IRONMEN SIGN 2008 USL-1 MVP JONATHAN STEELE

Star-Filled Roster Beginning to Take Shape

(Photo by Contrast Photography/ Courtesy of Philadelphia KiXX)

Newark, N.J. (Monday, October 27, 2008)- With the New Jersey Ironmen edging closer to their 2008-09 season opener at Prudential Center on December 14, they announced today the signing of 2008 USL-1 MVP Jonathan Steele. After spending last season with the Philadelphia KiXX, the former member of Northern Ireland U-19 National Team guided the Puerto Rico Islanders to the USL-1 finals earlier this month.

“What Jonny brings to the team is excellent technical ability combined with pace and grittiness,” Ironmen Head Coach Omid Namazi remarked. “All of these elements were reflected in his play this past summer when he earned USL-1 MVP honors.”

Steele is a midfielder that hails from Larne, Northern Ireland, and began his professional career with the Wolverhampton Wanderers in England. He then crossed the Atlantic Ocean to trial with the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer in 2003 before inking a deal the next year to play with the Syracuse Salty Dogs of the USL-1. Upon conclusion of that season, he took his game indoors and played 13 matches for the Kansas City Comets before returning home to suit up for the Northern Ireland U-19 National Team.

The next stop for Steele was with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL-1, and he then joined the newly-inked Ironmen forward Adauto Neto indoors with the Baltimore Blast during the Brazilian striker’s 2005-06 MVP season. The duo helped lead the Blast to the league championship that year. Not one to take a break, Steele continued his year-round play at the conclusion of that title run by returning outdoors to Rochester before heading back to Baltimore for the 2006-07 indoor season. He then continued his non-stop regimen the next year by playing the USL-1 season with the Carolina RailHawks and the indoor session with the KiXX. His latest action was with the aforementioned Islanders where he secured USL-1 MVP accolades.

“I feel that similar to what he did outdoors with Puerto Rico this past summer, Jonny will have a breakout year indoors wearing the Ironmen uniform,” Namazi continued. “His vision is his best asset, and he sees things early. He creates scoring opportunities off the dribble not only for himself, but for others as well. He also plays at a very good pace which helps in transition from offense to defense, and vice-versa.”

The New Jersey Ironmen will open up preseason training on Monday, December 1, and the club is hosting open tryouts at Turf City in Wayne on Saturday, November 22, slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. Players interested in attending open tryouts must pre-register by calling Gioia DiFlumeri, Ironmen Operations Manager, at 973-757-6303. Registration for tryouts is $50, and the non-refundable fee must be submitted in cash or check. Those who would like to send a check prior to the tryouts can send it to team offices at New Jersey Ironmen, 165 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, and must be sent in no later than Saturday, November 15. Tryouts will be conducted on sports turf, and soccer attire (including indoor flats) is required.

The New Jersey Ironmen will make their 2008-09 season debut at Prudential Center on Sunday, December 14^th, opening up their sophomore campaign at 4:00 p.m. against the Chicago Storm. The Ironmen provide fun and affordable family entertainment with tickets starting at only $10! Don’t miss out on the action! Call 1-800-IRONMEN today!