The Run Down
Austin Aztex U23's kick off their first ever PDL (Premeir Development League) Southern Conference Mid-South Division campaign on May 3rd, away at El Paso Patriots.
Here we bring you a guide to every team in the league, giving you information on everything you need to know.
Full name: EL PASO PATRIOTS
State: Texas
Nickname: The Patriots
Founded: 1989
Ground: Patriot Stadium (Capacity - 3,000)
Kit: Home (Blue and White) - Away (Red and white)
Chairman: Enrique Cervantes
Manager: Salvador Mercado
Journey length from Austin: 573 miles (8 hours driving)
Last league position: 2nd, Conference play-offs.
Random fact: There has been some talk that El Paso County will build a 14,000 soccer specific stadium in Ascarate Park, and the county may lure an MLS franchise for the brand new stadium there for promoting the Patriots to the MLS.
Website: www.elpaso-patriots.com
Full name: LAREDO HEAT
State: Texas
Nickname: The Red Flames
Founded: 2004
Ground: Texas A&M International University
Kit: Home (Red, White and Black) - Away (Black and White)
Chairman: Shashi Vaswani
Manager: Israel Collazo
Journey length from Austin: 230 miles (3.5 hours)
Last league position: 1st, League Champions
Random fact: Laredo are the current USL Premier Development League champions, having defeated 2006 champions Michigan Bucks in a penalty shootout, following a 0-0 draw in the 2007 championship game.
Website: www.laredoheatsc.com
Full name: MISSISSIPPI BRILLA FUTBOL CLUB
State: Mississippi
Nickname: The Brilla
Founded: 2006
Ground: Robert. P. Longabaugh Field (Capacity - 1,500)
Kit: Home (Sky Blue) - Away (Navy Blue)
Chairman: Rusty Bryant
Manager: Steve DeCou
Journey length from Austin: 616 miles (9.5 hours driving)
Last league position: 4th, did not make the play-offs.
Random fact: The club's name is derived from the Spanish word for "shine", and references the biblical passage Matthew 5:16 which says "Therefore, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Website: www.msbrillafc.org
Full name: DALLAS FORT-WORTH TORNADOS
State: Texas
Nickname: The Tornados
Founded: 1986
Ground: Pennington Field (Capacity - 10,000)
Kit: Home (All Blue) - Away (Blue and White)
Chairman: Jim Mertz
Manager: Paul Robinson
Journey length from Austin: 190 miles (3 hours driving)
Last league position: 3rd, did not make the play-offs.
Random fact: The Tornados play their home games at Pennington Field in the city of Bedford, Texas, 22 miles west of downtown Dallas and 18 miles north-east of downtown Fort Worth, in the middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. The team's colors are blue and white.
Website: www.dfwtornados.org
Full name: HOUSTON LEONES
State: Texas
Nickname: Leones
Founded: 2007
Ground: Soccer World Centre (Capacity - 4,500)
Kit: Home (Not announced) - Away (Not announced)
Chairman: Juan Carlos Hernandez
Manager: Not yet selected
Journey length from Austin: 162 miles (2 hours 51 minutes driving time)
Last league position: 2008 will be their debut season
Random fact: The 17 acre facility with three fields (including a 4,500-seat stadium field that is expandable to 8,000-10,000) was built by team owner Juan Carlos Hernandez.
Website: None
Full name: NEW ORLEANS SHELL SHOCKERS
State: Louisiana
Nickname: The Shell Shockers
Founded: 2003
Ground: Tad Gormley Stadium (Capacity - 26,500)
Kit: Home (Green and Black) - Away (All White)
Chairman: Gary Ostroske
Manager: Kenny Farrell
Journey length from Austin: 512 miles (8 hours driving)
Last league position: 5th, did not make the play-offs.
Random fact: For their first three years in the league, the Shell Shockers played their home games at the Pan American Stadium in New Orleans, which is also located in City Park. However, after their ground was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Shell Shockers were forced to play at the Muss Bertolino Stadium in nearby Kenner, Louisiana. After their plight was featured in the international media, the Shell Shockers parent organisation pledged $1,000,000 (USD) to rebuild City Park. The team returned home in early 2008.
Website: www.noshellshockers.com
Full name: BATON ROUGE CAPITALS
State: Louisiana
Nickname: The Capitals
Founded: 2007
Ground: Olympia Stadium (Capacity - 9,000)
Kit: Home (Red, White and Black) - Away (All Black)
Chairman: James. S. Vilas
Manager: Helio d'Anna
Journey length from Austin: 428 miles (7 hours driving)
Last league position: 6th, did not make the play-offs
Random fact: Striker Joseph Lapira is a Republic of Ireland international, who made his debut during the draw against Ecuador in New York last year.
Website: www.brcapitals.com
