North Carolina FC Adds Depth to Roster with Lance Laing and Dre Fortune Signings
Fortune becomes first ever Capital Area RailHawks Academy Player to sign Professional Contract
Cary, NC (March 17, 2017) – North Carolina FC has announced the signing of midfielders Dre Fortune and Lance Laing. As per club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Fortune is a local product and former Capital Area RailHawks Development Academy standout. He is the first former Academy player in the organization’s history to sign a professional contract with the club.
“We’re happy to have a young, local kid as our first Academy player to sign a pro contract,” said Head Coach Colin Clarke. “He’s a very good player technically, and he’s someone we feel is going to help our team a lot this year.”
The 20-year-old Raleigh native spent last season with the United Soccer League’s Rochester Rhinos, where he played in nine games. He played with Servette FC in Switzerland prior.
Fortune has international experience as well, having played with the U17 and U20 Trinidad & Tobago National Teams, and the U.S. U15 National Team.
“I’m excited to be with the team,” Fortune said. “I grew up in the area and played for the Academy team, so signing a professional contract is a really big accomplishment for me. I’m ready for a good season.”
Laing is a dependable veteran NASL midfielder who was the first player to be named to the NASL’s Best XI three times.
“Lance is a player who has been very good in our League over the last few years and he’s someone who we’ve been interested in getting here for quite some time,” Clarke said. “He’s an experienced, very athletic left-sided player who has great ability on set plays, and who is a leader that is going to bring a lot to the team.”
The 29-year-old Jamaica native began his career in Jamaica, playing for Harbour View and Village United of the Jamaican National Premier League, before signing with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers as a defender for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Laing next played for FC Edmonton from 2013-2015, where he made a switch from defender to midfielder, and scored 16 goals in 71 appearances. He led the Eddies in goals and assists in 2014, with seven and six respectively.
Laing spent last season with Minnesota United FC. Overall, he has made 128 NASL appearances with 19 goals and 16 assists.
Like Fortune, Laing also has international experience, as he has made seven appearances for the Jamaican national team since 2008, including the 2015 Copa America and 2015 Gold Cup.
“I’m really happy to be here, and I’m pumped up about what this organization is doing,” Laing said. “The group has been brilliant so far, one of the very best I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m grateful to be a part of this team. I’m excited to be a part of it all, and I’m looking forward to seeing the fans out there this season.”
Fortune, Laing and the club will begin the 2017 NASL campaign on March 25 against Miami FC at 7:30 p.m. North Carolina FC season tickets are now on sale. Fans interested in more information about membership should visit www.www.northcarolinafc.com or call the NCFC Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Current North Carolina FC Roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Brian Sylvestre, Macklin Robinson, Matias Reynares
Defenders (6): Christian Ibeagha, Connor Tobin, Steven Miller, Kareem Moses, Paul Black, James Marcelin
Midfielders (10): Tiyi Shipalane, Nazmi Albadawi, Austin da Luz, Marcel Kandziora, Alex Molano, Bolu Akinyode, Jonathon Orlando, Saeed Robinson, Lance Laing, Dre Fortune
Forwards (3): Matt Fondy, Brian Shriver, Billy Schuler
About North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC (NCFC, formerly the Carolina RailHawks) are an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL). NCFC plays their home games at WakeMed Soccer Park, where they have played since 2007. For more information, please visit www.www.northcarolinafc.com or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
North Carolina FC Adds Depth to Roster with Lance Laing and Dre Fortune Signings
Fortune becomes first ever Capital Area RailHawks Academy Player to sign Professional Contract
Cary, NC (March 17, 2017) – North Carolina FC has announced the signing of midfielders Dre Fortune and Lance Laing. As per club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Fortune is a local product and former Capital Area RailHawks Development Academy standout. He is the first former Academy player in the organization’s history to sign a professional contract with the club.
“We’re happy to have a young, local kid as our first Academy player to sign a pro contract,” said Head Coach Colin Clarke. “He’s a very good player technically, and he’s someone we feel is going to help our team a lot this year.”
The 20-year-old Raleigh native spent last season with the United Soccer League’s Rochester Rhinos, where he played in nine games. He played with Servette FC in Switzerland prior.
Fortune has international experience as well, having played with the U17 and U20 Trinidad & Tobago National Teams, and the U.S. U15 National Team.
“I’m excited to be with the team,” Fortune said. “I grew up in the area and played for the Academy team, so signing a professional contract is a really big accomplishment for me. I’m ready for a good season.”
Laing is a dependable veteran NASL midfielder who was the first player to be named to the NASL’s Best XI three times.
“Lance is a player who has been very good in our League over the last few years and he’s someone who we’ve been interested in getting here for quite some time,” Clarke said. “He’s an experienced, very athletic left-sided player who has great ability on set plays, and who is a leader that is going to bring a lot to the team.”
The 29-year-old Jamaica native began his career in Jamaica, playing for Harbour View and Village United of the Jamaican National Premier League, before signing with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers as a defender for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Laing next played for FC Edmonton from 2013-2015, where he made a switch from defender to midfielder, and scored 16 goals in 71 appearances. He led the Eddies in goals and assists in 2014, with seven and six respectively.
Laing spent last season with Minnesota United FC. Overall, he has made 128 NASL appearances with 19 goals and 16 assists.
Like Fortune, Laing also has international experience, as he has made seven appearances for the Jamaican national team since 2008, including the 2015 Copa America and 2015 Gold Cup.
“I’m really happy to be here, and I’m pumped up about what this organization is doing,” Laing said. “The group has been brilliant so far, one of the very best I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m grateful to be a part of this team. I’m excited to be a part of it all, and I’m looking forward to seeing the fans out there this season.”
Fortune, Laing and the club will begin the 2017 NASL campaign on March 25 against Miami FC at 7:30 p.m. North Carolina FC season tickets are now on sale. Fans interested in more information about membership should visit www.www.northcarolinafc.com or call the NCFC Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Current North Carolina FC Roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Brian Sylvestre, Macklin Robinson, Matias Reynares
Defenders (6): Christian Ibeagha, Connor Tobin, Steven Miller, Kareem Moses, Paul Black, James Marcelin
Midfielders (10): Tiyi Shipalane, Nazmi Albadawi, Austin da Luz, Marcel Kandziora, Alex Molano, Bolu Akinyode, Jonathon Orlando, Saeed Robinson, Lance Laing, Dre Fortune
Forwards (3): Matt Fondy, Brian Shriver, Billy Schuler
About North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC (NCFC, formerly the Carolina RailHawks) are an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL). NCFC plays their home games at WakeMed Soccer Park, where they have played since 2007. For more information, please visit www.www.northcarolinafc.com or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
