Fire Premier

FIRE PDL

2012 Chicago Fire PDL Schedule

The Chicago Fire PDL side has been one of the most successful franchises in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League since joining the league in 2001 as the Chicago Fire Reserves. Over nine years of play, the team has had an evolution of name changes going to the Chicago Fire Premier in 2004. While the names have changed, the constants for the Chicago Fire Premier's PDL side have stayed the same, as the team has stamped its dominance on the league, compiling a 126-22-22 regular season record while helping to send 83 players into the professional ranks.

In May 2010, former Fire PDL players Jay DeMerit, Ricardo Clark, Jonathan Spector and Brad Guzan joined former Fire First Teamers Carlos Bocanegra and DaMarcus Beasley on the U.S. Men's National Team roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. DeMerit and Clark both played in the tournament, helping the U.S. to it's first group championship since 1930 and the team's fourth advancement to the knockout stage of the tournament.  

 Some of the team's accomplishments in the past eleven seasons include:

  • USL record 9-straight playoff appearances (2001-09)
  • 7 Division titles (2001-06, 2008)
  • 14 All-USL players
  • Highest winning percentage (.741) of all North American teams since 2001
  • 2 PDL North American Championship matches (2003, 2009)
  • 2 PDL Central Conference Championships (2003, 2009)
  • 4 appearances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2004-05, 2009, 2011)
  • Became just the third PDL team to go undefeated during the regular season, recording a 17-0-1 record in 2004
  • 8 former players with US National Team caps (Ricardo Clark, Jay DeMerit, Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, Drew Moor, Tim Ream, Chris Rolfe, Jonathan Spector)
  • 4 former players with foreign international caps (Gavin Glinton - Turks & Caicos, Vedad Ibišević - Bosnia & Herzegovina, Omar Jarun - Palestine, Pascal Millien - Haiti) 
  • 83 former players moving to the professional ranks both in the USA and Europe including Chicago Fire first team member Austin Berry
  • A USL Premier Development League record of 11 players selected in a single MLS SuperDraft, coming during the 2012 selection process

FIRE SUPER-20S

The Chicago Fire Premier Super-20 team was formed in 2007. Providing the opportunity for the top 17-20 year-old players in North America to play high-level competition in the summer months.

  • 2008 North American Super-20 Champions (Virginia Beach, VA)
  • 2007 North American Super-20 Runners-up (Epping, NH)
  • 2009 North American Super-20 semi-finalist
  • 32-2-3 Regular Season record (2007-10)
  • 42-4-4 Overall Record -- Regular Season and North American Finals (2007-10) 
  • 2007 North America Super 20 Coach of the Year (Larry Sunderland)
  • Six Super-20 All-League Selections
  • 2 Super-20 League North American Finals MVPs: Robert Younger and Mark Blades

FIRE NPSL

The Fire NPSL team is a key feature of the Chicago Fire Premier program and is an integral part of the club's long term player development pyramid. Commonly referred to as the PDL ‘reserve team’, the side formed in 2008 and now regularly participates in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) Midwest Division alongside Milwaukee Bavarians, Madison 56ers, St Paul Twin Stars, Minnesota Kings and Eau Claire Aris.

Although other NPSL teams generally include former and current university and college, foreign, amateur, ex-professional and youth players, the Fire specifically utilize the team to prepare college players for the PDL team. Players can obtain a place on the NPSL roster through open try-outs each May or as former Fire Juniors, Academy, U19, U20 or U23 player.

 Key Features:

  • Participate in the NPSL Midwest League and includes 10 games per season.
  • Train between 2-3 times per week at Toyota Park.
  • Participation in the USASA Region 2 National U23 Cup in June 2010.
  • Home games played at the Toyota Park Turf Field.
  • Regular Games take place in May, June and July.
  • Coached by professional USSF qualified coaching staff.

CHICAGO FIRE U23 (CARY)

The joint venture is the result of leadership from both clubs coming to the agreement that this is in the best interest of the players within this age group. With the Chicago Fire also having programs competing in the United Soccer Leagues "Super 20" and "PDL" divisions this is an additional program that complements our existing elite amateur teams. These programs allow players to have a clear path for continuing their playing careers at the highest level. In its ten years of existence, the Chicago Fire Premier PDL program has seen 84 of its alumnus move on to professional playing careers, including current Fire star Dasan Robinson.

Chicago Fire Premier to provide:

  • Fully Operational U23 player development programOnline registration / payment systemJoint promotion of the program and Cary Soccer Association via mail & web-site\
  • Game Day Operations at all home games (Cary Grove Park)Full uniforms (2 jerseys, 1 short, 2 socks, training uniform)Entry into the ISSA state U23 league Entry into the U23 National cup competition
  • Opportunity to play 1 home game at Toyota Park (training field)Opportunity to practice at Toyota Park (training field)Opportunity for players to potentially move within the player development pyramid into the PDL team

 Cary Soccer Association to provide:

  • Coaching Staff (Brad Wellmen & Caulbert Smith) to oversee player development and running of the teamPractice facility & game field
  • Joint promotion of the program and Chicago Fire via mail & web-site.