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Monterey Bay F.C. Unveils 2022 Third Kit

March 11, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) is unveiling its 2022 third kit today in advance of its first-ever USL Championship match against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday, March 12 in Arizona.

Beginning with the match against Rising FC, Monterey Bay F.C. will don the alternate kits for the first seven matches of the season, all of which are on the road as construction at Cardinale Stadium continues. The club will then unveil its primary and secondary kits for the 2022 campaign ahead of its inaugural home-opening match against Las Vegas Lights FC on May 7.

The third kit features the club’s crisp blue as the primary color of the shirt, with shorts and socks in the color of the club’s kelp blue. The crisp blue top includes kelp blue trim with the club crest’s representation of Land and Sea splashed on the lower half of the front. They will not be available for fans to purchase; however, the club’s primary and secondary kits will go on sale closer to the home opener.

Saturday’s match against Phoenix Rising FC can be viewed on ESPN+ beginning at 6:00 p.m. PST with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. PST. Learn more about Monterey Bay F.C. by following @MontereyBayFC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as online at MontereyBayFC.com.

Monterey Bay F.C. Falls 3-2 to Sacramento Republic FC in Preseason Finale

March 5, 2022 by Steven Vargo

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Saturday, March 5, 2022) – Monterey Bay F.C. fell 3-2 to Sacramento Republic FC at Heart Health Park in the club’s final match of the preseason this afternoon.

Sacramento Republic FC struck first in the 11th minute of the match. After a turnover in the midfield, Sacramento midfielder Rodrigo Lopez curled the ball into the top-right corner of the net to take the 1-0 lead. In the 34th minute, after a run down the right side of the pitch, forward Emil Cuello fired a shot across the face of goal that tucked inside the post to double the advantage for Republic FC.

Down 2-0, Monterey Bay F.C. fought back into the match and responded with a goal of their own just before the half in the 43rd minute. Following a corner kick, the ball spilled to forward Chase Boone on the left side of the box. Boone then curled a right-footed shot into the top-right corner of the net to bring the score to 2-1 at the halftime break.

In the 50th minute of the match, Sacramento was awarded a penalty for a handball in the box. Douglas Martinez Jr. stepped up to the spot and buried the ball into the bottom-left corner to extend the home side’s lead to 3-1. Six minutes later, a turnover gave Republic FC possession in a dangerous area of the pitch, but Lopez’ shot was saved by Union goalkeeper Rafi Díaz’ diving effort. Sacramento then collected the rebound and fired a low shot at the empty net, but defender Hugh Roberts cleared the ball off the line to thwart the opportunity.

Then following an errant back pass from Sacramento in the 63rd minute, Monterey Bay F.C. pulled another one back when forward Sam Gleadle found himself staring at an empty net and capitalized to bring the visitors within one. Despite a 20-minute flurry of chances as the Union pushed for the equalizer, the home side held strong and the match ended 3-2.

“This was a good test for us, especially with our first seven matches being on the road. This was almost like a regular-season match, so honestly we will take this more like a lesson than a loss,” said Roberts. “We needed this environment, this was a great learning lesson for us. We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work all offseason, a lot of fitness. We’ve had some good results against some MLS sides as well too, and I think the hard work is really going to pay off for us in the long run. There’s going to be a completely different mentality now, but this was a good test. We may have gotten complacent a little bit having had a good preseason so far, so this will be a good wake up call and everyone will have a good mindset heading into the opener. We are going to really ramp things up this week.”

“I thought it was a strong match for us, we showed glimpses of what we’re capable of,” explained Boone. “As a team this was a good test for us and to be down a couple of goals and battle back, it really shows that we have it in us. A couple things didn’t go our way, we made some mistakes, I gave away the penalty, but if we can minimize those mistakes we have a promising season ahead. As a whole, we’ve put in the work and now we’re ready for the actual season, it’s been a long six weeks. We’re looking forward to March 12, we’re ready to rock and roll.”

Up next, Monterey Bay F.C. opens its inaugural campaign in the USL Championship with the club’s first-ever regular-season match against Phoenix Rising FC on March 12 at 6:30 p.m. PST. The upcoming meeting in Phoenix will be the first of seven consecutive away matches to start the season as Cardinale Stadium finishes construction.

Jiro Barriga Toyama Signs with Monterey Bay F.C.

March 1, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has signed midfielder Jiro Barriga Toyama ahead of its inaugural USL Championship campaign.

Raised in Chiba, Japan, Barriga Toyama showcased his skills at the collegiate level for Barton Community College, scoring seven goals in 25 matches. After his year there, he moved to Florida Gulf Coast University and recorded two goals and five assists in 31 appearances for the Eagles. During his collegiate career, Barriga Toyama also played for the Brooklyn Italians, a national amateur club in the National Premier Soccer League. In a U.S. Open Cup match with Brooklyn in 2014, the midfielder scored the game-winning goal to push the team into the third round.

After graduation, Barriga Toyama joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United FC as a trialist in 2019, and scored a hat trick in a preseason friendly before signing with the club’s USL League One affiliate, Forward Madison FC, where he spent the past three years.

“Jiro had an outstanding season at the USL League One level with Forward Madison,” explained Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He’s a versatile left-sided player who is exciting on the dribble and will create chances for the team.”

During his three seasons in Wisconsin, Barriga Toyama scored one goal and recorded two assists in 58 career appearances, including his professional debut against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on April 7, 2019.

“I’m extremely excited to be a part of this inaugural team,” said Barriga Toyama. “I can’t wait to meet everyone, start working hard and bring a championship to our community and the supporters of MBFC. I want to thank coach Frank for this opportunity. I feel very motivated and I can’t wait to kick off the season strong.”

Player Information:
Name: Jiro Barriga Toyama
Position: Midfielder, Defender
Age: 26
Height: 5’10”
Hometown: Chiba, Japan

Monterey Bay F.C. roster as of March 1, 2022: (18)
Goalkeepers
Dallas Jaye (Danville, California)
Rafael Díaz (Paterson, New Jersey)

Defenders
Morey Doner (Collingwood, Ontario)
Hugh Roberts (Olney, Maryland)
Grant Robinson (Columbia, Maryland)
Kai Greene (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Sam Strong (Santa Barbara, California)

Midfielders
James Murphy (Scotch Plains, New Jersey)
Arun Basuljevic (Bronx, New York)
Mobi Fehr (New York, New York)
Sam Gleadle (Chichester, England)
Jiro Barriga Toyama (Chiba, Japan)

Forwards
Walmer Martínez (Santa Cruz, California)
Chase Boone (Beaverton, Oregon)
Seku Conneh (Voinjama, Liberia)
Christian Volesky (Henderson, Nevada)
Christoper Cortez (Mission Viejo, California)
Jesse Maldonado (Chandler, Arizona)

Founder of the USL Black Players Alliance, Hugh Roberts Leads Monterey Bay F.C. Into Inaugural Season On and Off the Pitch

February 28, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) is expected to enter into its highly-anticipated inaugural campaign with one of the top defensive back lines in the USL Championship this season. Making the move out to the West Coast for the first time in his career, and one of the biggest reasons for the high expectations that have been set by league experts this offseason is veteran center back Hugh Roberts.

Following three seasons with the Charlotte Independence in which he started 80 of his 82 total appearances and cemented himself as one of the USL Championship’s greatest defenders, the 29-year-old now brings his leadership and expertise to Monterey Bay F.C.

“I’m going to bring my experience and help build success in this organization,” said Roberts. “This is our inaugural season, so it’s important for us to have chemistry as a team first and foremost. Of course, there are going to be ups and downs throughout the season, but if we stay strong as a locker room, that is going to carry us the furthest.”

He continued, “I’m trying to win a championship, I’m not going to lie. I’ve been blessed eight out of my nine years so far making the playoffs, but last year was my first time winning in the first round so I know it doesn’t come easy. I want to continue that path of success here and I have high hopes for this team, but it’s not just me. Everyone on this team has high hopes and is expecting to do big things this year. Making the playoffs would be a great feeling for this organization. We’ve had some success this preseason so far and the guys are hungry for more. I think a good playoff run would cap off a great first season for this club.”

While enjoying a successful first campaign is important to Roberts, he has his sights set on more than that. Looking beyond this season, the defender is hoping that the club can create a more permanent stir within the local community.

“I would love for Monterey Bay F.C. to be well known in this area to a point where we can go out, see people who know about the team and see people talking about the team,” explained Roberts. “Normally when you go to a market, a lot of times people don’t even know there’s a pro team in the area. I would love for people to know hands down that Monterey Bay is here. San Jose may be up there, but we have our pro team that is very good here and I want people to get very excited about that and keep that culture strong here.”

On the pitch, the Onley, Maryland native is quite the accomplished defender. He is now entering into his ninth season in the Championship as the 3rd all-time league leader in minutes with 15,937, as well as the 10th all-time leader in league appearances with 203.

“Those numbers are a great achievement,” said Roberts. “I never would’ve imagined that for myself coming into the league. My mindset is always winning first and helping the team out by doing whatever I have to do. It’s been a blessing to even be in this position, it’s definitely an honor. For the past two years I have started training before practice every single day. What really got me to this point in my career is all of the work off the field and all of the time I put in during the offseason. Practice sessions are good, but putting in that work to fix specific areas of your own game is the most important. And going through different organizations and different coaches, I’ve been able to take bits and pieces from each one to elevate my game to a point where I’m a little bit more calm and composed mentally than I was earlier in my career.”

In addition to all of his hard work in training and in the offseason, when it comes to longevity in professional sports it is vital to maintain not only the mental side of the game, but the mental side of life. Roberts knows all about its importance and takes his mental health seriously.

“I think maintaining my mental health throughout my career has been more important than my actual career,” he said. “Sometimes you just need to get away. It’s a long season, it’s a grind, so if on just one day you’re not there mentally, it could mess up your entire psyche and then all of a sudden you lose confidence in your game. The mental side is extremely important because this game is going to throw you a bunch of stuff like contracts not being renewed, having to travel across the country, all of this stuff. It becomes how bad do you want it and how prepared are you for these moments.”

A third key component to staying healthy and playing heavy minutes on the pitch is one of equal importance to mental health; maintaining a strong diet off of it.

“I’m a pescatarian, so I only eat seafood,” Roberts explained. “I’m also a big fruit guy, so I have to make sure I have my smoothie in the morning, then I have to have some protein after that. Really it’s just about making sure I’m full for the most part. I like to eat healthy because a lot of processed food or fast food isn’t the best for us athletes. Our bodies are kind of like an engine so we have to keep it going, and my eating habits have definitely played a role in the longevity of my career and keeping me healthy.”

As successful as Roberts has been in the sport of soccer throughout his career, he has been even more successful outside of it. In 2018, Roberts made the decision to start his own podcast, BackYardFooty, in an attempt to increase the severely-lacking spotlight on soccer within the national media. BackYardFooty provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look into the lives and experiences of professional athletes both on and off the field that will continue here in Seaside.

“I had the idea when I was watching ESPN on the couch and watching these expert analysts talk about every sport besides soccer and I thought, man, soccer needs to get on TV. And I already knew at least one person per team on the East Coast, so I decided whenever they come into town I’m going to interview them on my couch and that’s really how it started,” Roberts noted. “Then once I got to Charlotte it progressed to teaming up with a videographer and photographer, which allowed me to give behind-the-scenes visuals before practice and before game days. And now at this point, BackYardFooty is an entertainment company in all aspects with the idea of elevating the game and bringing more notoriety to the sport. It still isn’t getting enough attention and that is what drives me and is why I’m still doing it now.”

While explaining the idea behind BackYardFooty and the basis of its conception, Roberts also reflected on one of his favorite, most monumental moments of the podcast so far.

“One really great moment on the podcast came on my second Black Lives Matter episode. I had several Black USL and MLS players on the episode, it was about 15-20 players in total,” Roberts shared. “One player specifically, Fatai [Alashe], talked about how several clubs had put out statements to look good on social media, but individually, we were still getting hateful and racial direct messages on our own social media. He said that on my podcast and his club at the time, FC Cincinnati, caught wind of it. It trended for a while in their community and then they ended up donating 250 thousand dollars to local minority communities, all because of my podcast. That was when I learned how impactful it can be to use your platform and speak up. Those types of moments show me that I need to keep going with this.”

And that he did. Throughout his tenure in Charlotte from 2019-2021, Roberts continued to make even more significant strides off the pitch. In 2020, he founded his charity foundation, Footy’s Got You (FGY), and he looks forward to doing more of that here in Monterey County, including providing soccer clinics for children in the local Monterey area this summer.

“It started with another brand reaching out to me wanting to create a Charlotte-specific Black Lives Matter shirt. So I created the shirt and the whole team wore it, the organization was supportive of it, and I was able to sell it in the community as well,” explained Roberts. “Then people started hitting me up asking if they could just donate money instead of buying a shirt, so I started a GoFundMe. In the first year, I was able to raise close to four thousand dollars and that was the start of my foundation right there because I decided I wanted to keep doing this forever. Then I was able to turn it into a 501(c)(3) and it has progressed from there.”

Roberts continued, “Ultimately with this foundation I want to help raise this game in Black and minority communities. Soccer is a pay-to-play sport here in the states, so it’s very expensive and that’s why we typically don’t play it, but I want to make it accessible to everybody. Across the world, if you are good you can play. But that’s not how it is here in America, so that’s my goal is to make it like that here. That’s what fuels me, it’s why I’m going to keep growing this and I hope to effect some change in this community too.”

Also in the midst of a heavy 2020 calendar year, Roberts pioneered the USL Black Players Alliance, an organization led by Black athletes with a mission to educate and empower its members to use their platforms to positively impact their communities.

“It began right around the same time as the Black Lives Matter podcast episodes, we knew we needed to keep this going and keep that same energy,” shared Roberts. “At the same time the whole sports world shut down, the Black Players Coalition in the MLS did their whole thing, and we knew it was the perfect time for us to do something too. It was very last minute. In just two and a half days we contacted the USL, formed the alliance officially, all of that. We were in constant communication with the league, we were on multiple phone calls writing statements and we talked to 100 plus Black players on Zoom to make sure there was synergy going into the first games of the weekend. It was a whirlwind of a year, but it was a great, impactful year. I’m glad we did it.”

He continued, “going into this year, we’re looking to get some donations from the league and then use that money to create scholarship programs for minority kids and donate to local communities that could use it as well. We also want to start creating opportunities for us Black players after our careers as far as coaching, managerial positions, CEO positions, whatever opportunities we can create, that’s a big goal for us. Because we don’t have many coaches in the USL and MLS, only two or three are Black and there’s a bunch of us playing on the field so why aren’t we getting to those positions? We’re aiming to change that.”

Overall, Roberts embraces the opportunity here at Monterey Bay F.C. not only to lead the club into its inaugural season, but to lead and make a positive difference within this community. And he also knows that being here as a part of a new club means a chance to make history each and every day.

“This is special,” said Roberts. “I’m all about history and leaving a legacy and with this being the inaugural season for the club, it’s an important year for us to put our footprint on this community. I feel like this area has been hungry for the soccer scene as well, so I’m looking forward to getting into the community, making a difference and putting Monterey Bay F.C. on the forefront. We’re doing great things here already and for years to come this season can be the template for everyone else to follow if we can continue to do this right.”

Monterey Bay F.C. Teams with Blue Zones Project Monterey County for Community Clean-Up

February 24, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) joined forces with Blue Zones Project Monterey County (BZPMC) on Tuesday, February 22, for a clean-up event at the Salinas Soccer Complex in Salinas, California. The clean-up marked the first community event for the club’s players as the Union continue to embrace and invest in this region that we call home.

In addition to the nearly 50 volunteers at the event, Monterey Bay F.C. players Chase Boone, Rafael Díaz, Mobi Fehr, Walmer Martínez and Hugh Roberts were all in attendance to assist in the clean-up, take pictures with the fans and sign autographs. As the event wrapped up for the night, BZPMC raffled off the first official Monterey Bay F.C. team-signed soccer ball.

“This was my first community outreach event and it was exciting,” said Fehr, a midfielder for Monterey Bay F.C. “It’s always good to reach out to the community because they are the number one supporters of the team. So being here with the fans and doing good in the community feels great. I think it’s super important for us to do this type of stuff and I look forward to doing more.”

The clean-up took place as a part of Blue Zones Project Monterey County’s initiative to host community clean-ups on the last Tuesday of every month.

“Monterey Bay F.C. teaming up with Blue Zones Project Monterey County is important for bringing the community together,” explained BZPMC Senior Marketing Manager Veronica Plascencia. “Monterey Bay F.C. is helping us bring awareness to how much need there is in our community, and it also adds a level of pride. When we do something in our community, we feel proud of it and we’re proud to have our local team out here today. It’s all about making that connection with the community and making a difference.”

Blue Zones Project Monterey County is a community-led, well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to an area’s environment, policy and social networks. Two of the Blue Zones Project Monterey County sponsors, Montage Health and Taylor Farms, are also Proud Partners of Monterey Bay F.C.

“It’s great to see the community come out and be a part of something bigger,” explained Martínez, a forward for Monterey Bay F.C. “We’re helping to clean the community and make sure it looks beautiful for the people who live here and anyone who visits. They deserve to have a clean community and I’m super happy to be a part of it. I’ll be coming out and supporting as much as possible. I loved seeing all the people, all of the kids that came out. I was glad to have some of the guys out here helping out as well. It was an amazing thing to see people come together for one big cause to help their community, I loved it.”

Martínez continued, “This is what we stand for as a club, to go out into our community and get involved in as many ways as possible. We’re a club that is for the people. We’re here to represent the communities that surround us so being out here and doing everything that we can is something that we aspire to do more often.”

Sam Gleadle Signs Deal with Monterey Bay F.C.

February 23, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has signed former San Antonio FC defender-winger Sam Gleadle ahead of its inaugural season in the USL Championship, pending league and federation approval.

The Chichester, England native began his professional career with former USL Championship side Reno 1868, where he scored seven goals and added seven assists across 43 appearances for the club from 2018-2020. After his final season in Reno, Gleadle joined Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United FC in advance of the 2020 MLS Playoffs, but did not make an appearance.

Then ahead of the 2021 campaign, the 25-year-old signed with Championship club San Antonio FC. In San Antonio, Gleadle recorded one assist in 22 appearances (19 starts) with nine blocks, 39 clearances, 29 interceptions, 30 tackles won and a passing accuracy of 74.7%.

“Sam can play multiple positions in the wide areas for us,” explained Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He is an exciting, quick and versatile player with good experience from his time with Reno and San Antonio.”

Gleadle played collegiately for the University of New Mexico and scored five goals in 70 appearances from 2014-2017. While with the Lobos, Gleadle played with USL League Two club Albuquerque Sol, where he recorded six goals in 13 matches.

“It’s an exciting time for the city and the people here to have a brand new professional team. I know the guys are buzzing about it and so am I,” said Gleadle. “I’ve heard good things about the staff and the guys here and the culture that they are creating, so I am very excited to join and be a part of the club’s first season. I’ve had different experiences at different clubs, in different places as have other guys as well, and each of us bringing little bits of that to the team will help create a good culture here. I’m excited to add to that and I’m hoping for big things.”

Player Information
Name: Sam Gleadle
Position: Midfielder, Defender
Age: 25
Height: 5’9”
Hometown: Chichester, England

Monterey Bay F.C. roster as of February 23, 2022: (17)
Goalkeepers
Dallas Jaye (Danville, California)
Rafael Díaz (Paterson, New Jersey)

Defenders
Morey Doner (Collingwood, Ontario)
Hugh Roberts (Olney, Maryland)
Grant Robinson (Columbia, Maryland)
Kai Greene (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Sam Strong (Santa Barbara, California)

Midfielders
James Murphy (Scotch Plains, New Jersey)
Arun Basuljevic (Bronx, New York)
Mobi Fehr (New York, New York)
Sam Gleadle (Chichester, England)

Monterey Bay Football Club Announces Partnership with Monterey Regional Airport

February 22, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) announced today a new partnership agreement with Monterey Regional Airport (MRY). As a Proud Partner of the club, the Monterey Regional Airport will receive enhanced exposure throughout the stadium on match days on field boards and other in-stadium assets, as well as through the club’s digital platforms.

“The Monterey Regional Airport is proud to be a sponsor of Monterey Bay F.C.,” said Monterey Regional Airport Executive Director Michael La Pier. “We are excited to be a part of the energy the team will bring to our region. We look forward to being in the stadium as our team takes to the pitch.”

MRY is the only commercial airport in Monterey County and serves over 400,000 passengers each year. In addition, the Monterey Regional Airport flies nonstop to 10 destinations. Those destinations include Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix and San Diego, all of which hold special interest among fans who are planning to travel to the club’s away matches to support the Union against the likes of Las Vegas Lights FC, Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising FC, San Diego Loyal SC, Colorado Switchbacks FC and LA Galaxy II.

“We’re excited to have the Monterey Regional Airport become a Proud Partner of our club,” said Monterey Bay F.C. President Mike DiGiulio. “We’re looking forward to having the support of our traveling fans while we’re on the road, and Monterey Regional is going to be a big part of making that possible.”

Monterey Bay F.C. is currently accepting seat deposits for its inaugural 2022 USL Championship season. Learn more about Monterey Bay F.C. by following @MontereyBayFC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and online at MontereyBayFC.com.

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ABOUT MONTEREY REGIONAL AIRPORT

Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is Monterey County’s only commercial airport and accommodates over 400,000 passengers each year. The airport serves ten nonstop markets. We are committed to providing our customers with superior services and a convenient, hassle-free experience in a safe, secure, professional environment. Be sure to visit montereyairport.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @montereyairport.

Monterey Bay F.C. Signs Santa Barbara Native Sam Strong

February 14, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has signed defender Sam Strong ahead of its inaugural 2022 season.

Strong’s professional career began in 2018 with former USL Championship club Fresno FC ahead of its inaugural season. While in Fresno, Strong connected with current Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop, who was the General Manager for the Foxes at the time. The central defender made 17 appearances in two seasons for the side.

In 2020, the 25-year-old made the move to Connecticut to join Championship club Hartford Athletic, where he scored two goals in 13 appearances. Strong then returned to California as a member of San Diego 1904 FC, a National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) club. Strong went on to score in his debut in a 3-2 victory over Maryland Bobcats FC on August 8, 2021.

“Sam is an aggressive center back who’s had some experience in the USL Championship,” explained Yallop. “I’m looking forward to working with him.”

The Santa Barbara, California native now joins Monterey Bay F.C. in advance of the club’s first campaign in the USL Championship.

“I’m obviously very excited to join Monterey Bay F.C.,” said Strong. “I’m looking forward to playing with the boys, to playing for Frank and to playing for such a great community.”

Player Information:
Name: Sam Strong
Position: Defender
Age: 25
Height: 6’3”
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California

Monterey Bay F.C. roster as of February 14, 2022: (16)

Goalkeepers:
Dallas Jaye (Danville, California)
Rafael Díaz (Paterson, New Jersey)

Defenders:
Morey Doner (Collingwood, Ontario)
Hugh Roberts (Olney, Maryland)
Grant Robinson (Columbia, Maryland)
Kai Greene (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Sam Strong (Santa Barbara, California)

Midfielders:
James Murphy (Scotch Plains, New Jersey)
Arun Basuljevic (Bronx, New York)
Mobi Fehr (New York, New York)

Forwards:
Walmer Martínez (Santa Cruz, California)
Chase Boone (Beaverton, Oregon)
Seku Conneh (Voinjama, Liberia)
Christian Volesky (Henderson, Nevada)
Christoper Cortez (Mission Viejo, California)
Jesse Maldonado (Chandler, Arizona)

Monterey Bay F.C. Signs Deal with Midfielder Mobi Fehr

February 14, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has signed midfielder Mobi Fehr ahead of its inaugural 2022 USL Championship campaign.

Despite being born in New York, Fehr grew up in Japan and played for two years with the Tokyo Verdy Academy before finishing up his youth career with the FC Basel Academy in Sweden. From there, Fehr joined Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers in 2013 before returning to Japan to sign with Japanese club SC Sagamihara for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. While back in Japan, the midfielder scored three goals in 59 appearances.

The 27-year-old then moved to Vietnamese club Hoàng Anh Gia Lai and recorded two goals in 24 matches played in his three seasons with the team. In 2019, Fehr signed with USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights FC, where he made 39 appearances through the 2020 season.

“Mobi is a very versatile and experienced player that can cover a number of positions,” explained Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He will add good experience and know-how to our group.”

Internationally, Fehr has earned a total of 19 caps with the United States at the youth level, including two goals and four starting XI appearances in the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2011.

“I am definitely excited to be here,” said Fehr. “It’s my first opportunity in a top league like the USL Championship. I’m also excited to be one of the first players in the club’s history to be on the team and help usher in the inaugural season.”

Player Information:
Name: Mobi Fehr
Position: Midfielder, Defender
Age: 27
Height: 6’1”
Hometown: New York, New York

Monterey Bay F.C. roster as of February 14, 2022: (15)

Goalkeepers:
Dallas Jaye (Danville, California)
Rafael Díaz (Paterson, New Jersey)

Defenders:
Morey Doner (Collingwood, Ontario)
Hugh Roberts (Olney, Maryland)
Grant Robinson (Columbia, Maryland)
Kai Greene (Jersey City, New Jersey)

Midfielders:
James Murphy (Scotch Plains, New Jersey)
Arun Basuljevic (Bronx, New York)
Mobi Fehr (New York, New York)

Monterey Bay F.C. Acquires Oakland Roots SC Defender Kai Greene

February 14, 2022 by Steven Vargo

Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has acquired defender Kai Greene from Oakland Roots SC via undisclosed transfer in advance of its inaugural USL Championship campaign.

The 28-year-old joins Monterey Bay F.C. following a successful 2021 campaign with fellow USL Championship Western Conference club Oakland Roots SC in which he started 24 of his 28 appearances and scored one goal in Oakland’s inaugural Championship season that saw them reach the conference semifinals.

Greene began his professional career as a member of Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC from 2016-2018. The defender played in 68 matches for the Toros and recorded one goal and three assists. Then in 2019, the Jersey City, New Jersey native signed with another Championship club, this time San Antonio FC. In his first season in San Antonio, Greene recorded one assist and started all 34 of his appearances for a team high 3,060 minutes.

“Kai has played a lot of games at the USL Championship level,” explained Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “In that time he has shown to be a very good and consistent defender. He has pace and reads the game well. I am looking forward to working with him here.”

A true veteran of the league since entering in 2016, Greene has played 138 matches in the USL Championship for a total of 10,993 minutes.

“I’m excited to be a part of a new club,” said Greene. “It’s a new challenge. There are a lot of new, unfamiliar faces, but also a lot of familiar faces at the same time. Frank is a great guy, a great coach, I’ve heard a lot about him. He’s a genuine, stand-up guy. A guy that you want to fight for, and that you want to get results for, so I’m looking forward to competing against some teams that I’m very familiar with and taking this team to the playoffs.”

Player Information:
Name: Kai Greene
Position: Defender
Age: 28
Height: 6’0”
Hometown: Jersey City, New Jersey

Monterey Bay F.C. roster as of February 14, 2022:

Goalkeepers:
Dallas Jaye (Danville, California)
Rafael Díaz (Paterson, New Jersey)

Defenders:
Morey Doner (Collingwood, Ontario)
Hugh Roberts (Olney, Maryland)
Grant Robinson (Columbia, Maryland)
Kai Greene (Jersey City, New Jersey)

Midfielders:
James Murphy (Scotch Plains, New Jersey)
Arun Basuljevic (Bronx, New York)

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