PHOENIX (December 22, 2016) — Phoenix Rising Football Club today announced it has signed former OC Blues FC midfielder A.J. Gray for the 2017 season. The contract is pending league and USSF approval and, per club policy, the terms of the contract will not be public.
“I’ve known of A.J. for a few years now as he’s a Canadian soccer player,” said Phoenix Rising FC head coach Frank Yallop. “We can play him in multiple positions. He can play right back, right midfield, or central midfield. He’s going to add depth and good quality to the squad.”
Gray appeared in six matches with USL side OC Blues FC in 2016. Since 2012, Gray spent time with four different professional clubs: OC Blues FC, Finnish sides FC Haka and Oulun Palloseura, and Swedish side Juventus IF. Gray also played with PDL sides Victoria Highlanders FC and Ventura County Fusion.
2017 Phoenix Rising Football Club Roster
GOALKEEPERS: Carl Woszczynski, Josh Cohen
DEFENDERS: Peter Ramage, Uchenna Uzo, J.J. Greer, Brock Granger, Victor Vasquez
MIDFIELDERS: Blair Gavin, Miguel Timm, Luke Rooney, A.J. Gray
FORWARDS: Moses Danto, Jason Johnson, Chris Cortez, Mike Seth, Matthew Hurlow-Paonessa
About Phoenix Rising FC
Phoenix Rising FC is Arizona's only professional soccer franchise. Established in 2013, the club enters its fourth year in the United Soccer League. For more information on the club, visit the team's website at www.phxrisingfc.com. You can also follow the team on Facebook (PHXRisingFC), Twitter (@PHXRisingFC), Instagram (@PHXRisingFC), Snapchat (PHXRisingFC) and YouTube (PHXRisingFC). For season tickets call (623) 594-9606 or visit www.phxrisingfc.com.
About USL
The United Soccer League, the longest-standing professional affiliate member of U.S. Soccer, is the largest professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and the world, with 29 teams in 19 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces during the recent 2016 season. The USL has more than doubled in size since 2014 and built a stable, highly competitive professional soccer league on a national footprint with strong ownership groups in major markets positioned for long-term success. The 2016 season marked the introduction of six teams – Bethlehem Steel FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, San Antonio FC and the Swope Park Rangers. The league has confirmed the additions of Reno 1868 FC, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC in 2017 and Nashville SC in 2018. The USL's teams are divided into two conferences – Eastern and Western – with each team playing 32 regular season games starting in 2017. In addition to league play, USL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various domestic and international exhibitions. The USL is the strongest U.S. men's professional soccer league below Major League Soccer. Follow the USL at USLSoccer.com, on YouTube (www.YouTube.com/USL), and on social media via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
PHOENIX (December 22, 2016) — Phoenix Rising Football Club today announced it has signed former OC Blues FC midfielder A.J. Gray for the 2017 season. The contract is pending league and USSF approval and, per club policy, the terms of the contract will not be public.
“I’ve known of A.J. for a few years now as he’s a Canadian soccer player,” said Phoenix Rising FC head coach Frank Yallop. “We can play him in multiple positions. He can play right back, right midfield, or central midfield. He’s going to add depth and good quality to the squad.”
Gray appeared in six matches with USL side OC Blues FC in 2016. Since 2012, Gray spent time with four different professional clubs: OC Blues FC, Finnish sides FC Haka and Oulun Palloseura, and Swedish side Juventus IF. Gray also played with PDL sides Victoria Highlanders FC and Ventura County Fusion.
2017 Phoenix Rising Football Club Roster
GOALKEEPERS: Carl Woszczynski, Josh Cohen
DEFENDERS: Peter Ramage, Uchenna Uzo, J.J. Greer, Brock Granger, Victor Vasquez
MIDFIELDERS: Blair Gavin, Miguel Timm, Luke Rooney, A.J. Gray
FORWARDS: Moses Danto, Jason Johnson, Chris Cortez, Mike Seth, Matthew Hurlow-Paonessa
About Phoenix Rising FC
Phoenix Rising FC is Arizona’s only professional soccer franchise. Established in 2013, the club enters its fourth year in the United Soccer League. For more information on the club, visit the team’s website at www.phxrisingfc.com. You can also follow the team on Facebook (PHXRisingFC), Twitter (@PHXRisingFC), Instagram (@PHXRisingFC), Snapchat (PHXRisingFC) and YouTube (PHXRisingFC). For season tickets call (623) 594-9606 or visit www.phxrisingfc.com.
About USL
The United Soccer League, the longest-standing professional affiliate member of U.S. Soccer, is the largest professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and the world, with 29 teams in 19 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces during the recent 2016 season. The USL has more than doubled in size since 2014 and built a stable, highly competitive professional soccer league on a national footprint with strong ownership groups in major markets positioned for long-term success. The 2016 season marked the introduction of six teams – Bethlehem Steel FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, San Antonio FC and the Swope Park Rangers. The league has confirmed the additions of Reno 1868 FC, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC in 2017 and Nashville SC in 2018. The USL’s teams are divided into two conferences – Eastern and Western – with each team playing 32 regular season games starting in 2017. In addition to league play, USL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various domestic and international exhibitions. The USL is the strongest U.S. men’s professional soccer league below Major League Soccer. Follow the USL at USLSoccer.com, on YouTube (www.YouTube.com/USL), and on social media via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
