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So on a busy Friday for Orlando City SC with the evening MLS fixture against New York Red Bulls to look forward to at Camping World Stadium, headlines were also made during the daytime.
And that news is that Orlando City SC have today announced an official affiliation with English Premier League outfit Stoke City.
According to the official report from the club, the new partnership will encompass player exchange opportunities, accessibility to shared scouting, player recruitment systems and cross-promotional marketing for both sides on either side of the Atlantic.
Orlando City announces formal affiliation with English @premierleague‘s @StokeCity.
Read: https://t.co/mBTTLWbkLn pic.twitter.com/l5kv8L4GGI
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 6, 2016
With not only Phil Rawlins but also Adrian Heath hailing from the Stoke-on-Trent area, the two clubs have always shared positive relations.
Indeed, the Orlando connection already runs deep with Lewis Neal and Brek Shea having represented the Potters in the past, not to mention James O’Connor who now manages Louisville City in USL of course.
So with Orlando City SC and Stoke City having announced their new formal partnership today, the news has unsurprisingly caused a splash amongst both Lions and Potters fans on Twitter.
Here’s some of the best tweets from the afternoon as metaphorical Geoff Cameron and Cyle Larin swap rumours ensued!
The classic player tugs of war!
@OrlandoCitySC @SamSarikaya @premierleague @stokecity give us Larin
— Rory Watt (@Rory_Watt) May 6, 2016
@Rory_Watt @OrlandoCitySC @SamSarikaya @premierleague @stokecity give us Bojan
— Kyle (@KyleHenson4) May 6, 2016
A USMNT star coming home maybe!?
@iReedifer @OrlandoCitySC @premierleague @stokecity I wonder what this means? We are looking for a new CB Geoff Cameron in purple?
— Justin Roman (@J_Bone007) May 6, 2016
Love at first sight…
Looks like I finally have a PL team! https://t.co/sBiPIhVUlp
— R33D (@iReedifer) May 6, 2016
Ohhh FRIEND!
@OrlandoCitySC @premierleague @stokecity pic.twitter.com/EZtcnOW65A
— Neil (@neilmoultrie1) May 6, 2016
Start of something special?
@CityzensBritish @Mozzaa92 Will be interesting to watch in the next few years! I reckon a lot of Stoke’s younger pros will come #OCSC‘s way!
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) May 6, 2016
More OCSC merch in the UK?? Yippee!!!
And what’s more, yes, we’d absolutely love greater accessibility to Orlando City SC merchandise right here in the UK, Mr Chairman!
@CityzensBritish seems like a reasonable idea ?
— philip rawlins (@OCPres) May 6, 2016
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