Team History/Overview

Philadelphia and its neighboring communities have a rich history in sports and a proud soccer tradition. The fans, players, and teams that represent this great city share a common bond of toughness and passion for sports excellence and competition. The Philadelphia area has one of the fastest growing soccer followings in the nation, and boasts nearly half a million registered youth and adult soccer participants in the Delaware Valley Region. This area’s youth soccer players, teams, clubs, and leagues are among the country’s most elite and prestigious, having delivered thousands of scholar athletes to premier college programs, many of them All-Americans, and hundreds to the Women’s National Teams and international soccer organizations. Understanding this distinction, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced in March 2009 that Philadelphia was to be awarded the eighth franchise in the women’s pro soccer league. Congratulations Philadelphia. The Independence is proud to begin its inaugural 2010 season, and is excited to be part of Philly’s great history of sports dominance.

Philadelphia Independence Team Ownership and Commitment

Owner David Halstead is committed to building the Philadelphia Independence franchise into a model sports organization - one that is the envy of the League, and is a permanent and positive fixture in Philadelphia. These ideas, together with a distinctive coaching and front office staff, roster of outstanding soccer athletes, and commitment to the youth in its club affiliates and neighborhoods, will result in an Independence team loaded with talent that the city is proud to support.

The entire Independence organization is committed to bring Philadelphia a team that:

• Is recognized and respected for its outstanding play and tenacity
  
• The fans love to watch and are proud to support
  
• Continues to build on Philly’s rich and winning pro sports traditions
  
• Our soccer youth looks to for its modern day heroes and role models
  
• Gives back to its community through its philanthropic efforts
  
• Our corporate and business partners are honored to be affiliated with

With great anticipation for a successful 2010 season, everyone in the Independence
organization will work hard to live up to these expectations and looks forward to the partnerships and involvement of the Philadelphia fans and communities.

Team Name – Independence

The Declaration of Independence marked the birth of a nation. Under the Declaration drafted here in Philadelphia in 1776, a group of brave pioneers banded together to face challenges and a common enemy. With foresight, determination, and persistence, these talented individuals, representing all walks of life, discovered common ground and pledged to each other and to those that were to come after them, their “Lives, Fortunes, and Honor” to the sacred cause of Independence. Consistent with this great American and Philadelphia story, a skilled group of professional soccer athletes and coaches proudly wear this name on their uniforms and have banded together to defeat common opponents, pledge their hearts and loyalties to this city and its fans, and be committed to ensuring the historic spirit of Independence prevails.

Team Colors – Yellow, Steel Grey, Light Blue

Yellow commemorates the Swedish settlers who first came to Philadelphia in 1638. These early settlers had the willingness and intellect to adapt and thrive in a new environment. They were brave, confident, and steadfast in their determination to work together, refine their skills and talents, and overcome obstacles – with sights set on a permanent presence in this area, and a proud legacy of extraordinary success ... just like the Independence organization. Steel Grey represents the city’s history in manufacturing and heavy industry. The characteristics associated with this challenging industrial period and with steel grey describe well some of the key components within this team’s identity – tough, honest, disciplined, hard working, innovative, and tenacious. For this reason, steel grey has been selected as the primary color for the team’s home uniform. Light Blue is borrowed from Philadelphia’s own city flag and symbolizes the proud work ethic of this city’s blue collar heritage. Philadelphia and its fans comprise dedicated, blue collar people. Philadelphia citizens are honest and straight forward, with strong family values. They appreciate the “blue collar athlete” who isn’t flashy. And, in Philadelphia, honor, reputation, and integrity are still worth fighting for….everyday, on and off the field. It is this spirit, and the city’s enduring blue collar values that led the Independence to honor the city’s fans and their strong character with a trace of blue on the collar of the team’s away jerseys.

Team Motto – We The People

Crafted by our founding fathers these first words to our Constitution forever guarantee this country and its citizens, if they work collectively, the common goal of being empowered and protected. This motto or chant, “We the People” describes exactly what this organization believes will ensure its success, on and off the field – hard work, problem solving, overcoming challenges, leadership, and a commitment to performance excellence.