The Swope Park Rangers have added forward Tyler Blackwood to the club’s roster ahead of the 2018 USL season, pending league and federation approval. Blackwood has spent the last two seasons in the USL, joining Phoenix Rising FC in 2016 before spending the 2017 campaign with Sacramento Republic FC.

Blackwood played in 34 games for Sacramento in 2017, starting 27. He placed fourth on the team with six goals, while he also added three assists in his one campaign in California. The 26-year-old found the net against the Swope Park Rangers in a thrilling 2-2 draw on August 23, 2017, bagging the equalizing goal in the 88th minute.

Prior to joining Sacramento, Blackwood made 26 appearances for Phoenix Rising FC (then Arizona United SC) in 2016, where he was a teammate with current Rangers midfielder Matheus Silva. He scored eight goals and added one assist for the club.

The London, England native previously spent time in his home town with Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship and on loan with League Two outfit Newport County.

Blackwood played college soccer for the University of Tampa, tallying 24 goals and eight assists in 33 games before transferring to University of South Florida ahead of his senior year, where he scored four goals and tallied three assists in 18 appearances.

Aside from his on-the-field exploits, Blackwood has also authored a children’s book, Clive The Croc Who Lost His Chomp. The book was released in May 2017.