TAMPA, FL – The 2006 USL SoccerFest, featuring the USL Annual General Meeting and Super Y-League North American Finals, begins Thursday in Tampa, Florida running through November 21. Highlights of the week include a guest appearance and autograph session with international and English Premiership great Alan Shearer, a coaching symposium featuring Shearer and Portuguese Youth National Team Technical Director Agostinho Oliveira, the Hall of Fame Awards Dinner, the USL Players’ Village, the 20th Anniversary Celebration and the Fox Soccer Channel Showcase match.

Additional USL SoccerFest Activities

Alan Shearer Autograph Session (Saturday, Nov. 18)

Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer’s involvement comes courtesy of United Soccer Leagues and USL SoccerFest sponsor UMBRO, who have provided Shearer with product for his whole career. Having hung up his boots last season, Shearer is participating in a tour of international soccer nations as an ambassador for UMBRO and will arrive in Tampa fresh from recently visiting Australia and New Zealand. Distribution of tickets at the Ed Radice Sports Complex for the Shearer autograph session will begin at 4:00 pm ET Saturday, November 18 at the Players’ Village. Over 100 fans will get the opportunity to meet the former international or receive his autograph beginning at 5:15 pm.

USL Coaching Symposium (Friday, Nov. 17 & Saturday, Nov. 18)

The symposium will feature English Premier League great Alan Shearer, Portuguese Youth National Team Technical Director Agostinho Oliveira and former NASL and MISL standout Tony Glavin. The first day of the Coaching Symposium will be held at the Tampa Hyatt Regency, the host hotel of the 2006 USL SoccerFest and site of the USL Annual General Meeting. The second day will be held at the Ed Radice Sports Complex, one of two sites for the Super Y-League North American Finals. Coaches can register online at www.USLsoccerFest.com through Wednesday, November 15 at 5:00 pm ET to attend the symposium.

USL Players’ Village (Saturday, Nov. 18 to Monday, Nov. 20)

The Players’ Village will return to the Ed Radice Sports Complex at the Super Y-League North American Finals featuring street soccer, a video game tournament, soccer tennis, a futsal demonstration and more. The futsal demonstration is in conjunction with the recent announcement of USL’s partnership with the Super F League and will feature a special field supplied by Sprinturf, the official turf supplier of United Soccer Leagues.

USL Hall of Fame & Awards Dinner (Friday, Nov. 17)

Presented by Fox Soccer Channel, the annual USL Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner will be held at the host hotel Friday evening from 7:30 pm to 10:00. Being inducted as Players are Marcelo Balboa, Manny Lagos, Julie Foudy as well as President’s Selections Mike Cook (Oklahoma City Warriors), Steve Famiglietta (Albuquerque Outlaws), Saeed Kadkhodaian (Austin Sockadillos), Chris Melton (Amarillo Challengers), Greg Nichols (Garland Genesis) and David Swissler (Lubbock Lazers) representing the original six teams. Among the Builders being inducted is former USL administrator Steve Clamp, a Tampa native and former University of Tampa player. He is joined by Toronto Lynx owners Bruno and Nicole Hartrell, Fort Collins Force owner Amy Snider, New York Magic owner Lyndelle Phillips and the Ocean City Barons’ Cliff Simmons. The Lynx, Force, Magic and Barons will also be inducted as 10+ Clubs for completing 10 years of existence in USL.

Fox Soccer Channel Showcase Match (Saturday, Nov. 18)

The annual Fox Soccer Channel broadcast from the Super Y-League North American Finals will feature the U17 Boys Group match between the New York Red Bulls, the defending U16 champions, and Kendall SC, who played them to a 1-1 draw in group play last year. The two clubs also squared off in this year’s Super-20 Boys championship. The match, played Saturday, November 18 at 7:00 pm, will air on Fox Soccer Channel Tuesday, December 2 at 5:00pm ET.

20th Anniversary Celebration (Saturday, Nov. 18)

The 20th Anniversary Celebration will be held from 5:00 pm to the conclusion of the Fox Soccer Channel Showcase match and will feature food, music, a futsal Demo and the Super Y-League North American Finals Showcase Match where two of the league’s premier teams will square off in a scheduled tournament match that will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel December 2 at 5:00 pm ET.

The events will take place at three venues with the AGM being held at the Hyatt Regency Tampa, the official host hotel of the USL SoccerFest, and the Super Y-League North American Finals at the University of South Florida and Ed Radice Sports Complex.

The 2006 USL SoccerFest is expected to draw 6,500-plus participants and family members to Tampa from across the US and Canada for the events. Visitors are anticipated to occupy more than 8,000 hotel room nights, utilize over 800 rental cars and vans, account for over 4,000 flights, and consume over 75,000 meals.

For more information, visit www.USLSoccerFest.com or www.USLsoccer.com, the official website of United Soccer Leagues.

Events and schedule are subject to change.