The throw-back jersey with the added red in it. (Courtesy of the Lancers)
During the 2020 and 2021 indoor and outdoor soccer seasons, the Rochester Lancers will look back to the past while taking steps forward to the future.
They will honor players who played for the Lancers’ 1970 North American Soccer League championship team, the Rochester Flash’s inaugural squad in 1981 and the Rochester Rhinos’ debut season in 1996.
The players will wear throw-back jerseys, honoring the three teams during next season.
Though the indoor and outdoor seasons are several months off, Rochester is preparing for those campaigns even now.
In fact, the Lancers will do something that has never been done before. They will introduce 21 returning players on local TV on Sunday, Sept. 13, which happens to be the 50 years to the day of the Lancers winning the 1970 title.
“We have purchased 50 TV commercials to represent the 50th anniversary and they will air all day on local TV including on NFL Games,” Lancers director of soccer operations Kayla Klark Kent Moreira said. “Rochester will find out who is returning on the 13th and several haven’t played for us in the last few years.”
Sorry, the team can’t give any clues as to which players will be entertaining fans in the coming months. You will have to be patient and wait until the 13th to see who have signed contracts with the club for the 2020-21 Major Arena Soccer League season.
“Fans come to see the players, they don’t come to see the owners or coaches and championships don’t guarantee returning fans but loved players do,” Lancers owner and CEO Salvatore “SoccerSam” Fantauzzo said. “Our Lancers players love this city and our amazing fans love our players. I’ve been fighting this battle since the original Lancers. Most fans don’t remember final scores, they remember goals, saves and that great player and number in that jersey.”
OK, the Lancers give you a clue, albeit it is a small one. There will be a surprise or two as to which players the Lancers have signed.
“Fans will be shocked on who’s returning and more surprises, including MASL star players will be joining the Lancers before the season starts,” Lancers president of soccer operations Ashley Maria King said. “With the help of head coach Doug Miller and his staff, we are determined to give local star players the chance to shine on the big stage.”
And about those jerseys. The Lancers will pay tribute to Rochester’s rich soccer history, featuring a new 1970 replica jerseys and they will also wear 1981 Flash replica jerseys and the 1996 Rhinos replica jerseys on three separate weekends. The Lancers have added the color red to their logo to represent strength, power, determination, passion, desire and love. All of the past Lancers, Flash and Rhinos ownership groups and players represent the color RED.
The historic Rochester soccer jerseys and season ticket information also will be announced on Sept. 13 in what be yet another memorable Sunday for the team and soccer community.
“We have no soccer future without our past!” SoccerSam said.
For more informations on the Lancers, visit www.RLancers.com.
