The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has run since 1913. It is the oldest competition in American soccer, a single-game knockout, and the only high-profile tournament in American team sport where amateur clubs and professional clubs meet in matches that count.
We are in it in our first season, and it is worth explaining how.
PDL clubs earn their Open Cup places on the previous season's league results. The Ocala Stampede won the Southeast Division in their final season, and when we purchased and rebranded that franchise, the qualification they had earned came with it.
There is a connection here that makes it neater still. Anderson coached the Ocala Stampede in their inaugural PDL season in 2012 — he built that first team, took them unbeaten through their opening four matches, and helped establish a club that went on to become one of the most successful regular-season sides in the entire league.
Eight years later, the division title that team's successors won is what puts us in the first round.
That is earned, and we intend to make something of it.
First round is at home.
