Portland Timbers 2 Explained

Clubname:Portland Timbers 2
Fullname:Portland Timbers 2
Nickname:T2
Stadium:Providence Park
Portland, Oregon
Capacity:25,218
Coordinates:45°31′17″N 122°41′30″W
Owner:Portland Timbers
(Peregrine Sports)
Chrtitle:President
Chairman:Merritt Paulson
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Shannon Murray
League:MLS Next Pro
Season:2023
Position:10th, Western Conference
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Website:https://www.timbers2.com
Pattern La1:_whiteborder
Pattern B1:_shoulder_stripes_white_stripes
Pattern Ra1:_whiteborder
Pattern Sh1:_adidaswhite
Leftarm1:154821
Body1:154821
Rightarm1:154821
Shorts1:154821
Socks1:000
Pattern B2:_adidasblack
Pattern Sh2:_adidasshortgold
Leftarm2:d8b091
Body2:d8b091
Rightarm2:d8b091
Shorts2:000000
Current:2023 Portland Timbers 2 season
American:true

Portland Timbers 2 is an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. The team, often referred to as "T2", serves as the reserve squad for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer (MLS).[1] [2] [3]

The team was a member of the USL Championship from 2015 to 2019, and was in the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid beginning in 2016. The organization withdrew from the 2021 USL Championship season so it could better transfer players to its parent club during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] The reserves are now part of MLS reserve league MLS Next Pro.

History

The Timbers announced the formation of their USL Pro team at a press conference on October 14, 2014. Jay Vidovich, long-time Wake Forest head coach and two-time NSCAA National Coach of the Year, was hired as T2's head coach on December 18, 2014.[5] [6] Timbers 2 held an open tryout in February 2015. It was announced on February 19 that there are six players currently signed to Timbers 2.[7] Their home games were played at Merlo Field, a soccer-specific stadium at the University of Portland for their first two seasons. After the 2016 season, the Timbers moved T2 home games to Providence Park,[8] and T2 would play there for the next three seasons. After the 2019 season, the Timbers announced that the ownership group of the Hillsboro Hops, a minor-league baseball team based in the Portland suburb of Hillsboro, Oregon, would take over the business operations of T2, while the Timbers would remain T2 owners with responsibility for the playing staff. As part of this agreement, T2 will move to Hillsboro Stadium for 2020.[9] For the 2023 season, T2 moved back to Providence Park.[10]

In T2's first season, the team finished in 8th place in the Western Conference of the league table with 11 wins, 15 losses, and 2 ties. Kharlton Belmar was named USL Rookie of the Year and selected for the All-League Second Team.[11] Jay Vidovich resigned to become head coach of the University of Pittsburgh.[12] Assistant Coach Andrew Gregor was hired to replace him on January 6, 2016.[13]

T2 in 2016 had finished in ninth place in the Western Conference. Midway towards the end of the season, T2 had attempted to make a comeback to clinch the final spot for the USL playoffs which increased from the top six to eight teams in each conference. Timbers 2 competed against Arizona United in their final game of their season. Although the team had defeated Arizona, it was not enough to secure the final spot for a playoff berth due to Orange County winning in their final game with a better goal difference than T2.[14]

In October 2020, T2 announced it would skip the 2021 USL season, aiming to return in 2022.[15]

MLS Next Pro

The club announced on December 6, 2021, that it was joining the inaugural 21-team MLS Next Pro season starting in 2022.[16]

Players and staff

Staff

TitleName
Head coach Serge Dinkota
Assistant coach Andrés Flores

Head coaches

NameNationTenure
Jay VidovichDecember 18, 2014 – December 4, 2015
Andrew GregorJanuary 6, 2016 – January 7, 2018
Cameron KnowlesJanuary 8, 2018 – November 1, 2020
Shannon MurrayFebruary 23, 2022 – May 2, 2024
Serge DinkotaMay 2, 2024 – Present

Badge and crest

T2's logo contains the same axe that is used in their parent organization's logo. The shape and design were previously used by the Portland Timbers USL franchise. The typeface used in the team's logo is the same font used in the 1975 Portland Timbers North American Soccer League kits. The chevrons behind the axe are the same pattern used in the original Timbers mark.[17]

Stadium

Record

Year-by-year

YearDivisionLeagueRegular season (W-L-T)PlayoffsU.S. Open CupAvg. attendance
20153USL11–15–2: Western Conf: 8thDid not qualify3R3,362
20163USL12–14–4: Western Conf: 9thDid not qualifyNot eligible (MLS Reserve Team)2,323
20172USL3–23–6: Western Conf: 15thDid not qualify2,524
20182USL17–13–4: Western Conf: 6thConference Quarterfinals2,127
20192USLC10–16–8: Western Conf: 14thDid not qualify1,899
20202USLC3–13–0: Western Conf: 18thDid not qualifyN/A
2021On Hiatus
20223MLSNP2–18–4: Western Conf: 11thDid not qualifyNot eligible (MLS Reserve Team)N/A
20233MLSNP11–16–1: Western Conf: 10thDid not qualifyN/A

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Portland Timbers announce USL PRO team, T2 . Portland Timbers . October 14, 2014 . October 14, 2014.
  2. News: Timbers Announce USL PRO Team . United Soccer Leagues (USL) . October 14, 2014 . October 14, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141017030254/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/841998.html . October 17, 2014 .
  3. News: A 3rd pro soccer team in Portland? 3 reasons why the Timbers are making it happen . Portland Business Journal . October 14, 2014 . October 14, 2014.
  4. Web site: Portland, Philadelphia and Orlando reserve teams to leave USL after 2020 . Major League Soccer.
  5. News: T2 names Jay Vidovich as first head coach . Portland Timbers . December 18, 2014 . December 18, 2014.
  6. News: Portland Timbers hire longtime Wake Forest head coach Jay Vidovich to lead USL PRO side Timbers 2 . Major League Soccer (MLS) . December 18, 2014 . December 18, 2014.
  7. Web site: Portland Timbers 2 Sign Six Players. stumptownfooty.com. Vox Media. February 19, 2015. March 31, 2020.
  8. Web site: T2 announce schedule for 2017 USL season. timbers.com. Portland Timbers. January 31, 2017.
  9. Web site: Portland Timbers and Hillsboro Hops announce new T2 partnership . timbers.com . Portland Timbers . October 30, 2019 . November 2, 2019.
  10. Web site: Timbers2 . Portland . Portland Timbers2 . 2023-08-30 . Portland Timbers2 . en.
  11. Web site: Portland's Belmar Named USL Rookie of the Year. United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 29, 2015. October 29, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031094445/http://www.uslsoccer.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&ATCLID=210459398. October 31, 2015.
  12. Web site: Vidovich Departs T2, Heads To Univ. of Pittsburgh. United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 4, 2015. December 4, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208161815/http://www.uslsoccer.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&ATCLID=210560087. December 8, 2015.
  13. Web site: Andrew Gregor named T2 head coach for 2016 USL season. timbers.com. Portland Timbers. January 6, 2016. January 6, 2016.
  14. Web site: USL Match Recap - Portland Timbers 2: 3, Arizona United SC: 2. timbers.com. Portland Timbers. September 24, 2016. March 31, 2020.
  15. Web site: Sports. Oregonian/OregonLive. 2020-10-16. Portland Timbers 2 will not play 2021 season. 2021-03-04. oregonlive. en.
  16. Web site: MLS NEXT Pro Unveils 21 Clubs for Inaugural Season . timbers.
  17. Web site: Portland Timbers announce USL PRO team, T2. Timbers.com.