New Austin pro team affiliated with Stoke City

• by Soccer America , Jan 24, 2008

[USL-1] Stoke City became the latest British club to seek entry in the U.S. market when its minority owner, Phil Rawlins, announced plans to launch a USL-1 team next year in Austin, Texas, and affiliate it with the English League Championship club.

The club will be named Austin Aztex and owned by Austin Football Holdings LLC, under the ownership of Rawlins, a British-born Austin resident and Stoke City director.

Stoke announced plans to hold its summer training camp in Austin and begin scouting for talent both locally and across the United States and exchange players with the Aztex.

English club Crystal Palace launched a USL-2 team, Crystal Palace Baltimore, last season, and the USL recently announced a partnership with West Ham United.