This morning, D.C. United was honored by the D.C. City Council with a Resolution in recognition of its many accomplishments in 2006. Presented by Councilmember Carol Schwartz, United President and CEO Kevin Payne accepted the resolution along with Senior Vice President Stephen Zack, Stephen deRoux, Clyde Simms and John Wilson.
The resolution honored D.C. for both its success on the field and in the community. In addition to capturing the 2006 MLS Supporters' Shield, sending eight players to the 2006 MLS All-Star game and numerous individual post-season awards, United was as active in the community as it has ever been. The club's non-profit arm, United for D.C., saw great success, particularly with the launch of United Soccer Club - an after school program east of the river - and Kicks for Kids, which supplied over 5,700 free game tickets to disadvantaged youth.
United abroad
Bobby Boswell, Devon McTavish, Domenic Mediate, and Jamil Walker touched down in Hawaii on Sunday, beginning their two-week tour of Pacific military bases in conjunction with Armed Forces Entertainment. After dinner in Waikiki on Sunday evening, the players retired to the hotel early in preparation for the busy days ahead. In addition to doing some sightseeing around historical Pearl Harbor on Monday, the players held soccer clinics for kids between the ages of 6-13 at the Pearl Harbor military base. After further visiting and sightseeing today, the group departs on Wednesday for its next stop - Andersen Air Base in Guam.
Prior to departing for Guam, Boswell will take time out of his Pacific tour to chat live with fans on mlsnet.com. The 2006 Defender of the Year will answer questions about his visit with the U.S. military as well as about his year with D.C. United. To participate in the chat with Boswell, click here >
Happy Hour
On December 13, United for D.C., in conjunction with the Screaming Eagles, will host a Holiday Happy Hour for fans of the Black-and-Red. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and will be held in the "Scheisse Haus" level of The Pour House, located at 319 Pennsylvania Ave, SE. Along with the Screaming Eagles and D.C. United staff, United players are expected to be in attendance.
Suggested admission to the event will be any children's toy: board games, books, sporting goods or stuffed animals. United for D.C. will donate the toys collected from the Happy Hour to the 16th Annual Eleanor Holmes Norton Capitol Hill Christmas Party, which supplies holiday toys and warm clothes to disadvantaged kids in the D.C. area.
Those who bring toys will receive a free raffle ticket and be eligible for various D.C. United and Screaming Eagles door prizes. For those who do not bring toys, admission will be $10, with the profits used to purchase additional toys for the Capitol Hill Christmas Party.
United youth honored
Following the conclusion of this year's Super Y-League North American Final, three D.C. United players have been named to the postseason All-SYL teams for their respective age groups. U-13 forward Lester Dewee took home the Super Y's most prestigious honor as he was named the U-13 Boys Most Valuable Player. In addition, Dewee and defender Henry Bain were both selected for the U-13 Boys All-SYL Team, after they helped guide the Black-and-Red into the semifinals Finals in Tampa, Fla last month. United's U-13 side finished the season with an outstanding 10-1-2 mark.
United's U-15 team also brought home individual honors, as forward Mark Atuonah was named to the U-15 Boys All-SYL Second Team. Atuonah's outstanding play lifted the Black-and-Red's U-15 side to an impressive 7-1-2 record on the year.
Open Cup dates
Dates for the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup have been confirmed by U.S. Soccer, as games will be held once-a-month on Tuesdays.
2007 Open Cup Dates
July 10 - Round of 16 (40 teams and 8 MLS clubs enter at Round of 16)
Aug. 7 - Quarterfinals
Sept. 4 - Semifinals
Oct. 2 - Final
The schedule is subject to change, depending on individual team's needs. United is set to enter the tournament in the round-of-16. Last year, D.C. fell in the semifinals to the Chicago Fire - the eventual champs. United has won the competition once, in 1996 when the club completed the U.S. double, by winning both the U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup in the same year.
Alum nominated
Former D.C. United standout Bobby Convey has been nominated for U.S. Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year award. The Reading FC midfielder has impressed with his clever, creative play on the left flank for both club and country. Convey, who scored seven goals in 44 matches with Reading last season, played a key role in the club's promotion to the English Premier League for the first time in team history. He also provided a spark for the United States at the FIFA World Cup in Germany this summer, appearing in all three of the team's group stage matches. He finishes the year with eight appearances and one assist for the National Team.
Carroll trial
D.C. United midfielder Brian Carroll will wrap up his trial with French side Marseille by participating in a friendly match against French National League team FC Martigues. A mainstay in the D.C. United starting lineup, Carroll played in all but one match for United in 2006, and led the Black-and-Red in minutes for the second season running.
