Timbers end an era with sunflowers and a 1-0 win by Allison Andrews at The Timber Mill

It was a night for the ages at PGE Park. It would be a momentous match for many reasons: The last home regular season match for the current USSF Division-2 Pro League Timbers, as well as the last match before the stadium renovations for the Major League Soccer Timbers that will start play there next year. It was also undoubtedly the last time many of these players will play in front of the Timbers fans, and they gave quite a sendoff as a shower of sunflowers from the north end starting in the 80th minute will quickly become legend as Ryan Pore would score the lone goal of the match shortly afterwards for a 1-0 win over the Puerto Rico Islanders. But the to 15,418 in attendance, the fifth sellout of the season, it will go down as an example of what makes the beautiful game in Portland so special. [more]

Timbers set new attendance records in home finale at PortlandTimbers.com

PORTLAND, Ore. – With a sellout crowd of 15,418 in attendance at Thursday night’s final home game of the 2010 regular season, the Portland Timbers set a new modern-franchise (2001-10) record for regular-season attendance.

The Timbers also set a new record for sellouts in a season (5) since 2001 and welcomed their one millionth fan over that 10-year span. [more]

On to the MLS

Alaska Airlines unveiled as Timbers’ MLS jersey sponsor at PortlandTimbers.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Major League Soccer (MLS) Portland Timbers and Alaska Airlines today announced that Alaska Airlines is the team’s official airline. The multi-year deal is highlighted by the Alaska Airlines’ logo prominently featured on the team’s jerseys beginning with the Timbers’ debut MLS season in March 2011. [more]

Timbers and Beavers: One’s movin’ up, one’s movin’ out by Aaron Fentress at The Oregonian

The Timbers faithful might never threaten Blazermania in Portland, but make no mistake: Timbers fans are growing exponentially. They’ve gobbled up 7,500 season tickets for next season, when the team moves up to Major League Soccer. And they are one of the more vivid reasons why baseball will be displaced from Portland after the Triple-A Beavers play their final game in PGE Park on Monday.

The decisions that left the Beavers homeless and the Timbers looking forward to occupying a renovated stadium have generated local political controversy, as well as questions from outsiders puzzled by the notion of soccer booting baseball. [more]

Short clock for PGE Park’s soccer remodel by Daniel Savickas at the Daily Journal of Commerce

After a decade of playing at PGE Park, the Portland Beavers will play their last home game at the stadium on Sept. 6 against the Las Vegas 51s.

A few days later, while the Beavers are packing up their bats and leaving Portland in search of a new owner and a new home, the stands of PGE Park will begin to fill up with construction workers pushing to complete renovations in time for the first home game of the Timbers, the city’s new Major League Soccer team. [more]

In player news

Thompson named 2010 Community Player of the Year at PortlandTimbers.com

PORTLAND, Ore. –In recognition of his exemplary efforts in making a difference off the playing field this season, Portland Timbers defender Scot Thompson today was named the club’s Community Player of the Year for the 2010 season.

Thompson, 29, most exemplified the goals of the Timbers Community Outreach Program by making a positive impact on community values and lending his time and energy to a number of causes and philanthropic activities throughout the season. [more]

Alhassan Impresses as Timbers End an Era by Oakley Brooks at EnzymePDX

He’s been in town only a week and played only 44 minutes but already he has the Timbers’ coaches giddy with expectation.

Nineteen-year-old Ghanaian midfielder Kalif Alhassan made his second appearance in as many games Thursday night in Portland’s 1-0 victory over Puerto Rico, running the wings, knocking balls across the width of the field and building expectations of what could be. [more]

Timbers Insider: Who will move on to MLS? by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

With the regular season coming to an end, the Timbers will eventually announce which players from the current roster will move on to the MLS roster for 2011.

No announcements have been made – though I’ve heard an announcement could come in early September – and most players don’t know their fate. However, with five games remaining in the regular season, I would suspect that general manager/technical director Gavin Wilkinson and new coach John Spencer have already made some decisions about the personnel as the team goes forward. [more]

Mandjou Keita Officially Leaves Portland Timbers by mao at the Portland Timbers USL Blog at The Offside

Pune FC of the I-League, India’s top-flight, have signed Mandjou Keita as their fourth foreign player. Indian sides are allowed what’s locally known as the Foreign Four, though only three are allowed on the pitch at any one time. Keita of course flamed out at Portland Timbers this season, having been reduced to a substitute’s role with the rise of young Bright Dike. [more]

In supporter news

Timbers and Timbers Army – Reaching out to the community to lend a hand by Kip Kesgard at OregonLive.com

The Portland Timbers provide quality entertainment each time they take the pitch at PGE Park, but they also strive to help the community make Portland a better place for everybody. One of their major initiatives is the Timbers Community Fund, where the team provides assistance to various groups around town through their outreach programs. [more]

Lots of news (I might have to think about doing these Timbers news roundups more than twice a week!).

Match Reports

Game 20: Rochester 1 – Timbers 0 by mao at The Portland Timbers USL Blog at The Offside

A first half goal by Kénold Versailles was enough to see Rochester Rhinos past visiting Portland Timbers, 1-0. The failure to equalize, even after goalkeeper Steve Cronin saved a Ryan Heins penalty and another Rochester goal was waved off due to offside, is a microcosm of this entire season for Portland. Rodrigo Lopez put two strong free kicks on frame late-on, but again the toothless Timbers attack prevented the collection of a single point. The four-game road trip thus results in just four points. [more]

Timbers fall to the Rhinos 1 nil by paulsepp at Dropping Timber

The Timbers controlled much of the second half, but could not overcome a 22nd minute goal by Kenold Versailles. Isaac Kissi poked the ball for Versailles who blasted a shot past Cronin from outside the box. The Timbers only managed to get one shot on goal in the first half. [more]

U-23 Timbers

Two Timbers and Pumas Mark Lee Makes PDL All Star Side at Prost Amerika Soccer

The success of football in the Pacific Northwest received further acknowledgment this week. Kitsap Pumas highly rated left back Mark Lee has received the ultimate accolade from his league. He has been selected to the all-league team for the Premier Development League. [more]

And don’t forget, the Timbers U-23s begin PDL championship run Friday (see Tuesday’s Timbers Tidbits for more details).

MLS 2011

At the OregonLive Timbers Blog, Kips Kesgard looks to the Timbers future, in two parts:

Building an MLS roster part 1 – Not as easy as it might first appear

Building an MLS roster part 2 – Targeting experience that isn’t already spent

Player News

The Timbers, sorely in need of a consistent offensive threat, have signed Dutch striker Ibad Muhamadu. Muhamadu most recently played for FC Dordrecht, where he had 8 goals in 18 outings.

Bruce Savage, the father of Portland midfielder Keith Savage, has retired from coaching. One benefit of which is that he will be able to travel and watch my son Keith play soccer for the Portland Timbers. Recovering from a knee injury, Keith saw his first regular season action this year in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tampa Bay.

And former Timber Alan Gordon, the longest tenured LA Galaxy player, has been traded to Chivas USA. In 2004 he was the USL rookie of the year with the Timbers.

Supporter News

The Timbers Army is Ready, so declares TheOriginalWinger.com. But of course we already knew that.

Timbers Army veteran Steven D. Lenhart has scored spots in an international football photography exhibit in Poland for two of is amazing photographs of the Army.

And the Timbers Army Trailer, RIP, has been replaced, by the Timbers Army Van! It needs some work though – help raise repair money by bidding at items donated by TA members!

First we’ll get the awful news out of the way . . .

Game 18: St. Louis 3 – Timbers 0 by mao at the Portland Timbers Blog at The Offside

Portland Timbers played their most pathetic match of the season, perhaps of all-time, in losing 3-0 AC St. Louis at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. Mike Ambersley, the Saint who stole points from the Timbers with an injury-time goal back in May, recorded the hat-trick with easy goals against an inept Portland defense. [more]

And for the masochists, a few more recaps:

• AC St. Louis Trounce the Timbers by paulsepp at Dropping Timber
• Ambersley hat trick leads AC St. Louis past Timbers at PortlandTimbers.com
• St. Louis 3, Portland 0: Timbers open trip with loss at OregonLive.com

A bit of MLS news:

Timbers Insider: Vancouver wins coin flip by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

HOUSTON — Vancouver won the coin flip.

The coin flip – which actually took place before the MLS All-Star game, but was broadcast on tape-delay at halftime of the game televised by ESPN2, was made to determine whether Portland or Vancouver would have first pick in the 2011 SuperDraft, expansion draft or other player acquisition opportunities. [more]

Portland Timbers: Round One of the MLS rivalry with Vancouver goes to Whitecaps by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

HOUSTON — The flip of a coin added more intensity to an already heated rivalry between the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Timbers lost the coin flip that determined whether Portland or Vancouver would pick first in Major League Soccer’s SuperDraft, expansion draft or the other player acquisition opportunities. [more]

On the John Spencer, er I mean future MLS coach decision . . .

Timbers Insider: Spencer to Portland worst kept secret? by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

HOUSTON – The rumor mill at the MLS All-Star game was spinning quickly about the Timbers and John Spencer.

A few well-placed people implied the Spencer to Portland move was a done deal. A couple talked in terms that Spencer had already been hired. [more]

And in supporter news:

Growing Recognition For American Supporters Groups by Tom Dunmore at Pitch Invasion

It wasn’t too long ago that MLS supporters’ groups who consistently numbered more than a hundred hardy souls per game could be counted on the fingers of one hand nationwide, and were about as popular as herpes with MLS front office folks.

Those times have changed as the groups have grown and the atmosphere and publicity they bring to MLS clubs that help them differentiate those teams in crowded sports marketplaces have been recognised by MLS headquarters and most owners. [more]

And an important date is coming up: Monday, August 2nd 2010 marks the open ordering date for 2011 Timbers season tickets. Anyone can reserve their season tickets on Monday. I recommend a Timbers Army season ticket:

Purchasing your Timbers Army Season Tickets, you do more than just reserve a place in the North End*: Ticket-buyers will receive discounts from game-day prices, invitations to special events, and commemorative merchandise marking the Rose City’s rise to this country’s top tier of professional soccer.

On top of that, part of your purchase will help fund the 107ist, the TA’s independent supporters trust, as it works to support soccer at all levels in and around Portland. [more]

And join the 107 Independent Supports’ Trust! Benefits include discounts, freebies, and special deals at Beulahland, Big-Ass Sandwiches, the Bitter End Pub, and a slew of other places around town. Join up and visit the 107ist Partners page for more information.

Last Thursday, as you already know, the Portland Timbers snagged 3 points from the Whitecaps in Vancouver. It was a chippy match, and the first time the Timbers had won in Vancouver since 2004! The win also clinched the Cascadia Cup for the second year in a row.

The Timbers are on the road tomorrow to face AC St. Louis, and then play Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Timbers U-23s midfielders Steven Evans and Ricardo Carrillo had success this week, as part of the Eastside United FC team that won the US Youth Soccer U-18 national championship. Now it’s the whole U-23 team’s turn to prepare for the playoffs. They face the Hollywood United Hitmen in a semifinal match on Saturday, July 31st in Bremerton, Washington. If they win Saturday they’ll play for the Western Conference championship on Sunday, August 1st.

The Portland Timbers 2011 MLS coach speculation continues. John Spencer is at the top of the candidates list. And honestly, I don’t think there’s anyone else on the list. Rumor has it an announcement will occur within the first two weeks of August.

The Timbers Army has been busy lately, expanding its reach throughout Oregon, traveling in Europe, and throwing its weight around enough to be named to the fifth spot in Oregonian columnist John Canzano’s list of influential Oregon sports figures.

5. Timbers Army (NR): Drumming, chanting, scarf-wearing soccer supporters transformed overnight from a band of PGE Park rowdies to an effective and influential political organization. Their political clout ends up greasing the wheels on the effort to bring Major League Soccer to Portland. Two favorite sayings: Rose City till we die. If you want to be in the Timbers Army, you already are.

The NR indicates that the Army came out of nowhere, not having been ranked last year.

And to wrap up this edition of Tuesday Timber Tidbits, check out this nice article about Mason alum and Portland Timbers player Doug DeMartin. Make sure to visit TimbersArmy.org to find out how to pick up your 107ist membership card and to find out how you can get a discount when you bring a new recruit to the next home match on August 11th!