Chicago Fire U-23
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| Full name | Chicago Fire Premier |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | CFP |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Stadium |
Toyota Park Bridgeview, Illinois |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| President | John Dorn |
| Head Coach | Mark Spooner |
| League | Premier Development League |
| 2016 | 3rd, Heartland Division Playoffs: DNQ |
| Website | Club home page |
Chicago Fire U-23 is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.
The team plays its home games at the artificial turf practice field adjacent to Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. The team's colors are red and white.
Until 2005 they were known as the Chicago Fire Reserves. As of the 2008 season, the team is usually referred to as Chicago Fire PDL, although the official name of the team has not changed.
Chicago Fire Reserves entered the PDL in 2001 as part of an effort on the part of MLS franchise Chicago Fire to develop and enhance the level of youth soccer in the Chicago area. Playing under the auspices of a professional club gave the Fire an advantage in terms of organization and player talent identification, which has led to them becoming one of the most successful teams in the PDL, winning their divisional title on all but one occasion, in the club's first 8 years, and having many of their players graduate on to the biggest of soccer stages.
The team's first season was a winning one, as they took the Great Lakes Division with a 15–1–4 record, ten points clear of second place West Michigan Edge, and into the playoffs at the first time of asking. Their opponent in the semi final was Mid-South Division champs Texas Spurs who they beat 1–0; unfortunately for the Fire, they lost the Central Conference championship game to Heartland Division champions Sioux Falls Spitfire (who went on to finish third in the national playoffs), but is still marked an excellent debut for the team – so much so that head coach Bret Hall was named PDL Coach of the Year in the end of season awards. The Class of 2001 also featured future international stars Jay DeMerit and Gavin Glinton.
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