The Austin Aztex are Austin’s only professional soccer franchise. The new club will play in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division beginning in the 2009 season. The Aztex will play host to teams from all across North America, including Montreal, Atlanta, Minnesota, Vancouver and Miami. The Austin Aztex U23 team will compete in the USL Mid South Division PDL play in 2008.
The new franchise is held by Austin Football Holdings LLC, (AFH) under the ownership of British born business entrepreneur Phil Rawlins. An Austin resident, Rawlins is also an owner and director of Stoke City F.C. who play in the English Championship. He has had an ownership interest in Stoke City for more than seven years and brings a wealth of management experience in soccer operations.
The Austin Aztex have an official affiliation with Stoke City FC. The affiliation includes the English club holding their summer training camp in Austin, scouting for talent both locally and across the US, exchanging players with the Aztex and sharing best practices between the two clubs.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring a top class professional soccer franchise to Austin,“ says Aztex President Phil Rawlins. “Central Texas has long been a hot-bed of young soccer talent with over 35,000 kids playing the game locally. Ouor club gives these youngsters and talented players throughout Texas something to aim for and the chance of playing soccer at the very highest level. I am very excited about the affiliation agreement with Stoke and the European exposure that gives both the Aztex and our players. My goal is to make the Aztex a community-based club that the Austin area can be proud of".
Stoke City Welcomes the Aztex
Stoke City Chief Executive Tony Scholes welcomed the Austin Aztex with these words: "Working with someone that we know and respect like Phil Rawlins, in a booming soccer marketplace like the States, made our official affiliation an easy decision for Stoke City. We feel certain that the Aztex will be a major success both in Austin and nationally and look forward to a long and mutually profitable relationship between Stoke City and the Austin Aztex."
Expansion Key to USL Plans
“For the past few years, USL has been dedicated to expanding our relationships beyond the shores of North America and this announcement is another landmark moment in this quest,” said USL Founder and President Francisco Marcos of the new club. “I firmly believe that Phil Rawlins understands, and is fully committed to, the concept of international relationships as the way to speed up American player development and to further the creation of thriving soccer culture in the US. Following in the footsteps of Crystal Palace Baltimore, who began play last season, and of our recently announced partnership with West Ham United, this is a significant moment in the history and growth of the USL First Division. This announcement of the USL First Division’s return to Texas is also representative of the league’s commitment for growth as we continue our discussions in multiple markets for additional expansion clubs west of the Mississippi.”
