Here at Orlando City UK, we’re wondering where the past few years have gone. Today, we’re celebrating our fourth birthday with our Official International Fan Club of Orlando City SC established four years ago.
Despite 2019 being another disappointing campaign for the Lions on the pitch, Orlando City UK thoroughly enjoyed another year of covering and supporting Orlando City SC while growing the club’s presence in the United Kingdom.
Two Orlando City SC games
Orlando City UK’s support of Orlando City SC took on a different dimension in 2019. Why? Because I emigrated to live in Toronto, Canada in March 2019.
Living on the North American continent itself – and far closer to Central Florida – this allowed me to attend two Orlando City SC away fixtures in the Great White North.
Travelling to Quebec for my first ever Orlando City SC away game on June 1, I was thrilled to watch the Lions run out impressive 0-3 winners at Montreal Impact on a simply unforgettable day.
Not only did I meet Orlando City SC‘s 2019 roster including star acquisition Nani, myself and travelling members of The Ruckus were depicted live on TV (Sky Sports / TSN) not to mention Miguel Gallardo giving Orlando City UK a shoutout on the official Orlando City SC live broadcast.
This amazing experience preceded the Lions’ August 10 visit to Toronto FC where I watched James O’Connor‘s side draw 1-1 with The Reds at BMO Field, only 15 minutes from where I currently live.
For both away days, Orlando City UK shared a series of insightful Twitter videos to make Orlando City SC supporters feel closer to the matchday experience online.
Between myself and my Dad, these two fixtures now take Orlando City UK’s attendance tally to eleven live Orlando City SC games since 2016.
#OrlandoCityUK Road Trip 2019 🛣 | Part 3️⃣
Wow. WHAT. A. DAY!! 😍
All 3️⃣ for @OrlandoCitySC! 💪🏽
More memories I’ll treasure forever 😁. Met Nani. Met JOC. Sang with @RuckusOrlando. Snapped & got a shout out on national TV! 😮#MTLvORL #FaceOfCity #OCSC #MLS pic.twitter.com/rQwLbIp2st
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) June 2, 2019
2019 MLS All-Star Game
Upon emigrating to Canada, not only was an Orlando City SC away game on my Lions to-do list but also the 2019 MLS All-Star Game that travelled to Exploria Stadium on July 31.
A prestigious occasion and one I simply couldn’t miss, I was delighted to fly south to Central Florida for the meeting of Major League Soccer’s best talents who took on La Liga giants Atlético Madrid.
With Diego Simeone’s side winning 0-3 on a rainy, humid Florida night, Orlando City UK treated our Twitter followers to video diary-type content throughout the day, documenting every element of my trip to make MLS enthusiasts feel closer to the action.
From landing at Orlando International Airport (MCO) to bringing followers a half-time update direct from the concourses at Exploria Stadium, it was a pleasure to share the 2019 MLS All-Star Game with you all.
#OrlandoCityUK Does #MLSAllStar | Part 2️⃣
Back where we belong on Church Street! 😍😈
Counting down to kick-off at @OrlandoCitySC’s Exploria Stadium. ⌚️
There’s a lot of @MLS sides represented here today but the fan zone & shop are currently closed. 😔#MLSAllStar #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/l8gTUGfK0M
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) July 31, 2019
Meeting the 2019 roster
Previously receiving exclusive training ground access, stepping foot on the Exploria Stadium turf and gaining access to the locker room, we ticked another fantastic experience off our Orlando City SC bucket list this year – meeting the 2019 roster.
Speaking to James O’Connor himself plus several members of the Lions’ travelling squad at Montreal Impact on June 1, thanks to all who stopped by for an autograph, photo and chat.
Membership growth
Welcoming even more Orlando City UK members in 2019, our Official International Fan Club of Orlando City SC now boasts 45 loyal and passionate members spread across the UK, Europe and North America.
As you can see from our Orlando City UK Fan Map, Orlando City SC supporters are spread throughout every corner of Great Britain, underlining the Lions’ mass appeal on our shores.
Since establishing Orlando City UK in November 2015, it’s been an aim of mine to make Orlando City SC the best supported Major League Soccer franchise in Great Britain and for us, we are exactly that!
Sign up for Orlando City UK membership yourself by clicking here.
Live Blog matchday coverage
One of the major perks of emigrating to live in Canada? Watching Major League Soccer fixtures at sensible times of course!
Staying up late at night and early in the morning to watch Orlando City SC in the UK over the past few years, moving to North America meant I could watch virtually every Lions fixture at agreeable hours.
Conducting live blog matchday coverage yet again in 2019, we thoroughly enjoyed keeping Orlando City SC supporters up to date with the key plays from 34 of the Lions’ 38 fixtures (MLS and U.S. Open Cup) in real time on Twitter.
A hugely effective way to join in the greater Orlando City SC conversation online, we thank every single follower for their likes, comments and retweets throughout the 2019 campaign.
#OrlandoCityUK FULL-TIME THOUGHTS 🎥 | A huge chance missed to climb the East! 😩
How are YOU feeling after @OrlandoCitySC’s 1-1 draw at @MNUFC? 🤔
✅ Gutted
✅ Emotionally drained
✅ Still hopeful
✅ All of the above?Let us know your thoughts! 🗣 Comment below! ⬇️#ORLvMIN pic.twitter.com/DvLMAxe5ST
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) August 18, 2019
39 Stats Previews
Orlando City UK yet again provided comprehensive Statistical Match Previews for every single one of Orlando City SC‘s 34 regular season fixtures in MLS with each article including five researched stats.
Add in Orlando City SC‘s deep run to the semi-final stage in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup plus a bonus preview for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game and Orlando City UK generated a whopping 195 individual stats in 2019.
These stats were also shared with the Orlando City SC community on Twitter as part of our gameday social media output.
NEW #OrlandoCityUK blog | A chance to show the 🌎 just how passionate the @citybeautiful is for ⚽!
Check out our special @MLS All-Stars vs @atletienglish STATS PREVIEW! 🤩
READ 📕: https://t.co/wjMwg4AKpC
4️⃣🌕7️⃣ | 🇺🇸⭐🇨🇦#MLS #MLSAllStar #AtletiSummerTour #AúpaAtleti #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/qZVuuqxijj
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) July 29, 2019
Regular news & interview articles
While statistical previews were Orlando City UK’s main offering to the Orlando City SC community online, so too were the biggest Orlando City SC headlines of the year.
As part of our crowdsourced segment “Twitter Reacts”, Orlando City UK wrote features about player acquisitions including Nani, Robinho and Mauricio Pereyra as well as kit reveals and James O’Connor’s October 2019 exit.
We also ran three exclusive Orlando City UK interviews with Orlando City SC defender and Canadian international Kamal Miller, Orlando City Youth Soccer Technical Director and broadcaster Paul Shaw as well as Orlando City B defender Randy Mendoza.
This was in addition to three match preview interviews with fellow Major League Soccer contributors UK NYCFC (New York City FC), Waking The Red (Toronto FC) and UK LAFC (Los Angeles FC).
#OrlandoCityUK INTERVIEW 🗣️ | @KMillz_00 🇨🇦⚽
“Some people say I was never supposed to be here. I feel like I beat the odds.”@OrlandoCitySC‘s Kamal Miller speaks growing up, getting drafted & debuting for @CanadaSoccerEN.
READ 📕: https://t.co/UeQYIA4OfT#FaceOfCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/5w6LFDbKAK
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) August 19, 2019
Podcast appearances
Always a pleasure and never a chore to discuss all things Orlando City SC online, I joined four established podcasts to talk about the Lions in 2019.
Making guest appearances on Niagara Reds TV (Toronto FC), D.C. United Kingdom (D.C. United), Orlando Lions Den Podcast and OC Lions Blog throughout the year, I thoroughly enjoy engaging in discussion and debate about the club I love.
Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC Match Preview with Niagara Reds TV – 04.05.2019
Thanks for your support!
Orlando City UK is looking forward to providing in-depth coverage of Orlando City SC throughout the off-season and into 2020.
We’d like to take this moment to thank every single one of our followers for your unwavering support.