IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC sign midfielder Liam Trotter for the 2019 USL Championship season pending league, federation and P1 approval. The highly experienced midfielder joins the club with nearly 200 appearances to his name in the English Championship.
"I am extremely happy that we have come to an agreement with Liam,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier. “This offseason we knew we needed someone of his stature in our team. He has the power and presence that we've been looking for. His leadership & experience will be invaluable to our team."
Trotter, 30 joins OCSC following an extensive career in England, amassing over 350 games during a 13-year spell. He began his professional career with Ipswich Town in the English Championship and made 26 appearances for his hometown club. Following a number of loan moves, he signed for Millwall FC in the English Championship where he would go on to have a vastly successful time with the club.
IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC sign midfielder Liam Trotter for the 2019 USL Championship season pending league, federation and P1 approval. The highly experienced midfielder joins the club with nearly 200 appearances to his name in the English Championship.
“I am extremely happy that we have come to an agreement with Liam,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier. “This offseason we knew we needed someone of his stature in our team. He has the power and presence that we’ve been looking for. His leadership & experience will be invaluable to our team.”
Trotter, 30 joins OCSC following an extensive career in England, amassing over 350 games during a 13-year spell. He began his professional career with Ipswich Town in the English Championship and made 26 appearances for his hometown club. Following a number of loan moves, he signed for Millwall FC in the English Championship where he would go on to have a vastly successful time with the club.
“I’m really happy to be joining the club,” said Liam Trotter. “It’s an exciting new challenge and an opportunity for me to experience soccer and life in a new country. I can’t wait to get started and to be apart of the progression and growth of OCSC.”
Over a four-year period, the 6’3 midfielder made 163 appearances for The Lions, scoring 26 goals and recording 25 assists. During this spell, he helped lead Millwall to a memorable F.A. Cup run in 2013, where they became F.A. Cup Semi-Finalists. Defeating Premier League opposition along the way with a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Before falling to eventual winners Wigan Athletic FC at Wembley.
In 2014, he moved to Bolton Wanderers FC where he spent 3 years and made over 70 appearances and scored 6 goals for the club. Which included Bolton Wanderer’s 2014 Goal of the Season winner with a stunning 35-yard volley against Sheffield Wednesday.
You can watch the video here. (Credit Bolton Wanderers)
“We are very excited to add a player of Liam’s pedigree to our roster,” said OCSC General Manager, Oliver Wyss. “He has a wealth of experience in the English Championship and his leadership qualities along with his technical ability will have a significant impact on our team on and off the field!”
Following a loan spell at Nottingham Forrest FC, he joined EFL League One side AFC Wimbledon in 2017, where he played alongside fellow OCSC forward, Harry Forrester. He made a total of 70 appearances for The Dons, 25 of which came this season. He also played a part in their F.A. Cup run which saw them reach the Fifth Round for the first time in the club’s history, following a 3-0 victory over West Ham United.
Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Orange County SC will not be released.
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ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://www.orangecountysoccer.com. For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.
“I’m really happy to be joining the club,” said Liam Trotter. “It’s an exciting new challenge and an opportunity for me to experience soccer and life in a new country. I can’t wait to get started and to be apart of the progression and growth of OCSC.”
Over a four-year period, the 6’3 midfielder made 163 appearances for The Lions, scoring 26 goals and recording 25 assists. During this spell, he helped lead Millwall to a memorable F.A. Cup run in 2013, where they became F.A. Cup Semi-Finalists. Defeating Premier League opposition along the way with a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Before falling to eventual winners Wigan Athletic FC at Wembley.
In 2014, he moved to Bolton Wanderers FC where he spent 3 years and made over 70 appearances and scored 6 goals for the club. Which included Bolton Wanderer’s 2014 Goal of the Season winner with a stunning 35-yard volley against Sheffield Wednesday.
You can watch the video here. (Credit Bolton Wanderers)
“We are very excited to add a player of Liam’s pedigree to our roster,” said OCSC General Manager, Oliver Wyss. “He has a wealth of experience in the English Championship and his leadership qualities along with his technical ability will have a significant impact on our team on and off the field!”
Following a loan spell at Nottingham Forrest FC, he joined EFL League One side AFC Wimbledon in 2017, where he played alongside fellow OCSC forward, Harry Forrester. He made a total of 70 appearances for The Dons, 25 of which came this season. He also played a part in their F.A. Cup run which saw them reach the Fifth Round for the first time in the club’s history, following a 3-0 victory over West Ham United.
Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Orange County SC will not be released.
###
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://www.orangecountysoccer.com. For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.