Portland Timbers 2
 | |
| Full name | Portland Timbers 2 |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | T2 |
| Founded | October 14, 2014 |
| Stadium | Hillsboro Stadium Hillsboro, Oregon |
| Capacity | 7,600 |
| Owner | Portland Timbers (Peregrine Sports) |
| President | Merritt Paulson |
| Head Coach | Cameron Knowles |
| League | USL Championship |
| 2019 | 14th, Western Conference Playoffs: DNQ |
| Website | Club website |
Portland Timbers 2 is an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon that plays in the USL Championship, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid. Portland Timbers 2 (often referred to as "T2") serves as the reserve squad for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.[1][2][3]
History
The Timbers announced the formation of their USL Pro team at a press conference on October 14, 2014. Jay Vidovich, long-time Wake Forest head coach and two-time NSCAA National Coach of the Year, was hired as T2's head coach on December 18, 2014.[4][5] Timbers 2 held an open tryout in February 2015. It was announced on February 19 that there are six players currently signed to Timbers 2.[6] Their home games were played at Merlo Field, a soccer-specific stadium at the University of Portland for their first two seasons. After the 2016 season, the Timbers moved T2 home games to Providence Park,[7] and T2 would play there for the next three seasons. After the 2019 season, the Timbers announced that the ownership group of the Hillsboro Hops, a minor-league baseball team based in the Portland suburb of Hillsboro, Oregon, would take over the business operations of T2, while the Timbers would remain T2 owners with responsibility for the playing staff. As part of this agreement, T2 will move to Hillsboro Stadium for 2020 and beyond.[8]
In T2's first season, the team finished in 8th place in the Western Conference of the league table with 11 wins, 15 losses, and 2 ties. Kharlton Belmar was named USL Rookie of the Year and selected for the All-League Second Team.[9] Jay Vidovich resigned to become head coach of the University of Pittsburgh.[10] Assistant Coach Andrew Gregor was hired to replace him on January 6, 2016.[11]
T2 in 2016 had finished in ninth place in the Western Conference. Midway towards the end of the season, T2 had attempted to make a comeback to clinch the final spot for the USL playoffs which increased from the top six to eight teams in each conference. Timbers 2 competed against Arizona United in their final game of their season. Although the team had defeated Arizona, it was not enough to secure the final spot for a playoff berth due to Orange County winning in their final game with a better goal difference than T2.[12]
Badge and crest
T2's logo contains the same axe that is used in their parent counterpart's logo. The shape and design were previously used by the Portland Timbers USL franchise.
Players and staff
Current roster
- As of 5 March 2020[13]
|}
- ^ Signed to first team contract with Portland Timbers.
- ^ Portland Timbers Academy player.
Head coaches
| Name | Nation | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Vidovich |  USA
|
December 18, 2014 – December 4, 2015 |
| Andrew Gregor | USA
|
January 6, 2016 – January 7, 2018 |
| Cameron Knowles |  NZL
|
January 8, 2018 – present |
Record
Year by year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season (W-L-T) | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 | USL | 11–15–2: Western Conf: 8th | Did not qualify | 3R | 3,362 |
| 2016 | 3 | USL | 12–14–4: Western Conf: 9th | Did not qualify | Not eligible (MLS Reserve Team) | 2,323 |
| 2017 | 2 | USL | 3–23–6: Western Conf: 15th | Did not qualify | Not eligible (MLS Reserve Team) | 2,524 |
| 2018 | 2 | USL | 17–13–4: Western Conf: 6th | Conference Quarterfinals | Not eligible (MLS Reserve Team) | 2,127 |
| 2019 | 2 | USLC | 10–16–8: Western Conf: 14th | Did not qualify | Not eligible (MLS Reserve Team) | 1,899 |
Stadia
- Merlo Field (2015–2016; 2019)
- Providence Park (2017–2019)
- Hillsboro Stadium (2020–present)
References
- ^ "Portland Timbers announce USL PRO team, T2". Portland Timbers. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ "Timbers Announce USL PRO Team". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 14, 2014. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ "A 3rd pro soccer team in Portland? 3 reasons why the Timbers are making it happen". Portland Business Journal. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ "T2 names Jay Vidovich as first head coach". Portland Timbers. December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ "Portland Timbers hire longtime Wake Forest head coach Jay Vidovich to lead USL PRO side Timbers 2". Major League Soccer (MLS). December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ "Portland Timbers 2 Sign Six Players". stumptownfooty.com. Vox Media. February 19, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ "T2 announce schedule for 2017 USL season". timbers.com. Portland Timbers. January 31, 2017.
- ^ "Portland Timbers and Hillsboro Hops announce new T2 partnership". timbers.com. Portland Timbers. October 30, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ "Portland's Belmar Named USL Rookie of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 29, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- ^ "Vidovich Departs T2, Heads To Univ. of Pittsburgh". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 4, 2015. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^ "Andrew Gregor named T2 head coach for 2016 USL season". timbers.com. Portland Timbers. January 6, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
- ^ "USL Match Recap - Portland Timbers 2: 3, Arizona United SC: 2". timbers.com. Portland Timbers. September 24, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ "T2 Roster". Portland Timbers. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
External links
- Official website
- T2: Timbers' new minor-league club offers taste of the past, glimpse of the future - Portland Business Journal
- Portland Timbers announce launch of USL PRO team T2 - OregonLive
