Philadelphia Union - Local Youth Club Jersey and Patch Trade

The Philadelphia Union are collecting old youth soccer jerseys for a future Youth Soccer Night tiff project! Bring your old jersey to the Plaza while at the game on Saturday, April 28 between 1:30 and 3:30pm and we'll trade you a Union branded "Our Fortress" collectors patch!

To be featured in this banner before the game, you can bring your old jerseys to the Toyota Plaza ticketing table and drop them off before any Union home game or send your club's jersey to us at 2501 Seaport Drive, BH 100 Chester Pa 19013

email sent out April 26, 2018

2016 Philadelphia Union - April Fool

email announcement:

Join us July 9th when we don the colors of the Union and #StandForBlue as we defend our home versus visiting D.C. United. The Union partnered with Adidas to bring a piece of history to the pitch with these special edition kits that will be worn for one match only to celebrate our country in the nations first capitol.

Click Here for more information!

revealed the following message:

2015 - Soccer at the Reading Fighting Phils

2015.06.14 Reading, Pa

The Reading Fighting Phils, AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, held a soccer afternoon featuring a soccer ball giveaway (which was designed to look like a baseball) to kids 12 and under and an on field soccer clinic with Michael Lahoud of the Philadelphia Union. The clinic was well attended with lots of soccer kids taking the field. Baseball is trying to regain some of it's following, which has younger fans switching to soccer. This is one way to bring the kids out to the park...

Michael Lahoud autograph. He had a nice line of people obtaining his signature.

Union 2015 schedule

2007.07.25 Paul Combs editorial cartoon on modern youth switching from baseball to soccer...

Steve Benson editorial cartoon on the NFL losing some of it's fan base...

To be honest, there are a lot of good kids out there and a lot of fans. I follow many sports, I just don't get fanatical about any one team.. There is plenty to go around, but soccer is certainly making headway into the US sport scene...

Philadelphia Union - Amobi Okugo : 2014

2014.03.29 Philadelphia Union v Montreal Impact
Amobi Okugo Mini Bobblehead (5.5" tall) presented to the first 5,000 fans.
Presented by PPL Energy Plus...

Saw three posted on e-bay from $10 - 35.00...

Philadelphia Union - Star Wars T-shirt

Join the Philadelphia Union

as we go galactic with our Star Wars theme game,

Saturday May 4th at 4PM

"May the Force be with DOOP!"

As we take on the Emerald Empire of the Seattle Sounders

2013.05.04 - The Union host a Star Wars theme night - with the purchase of 4 tickets, fans get 4 limited edition Union-Star Wars t-shirts. A limited number of shirts also available for purchase at PPL Park with profits benefiting the Philadelphia Union Foundation

2012 - All-Star Game - Soccer Celebration

2012.07.25 Chester, Pa. PPL Park - Soccer Celebration...

2012.07.25 PPL Park, Chester, Pa

Since Mike had his freshman college orientation the following day, we did not try to get tickets to the game because we would get home too late (he was leaving at 5am the following morning). However we did make the 1.5 hour drive to enjoy the Soccer Celebration. Got home to see the end of the first half...

The usual sponsors were there, Castrol, VW, Adidas, X-box, Pepsi, AT&T, Home Depot, Makita, Budweiser, Continental Tire, El Jimador, National Guard, Bimbo, All-State, Eastern Penn Youth Soccer...providing a variety of promotional items including, player cards (Castrol), lanyards, photo ops (nice personal trading card from Castrol), sun glasses, MiCoach from Adidas (now you have to buy the boots), bags, t-shirts, keychains, hats...

On July 20 Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and MLS Commissioner Don Garber launched the All-Star celebration by kick off the MLS Giant Ball tour on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The ball was paraded around Philadelphia making stops where fans were encouraged to sign the ball. Any fans signing the ball at the game were given a free t-shirt! Awesome!

As a Liverpool fan Mike really liked this shirt!

Of course Mike wore his Liverpool jersey as did a few others, amongst the many Union and Chelsea jerseys. We even saw a great old SJ Clash and old MetroStars jerseys in the crowd...

Tony Meola and Alexi Lalas where on hand signing autographs as were several players from the Union, as well as Bill Hamid from DC United.

Bill Hamid...

 Autograph cards like the one above (front and back) were available at each signing table. Zac MacMath, Amobi Okugo and Chris Albright...

Chase Harrison from sponsor El Jimador

We got to the X-Box booth 10 minutes before Adu was scheduled to appear. Starting the line we watched it grow. It was nice to see how many fans still appreciated Adu efforts to US soccer. As a women was exiting the X-Box booth she asked "Is that a line?" Mike's response to me was "I guess she failed geometry!"

All-Star Game Program

Some great articles on soccer in Philadelphia (the National, The Fury and the Atoms), the 1976 Bicentennial NASL all-star game, and player profiles from both teams...

All-Star Game pin

I know its not a soccer pinback, but you have to like the VW smiley fan bicycle button, part of their Think Blue campaign...

2012 - Philadelphia Union v Columbus Crew

2012.04.14 Philadelphia Union v Columbus Crew - PPL Park, Chester, Pa

It only took 3 seasons, but we made it to PPL Park, Chester, Pa...a 2 hour drive, one way... It is rare to have a weekend without a game for Mike so we took advantage of the afternoon game. Fortunately we ordered the tickets on Thursday, because by game time the match was sold out with 18,526 fans in attendance as the Union collected their first win of the season...

The Union would score the only goal of the game on a penalty kick by Gabriel Gomez, beating Columbus keeper Andy Gruenebaum. Feddy Adu, starting for the Union, sent a cross into the box, which hit the arm of Columbus defender Eric Gehrig, setting up the penalty kick...

Union keeper Zac MacMath saw little action in the first half, but in the second he made a spectacular flying kick save on a close range shot, which had the crowd on their feet cheering on the play...

The stadium was beautiful. The field conditions looked great. I was surprised that we were not supplied with a game program. I found out you had to go to customer services to obtain one. When I got there with 20 minutes left to the start of the game, that there were no more left! 

The Union through a Turkey Hill promotion have the Turkey Hill Field Pass. At 15 minutes into the game a message is posted on the board with a code to text. The code was PHILLY. If selected you had a chance to meet the Union players on the field after the game. Unfortunately we did not get selected. Even though few get to go I like the idea. Since we are from the Red Bull area and go to their games often, there is little to no chance of meeting players unless you are a season ticket holder ($). At least the Union offer all their fans a chance...

Toyota

Verizon magnet

DOOP!

While we were looking over the t-shirts and scarfs (lots of scarfs) everything had Doop! written on it. Found out that Doop is the team gaol song. Created by the Union  to be played after a goal is scored, it has caught on with the fans big time. After Gomez scored we experienced Doop!  After a goal is scored the loudspeakers and the Sons of Ben start in, it was awesome. A great experience, lots of fun...

Philadelphia - Carlos Ruiz meets Carlos Ruiz

2005 Upperdeck Carlos Ruiz LA Galaxy jersey card

Carlos Ruiz signed with the Philadelphia Union, Feb 2011, transferring from the Greek Superliga club Aris FC. Ruiz returns to the MLS having started his career in 2002 with the LA Galaxy (2002-2005, 2008). Ruiz also played for FC Dallas (2005-2008) and Toronto FC (2008) of the MLS...

Outside of the MLS Ruiz has played for CSD Municipal (Guatemalan Liga Nacional de Futbol 1995-2002), PAS Giannina FC (Super League Greece 2000-2001) Club Olimpia (Paraguayan Primera Division - 2009), Puebla FC (Mexican Primera Division - 2009-2010)...

Ruiz is a member of the Guatemalan National Team since 1998...

Moving to the Philadelphia Union Ruiz had the opportunity to meet Carlos Ruiz who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. In the tradition of soccer both Carlos' exchanged jerseys.

As early as 1931 soccer players were exchanging jersey after memorable games as a memento of their participation. The exchange also seen as a show of respect and sportsmanship for the opposing players.