RED BANK, NJ – FC Monmouth and Jackson Lions FC of the Garden State Soccer League (GSSL) have announced a partnership that will begin during the upcoming 2020 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) season.

As a part of this partnership, select players from Jackson Lions FC will join the 2020 FC Monmouth roster, which will be fully announced in the coming months. The partnership will also help promote both teams as they continue to gain recognition in Central Jersey and the entire state as a whole.

"We're excited to partner with the Jackson Lions to further our mission and ambitions,” said Jacco de Bruijn, General Manager of FC Monmouth. “The staff and players, most of whom are from the area just like us and our fans, have an equal passion for soccer and doing the right thing to grow the sport and use it as a platform to inspire and entertain the community.”

Jackson Lions FC was formed in 2014, and has enjoyed a vast amount of success both in the GSSL and numerous state and national competitions. Their players have experience playing for various NPSL teams, including FC Motown and Atlantic City FC, as well as other leagues at many levels. Playing in a large number of games over numerous competitions, Jackson Lions FC presents a group of players who know each other well and bring a lot of chemistry to the field.

“We are delighted to partner with FC Monmouth, a soccer team that in two years has done an outstanding job in creating a great game atmosphere for fans and its players,” said Mike Durazzo, co-founder of Jackson Lions FC. “Ownership has shown unbelievable professionalism and that they want to put the right product on the field. Many of our players played for Monmouth University and are familiar with Coach Woods, so we are happy to be close to home.”

Even before the partnership, FC Monmouth and Jackson Lions FC have always had a subtle connection, as players such as Chase Covello, Daniel Vicente, and Matt Fryc have played for both teams. All three players were integral parts of the 2018 inaugural season for FC Monmouth, as Covello led the team in minutes (829), Vicente led the team in shots (16), and Fryc was one of four multi-goal scorers (2). On February 6, Jackson Lions FC announced a fourth FC Monmouth player that will join their team, 2019 captain Zach Pereira.

The partnership between FC Monmouth and Jackson Lions FC will unite some very talented players in Monmouth and Ocean County, while also celebrating the success that each of the teams have enjoyed over recent years.

FC Monmouth will kick off its 2020 NPSL season this upcoming May, with its schedule and roster to be released in the months leading up to it.

FC Monmouth, Jackson Lions FC Announce Partnership