, Eric Rudland and former MLS striker and current owner/player of AFC Ann Arbor, Knox Cameron. The club will also be holding giveaways for Mighty Oak merchandise and memberships.
Tickets for the event can be purchased at http://goo.gl/Qqo7Si.
AFC Ann Arbor is a semi-pro soccer team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan competing in the National Premier Soccer League. The club is entering its second season and plays all home matches at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School. For questions and comments please reach out to us at info@afcannarbor.com.
