February 6, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Monterey Bay FC News Release
SEASIDE, Calif. – Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) and the United Soccer League (USL) introduce Monterey Bay F.C. 2 (MBFC2), a development club joining the Southwest Division of USL League Two, a pre-professional development league. MBFC2 will be based in Salinas, California and will begin league play this summer.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for the region to have an amateur team that creates a clearer path to the first team,” said Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “Now, aspiring young players in the area can play for MBFC2 with an eye towards our USL Championship side. It is the beginning of a much anticipated ‘path-to-pro’ program for the club.”
Leading the charge as the Head Coach for Monterey Bay F.C. 2 will be current Union Assistant Coach and Salinas native Ramiro Corrales, who will remain on the coaching staff for the first team. League play begins in early May and runs through mid-July, with each team playing 14 matches.
“I’m looking forward to being the head coach for a club in my hometown of Salinas,” said Corrales. “I am excited to work with these young guys, not only kids aged 15-17, but also college kids too that have a little bit more experience and can help the younger kids raise their level and get better. Overall, this team will benefit the first team because I’ll be looking for that diamond in the rough so to speak. Whether that’s in Salinas, Watsonville, wherever that might be, we’re always looking for young players who can help the first team down the line. That will be one of two main goals for MBFC2, with the other goal being to give the young kids in the area a clear pathway to the professional level.”
Monterey Bay F.C. 2 will offer a higher level of competition for local players with top-level coaching and a strong infrastructure to support and expose players to the professional soccer environment. MBFC2 is the first step toward continuing the overall growth and expansion of Monterey Bay Football Club.
“USL League Two offers fantastic playing opportunities for our young players in the area, and we are excited to extend our MBFC programs and resources to those players,” said Monterey Bay F.C. Club Development Officer Neil Diaz. “It is a very exciting time for the club and we are excited about developing our local talent all the way through to the first team.”
More information will be available…