Reading United have a proud tradition of player development. This past weekend highlights the amazing impact our club has had on professional soccer clubs throughout the U.S. Soccer pyramid and the world. Twenty-one of our alums represent sixteen different clubs around the United States. Three alums are playing professionally in some of the top leagues in Scandinavia.
Former Reading United standouts aren’t just playing professionally, they are excelling.
Major League Soccer
Will Bates (Seattle Sounders) – Continues to recover from a pre-season knee injury.
Sounders FC Blog reported that Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid stated that Bates is set to get time in the Sounders’ reserve league match versus LA Galaxy on Monday.
Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids) – Started and played 90 minutes in the Rapids 1-0 win versus Chivas USA. Scored the game winning goal after drawing a penalty in 7th minute. Brown stepped up and sent Chivas keeper Dan Kennedy the wrong way to cooly convert his penalty.
Ian Christianson (New York Red Bulls) – Did not play vs. D.C. United.
Greg Cochrane (LA Galaxy) – Earned his first MLS start in a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas. Started and played 90 minutes in place of injured left back Todd Dunivant. His play against speedy Dallas winger Jackson and ability to jump start the Galaxy offense earned the former United defender positive reviews in this
feature on LAGalaxy.com.
Leo Fernandes (Philadelphia Union) – Did not play vs. Toronto FC.
Ryan Finley (Columbus Crew) – In the game day line-up, but did not play vs. Montreal.
Ray Gaddis (Philadelphia Union) – Started and played 90 minutes in the Union’s 1-1 draw with Toronto FC.
Matt Hedges (FC Dallas) – Started and played 90 minutes in FC Dallas’ 1-0 win over LA Galaxy. Hedges earned
MLS Men of the Match honors for "plenty of timely tackles and key defensive plays."
Corey Hertzog (Vancouver Whitecaps) – Earned his second start for the Vancouver Whitecaps and played 63 minutes in the ‘Caps 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake
David Horst (Portland Timbers) – The Timbers
announced that Horst underwent successful surgery to repair a displaced tibial plateau fracture in his right leg. Horst is expected to be out of action for up to six months.
C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City) – Sporting was on it’s bye week.
Andrew Wenger (Montreal Impact) – Was an 80th minute substitute in Montreal’s 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew.
Aaron Wheeler (Philadelphia Union) – Did not play in the Union’s match against the Columbus Crew.
North American Soccer League
Alex Dixon (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – Did not play in the Rowdies’ 2-0 win over the San Antonio Scorpions.
Evans Frimpong (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – Started and played 90 minutes in the Rowdies’ 2-0 win over the San Antonio Scorpions.
Luke Mulholland (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – Started and played 90 minutes in the Rowdies’ 2-0 win over the San Antonio Scorpions. Recorded an assist on Tampa Bay’s first goal. Was also named to the
NASL Team of the Week for his performance during week one.
Jeremy Vuolo (San Antonio Scorpions) – Did not play in the Scorpions 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
USL Pro
Tyler Newnam (Charlotte Eagles) – Started and played 90 minutes in the Eagles season opening 2-0 win over the Antigua Barracudas.
Stephen Okai (Charlotte Eagles) – Started and played 90 minutes in the Eagles season opening 2-0 win over the Antigua Barracudas.
Brian Ownby (Richmond Kickers) - Started and played 74 minutes in Richmond’s 4-1 win over 2012 USL Pro Champions, the Charleston Battery. Provided an assist on the Kicker’s second goal of the night.
Jason Yeisley (Richmond Kickers) – Started and played 73 minutes in Richmond’s 4-1 win over Charleston.
Norwegian First Division (Norway)
Zarek Valentin (Bodo Glimt) – On loan from MLS club Montreal Impact, his club take on Sandefjord on Monday, April 15th.
Allsvenskan (Sweden)
Brian ‘Cobi’ Span (Djurgardens IF) – Did not play in Djurgardens’ 4-1 loss to BK Hacken.
Superettan (Sweden)
Billy Schuler (Hammarby) – Played 90 minutes in Hammarby’s 1-1 draw versus Varnamo.