Oklahoma City base quickly gravitating toward Energy FC

USL Feature

Second-year USL club OKC Energy FC has grown by leaps and bounds in a short time frame, both on the field and off. As Energy FC prepares for its Western Conference Final against the LA Galaxy II on Sunday, the club knows it will have tremendous backing at Taft Stadium and within the region.

Energy FC President and Owner Bob Funk certainly envisioned this. The pleasant surprise for him is just how quickly everything has emerged.

“I always expected to have a pretty hardcore, dedicated fan base, but I was surprised at the quickness that fans gravitated toward the product,” Funk said. “The brand and the team itself have grown in large part to our team’s involvement in the community. Whether it’s clinics, coaching teams and just being involved and visible; the community has embraced them.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.

OKC Energy FC's Evan Newton embodies final piece of puzzle

OKC Energy FC goalkeeper Evan Newton

USL Feature

When OKC Energy FC head coach Jimmy Nielsen was putting the final elements of the team’s roster together for 2015, Evan Newton was not part of the picture.

Nielsen felt all the pieces were already in place heading into preseason, and then several days later he received a phone call from Newton’s agent.

“We had a long chat, and I was pretty far with the roster,” Nielsen said. “Only a few days before he called, I said we’re done for the year. We’re not signing any more players. But when I heard he was available, I chatted with him and we were back and forth. We came to an agreement and knew that we had a rock solid goalkeeper who can win you points.

“He joined us for our trip at the IMG Tournament, flew in, landed at 4 in the afternoon, played a 7 o’clock game and we beat Toronto 1-0.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.