Former Junior Lone Star FC forward and Philadelphia native, Anthony Allison, has signed a two-year contract with Sweden’s Division I club, Umea FC, after impressing on trial at the club.
Allison began his youth soccer career at Junior Lone Star FC in 2001 and he was part of Junior Lone Star FC’s U-23 squad that won the club’s first championship in 2008 with the U-23 State title and a subsequent U-23 Regional title, as well as being National semi-finalists.
After graduating from Overbrook High School, Allison stood out with Wilmington University, where he earned First Team All-America selections. Allison was also named Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), and NCAA Daktronics East Region Player of the Year. He was also a First Team All-Region selection, and a four-time First Team All-CACC award winner at Wilmington University.
Undrafted out of college, Allison signed his first professional contract in 2012 with the Puerto Rico Islanders of the NASL, where he made 10 appearances before moving on to Sweden in 2011.
In Sweden’s Division 3, Allison scored a whopping 24 goals in 21 matches for IFK Sundsvall and won the division’s Top Scorer Award. Last year, he rode this success to Swedish Division 2’s Harnosands FF where he scored another 19 goals in 21 matches for the club as they finished third in the league table, falling just short of winning the division’s golden boot. Allison said of his time with the club, “Before I came, it was a team that struggled in the bottom of the table but last year we were in the top battle, but unfortunately we did not take the step up.”
Allison was impressive in his first trial match with Umea FC in his new club’s 2-1 win over Selanger SK in a pre-season match on Sunday, March 24. Playing on the right side of midfield, he set up the first goal of the match with a near-goal of his own that fell into the path of teammate Axel Fallman who slotted it home. Allison also came on as a second half substitute in Umea’s 2-2 draw against Anundsjo IF on Tuesday, March 26 and played a full 90 inSaturday’s 3-0 loss at Ostersunds FK.
Umea coach Johan Sandahl describes Allison as “a player with clear top properties. His position and playing type is just what we’ve been looking for. A very quick player who will threaten many teams.”
Allison is not the only local player to make a preseason move. Here’s a round up of some of the other recent signings of players from around the Philadelphia region:
- Montreal Impact defender and Lancaster, PA native Zarek Valentin has undertaken a season-long loan to Norwegian first division club FK Bodø/Glimt. Impact sporting director Nick De Santis is high on the move, saying, “We feel that it can be beneficial for both parties. Zarek will continue to grow as a player in a different environment, in a different culture and will practice soccer in a different way. It will be valuable for the club as well as he should get a lot of minutes and experience.”
- Former New York Red Bulls Goalkeeper and Philadelphia native Jeremy Vuolo has decided to return to the game with the San Antonio Scorpions of the NASL. Last month we wrote about Vuolo’s decision to step away from the game to pursue ministry. Vuolo was apparently encouraged to reconsider his decision by former teammate Luis Robles, who encouraged him to tryout with the Scorpions. After two days with the club, Vuolo said, “I found myself wanting to be on the field, wanting to play, and wanting to compete for the first time in a long time.”
- Joining Vuolo at San Antonio will be fellow Philadelphia native Christopher Williams. The defender is fresh off of winning the Major Indoor Soccer League Championship with the Baltimore Blast. Williams has previously taken the field with many clubs including Miami FC of the USL first division and Da Nang in the Vietnamese first division.
CONCACAF Champions League
Greg Cochrane, D, Los Angeles Galaxy — Did not play. Season: 0 games.
Major League Soccer
Chris Albright, D, Philadelphia Union — Did not play. Season: 1 game.
Greg Cochrane, D, Los Angeles Galaxy — Did not play. Season: 0 games.
Bobby Convey, M, Sporting Kansas City — In the 18, but did not play. Season: 2 games, 2 starts.
Ryan Finley, F, Columbus Crew — Bye week. Season: 2 games.
Dan Gargan, D, San Jose Earthquakes — In the 18, but did not play. Season: 1 game, 1 start.
Corey Hertzog, F, Vancouver Whitecaps — Did not play. Season: 1 game.
Antoine Hoppenot, F, Philadelphia Union — Played 29 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to New York. Season: 3 games, 1 assist.
Jeff Larentowicz, M, Chicago Fire — Bye week. Season: 4 games, 4 starts.
Jeff Parke, D, Philadelphia Union — Started and played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to New York. Season: 4 games, 4 starts.
Ryan Richter, F, Toronto FC — Did not play. Season: 0 games.
Marcus Tracy, F, San Jose Earthquakes — Did not play. Season: 0 games.
Bobby Warshaw, D, FC Dallas — Played 1 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 win over New England. Season: 4 games, 1 start.
Andrew Wenger, F, Montreal Impact — Played 28 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Kansas City. Season: 3 games.
NASL
Pat Hannigan, GK, San Antonio Scorpions — League play begins April 6, 2013.
Christopher Williams, D, San Antonio Scorpions — League play begins April 6, 2013.
Jeremy Vuolo, GK, San Antonio Scorpions— League play begins April 6, 2013.
USL PRO
Tyler Bellemy, D, Rochester Rhinos — First game scheduled for April 13, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Thomas Brandt, D, Harrisburg City Islanders — First game scheduled for April 13, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Tony Donatelli, M, VSI Tampa Bay — Started and played 78 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Phoenix. Started and played 45 minutes in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Los Angeles. Season: 2 games, 2 starts.
Cristhian Hernandez, M, Harrisburg City Islanders — First game scheduled for April 13, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Morgan Langley, F, Harrisburg City Islanders — First game scheduled for April 13, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Jimmy McLaughlin, M, Harrisburg City Islanders — First game scheduled for April 13, 2012. Season: 0 games.
J.T. Noone, M, VSI Tampa Bay — Started and played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Phoenix. Started and played 90 minutes in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Los Angeles. Season: 2 games, 2 starts.
Jason Pelletier, M, Harrisburg City Islanders — First game scheduled for April 13, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Mike Seamon, M, Pittsburgh Riverhounds — First game scheduled for April 6, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Andrew Welker, F, Harrisburg City Islanders — First game scheduled for April 13, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Jason Yeisley, F, Richmond Kickers — First game scheduled for April 6, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Colin Zizzi, d, Harrisburg City Islanders — First game scheduled for April 13, 2012. Season: 0 games.
Austrian Bundesliga
Eddie Gustafsson, GK, Red Bull Salzburg — Did not play. Season (League): 0 games. Season (Cup): 2 games, 2 starts, 2 goals against.
Danish 1st Division
R.J. Allen, Skive IK — Started and played 90 minutes in Friday’s 1-0 loss to Lyngby. Started and played 90 minutes in Monday’s 4-3 win over FC Fredericia. Season: 3 games, 3 starts.
Finnish Veikkausliiga (Premier Division)
Jon Okafor, M, MYPA — League play begins April 14, 2013.
Finnish Kakkonen (Second Division)
Alex DeJohn, D, Ekenäs IF — League play begins April 28, 2013.
Yannick Smith, F, Ekenäs IF — League play begins April 28, 2013.
German Bundesliga Süd/Südwest (U19)
Russell Canouse, M, Hoffenheim — No game this week. Season: 16 games, 10 starts.
Zach Pfeffer, M, Hoffenheim —No game this week. Season: 4 games, 4 starts, 1 goal.
Israeli Liga Leumit
Noah Sadaoui, F, Hapoel Kfar Saba F.C. — On loan from Maccabi Haifa (Israeli Premier League), did not play. Season: 3 games, 1 start.
Norwegian First Division
Zarek Valentin, D, FK Bodø/Glimt — League play begins April 7, 2013.
Swedish Superettan
Anthony Allison, F, Umeå FC — League play begins April 7, 2013.
Billy Schuler, M, Hammarby IF — League play begins April 7, 2013.
Allison sounds interesting, hope he makes it over there.