A new relationship between the Fanshawe College Alumni Association and the Forest City London soccer team will make Fanshawe the team's home throughout the upcoming Professional Development League (PDL) soccer season.

The team, which is made up of aspiring professional players from around the world, will use Fanshawe College's soccer fields, fitness centre, and Fowler Kennedy Clinic for training, and sixteen players will live in residences on Fanshawe's London campus. The team will be purchasing other services from Fanshawe as well.

As a Gold Level sponsor, the Fanshawe College logo will appear on FC London uniforms this season, and a July 1, 2010, "Own The Game" match against the Michigan Bucks at TD Waterhouse Stadium will recognize Fanshawe's commitment to the team. We encourage all Fanshawe staff, students and alumni to attend.

"We are very happy to partner with the Fanshawe College Alumni Association," said FC London president and CEO Ian Campbell. "FC London is a new entity in London, and we are eager not only to build our profile in the region, but to contribute to the community. Fanshawe is a major part of the city, so we will count on this relationship to help us make important connections throughout the season."

FC London has strong ties to Fanshawe. Campbell is a Fanshawe graduate, as is the team's Director of Marketing and Communications, Joe Farina. Head coach Martin Painter also coaches women's varsity soccer at the College, and several FC London players have donned the Fanshawe Falcons uniform.

"Team-building is absolutely vital at this level of any sport," head coach Painter said. "Living and training together in one location will do a lot to help our team bond on and off the pitch, and Fanshawe's facilities are perfect for our needs. This will help us develop the kind of chemistry we'll need to be successful this season."

The PDL is the top under-23 men's amateur league in North America - a premier development ground for elite players on their way to the professional level. FC London entered the league last year, finishing in third place and earning a playoff berth. This year, the team will play 16 games against teams based in Toronto, Cincinnati, Chicago, and other cities in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Home games will be played at TD Waterhouse Stadium, London Marconi Field, the German Club, and London Portuguese Club.

The club's home opener is on Friday, May 28, 2010 against the Toronto Lynx at TD Waterhouse Stadium. Kick-off time is 7:30 p.m.