Soccer Watch

Aztex Back in 2012

At a meeting of the Eberly's Army supporters group (née Chantico's Army) this weekend, former Austin Aztex minority owner David Markley announced news we'd been hoping for ever since the Aztex left town precipitously last fall: Austin has a new team which will start play next May in the Premier Development League, the same league where the original Aztex started in 2008. Markley already has a PDL OK and obtained the Aztex name from Phil Rawlins (whose former Aztex are now Orlando City) but will keep little else from the former organization – except the fan network and possibly a few players. The red and white stripes will be gone in favor of a blue-and-gold crest for a logo (possibly blue and white for the uniform) – but, says Markley, just about anything could be up for discussion, "except one thing: the Austin" in the logo (and maybe also the accentuated ATX in Aztex). This will be an Austin team, he stresses, with probably more local players than the original Aztex, as well as more ties to different local communities, a lower ticket price, an all-amateur squad (at least to start), and a more cooperative structure and culture. Markley – a local techie with longtime involvement in the local soccer scene – is sole owner and president of ATX Soccer LLC, but he's already spoken multiple times about potential partnerships, and even possible public ownership à la the Green Bay Packers. There's much more to come, of course; two big steps will be announcing a home stadium and perhaps a head coach soon after.

Texas Wildfire Project: The American Outlaws supporters group is collecting funds and supplies to build a futsal pitch in Bastrop the last week of October and to distribute soccer balls and equipment to local youth teams. More info at www.austin.theamericanoutlaws.com.

UT women split their two first Big 12 games last weekend. They're on the road this week before hosting Oklahoma next Friday, Oct. 7... A win and a draw to open Heartland Conference play weren't enough to keep the St. Edward's women in the nation's Top 25. They'll try to rebound this week.

Plenty of Champions League action this week as well, both here and in Europe, and still ongoing at press time; more on that next week. And coming up: Euro 2012 qualifying concludes next Friday and Tuesday, Oct. 7 & 11.