Former Orlando City SC USL Champion will help strengthen backline

Armada FC Public Relations | Dec. 28, 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Ì¶ The Jacksonville Armada FC announced on Monday the signing of 2015 USL Defender of the Year Bryan Burke.

The 26-year-old fullback from Newport, Calif., arrives in Jacksonville following one season with Louisville City FC where he played a key role at both ends of the field, leading the United Soccer League with 10 assists in 2015, and contributing to a solid defensive effort that saw his team concede 35 goals in 28 regular-season games, a 1.25 GAA.

“Brian had an outstanding season last year in the USL with Louisville,” said Tony Meola, Armada FC head coach and technical director. “His work rate up and down the right side and his relentless passion to attack will be exciting to watch as he integrates himself into our group. We are excited to add his quality to our roster for the upcoming season."

Prior to Louisville City, Burke played alongside Armada goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo at Orlando City SC in 2013 and 2014, then a member of the USL, and together they helped the Lions capture the 2013 league championship and 2014 Commissioner’s Cup, awarded to the club with the best regular season record. He finished his time in Orlando with 26 appearances and three goals.

In 2013, Burke played 1,526 minutes, scored two goals and notched four assists before a midseason injury kept him off the field for the remainder of the year. Burke also made an impact in U.S. Open Cup play that year, scoring in the fourth minute to set the tone for a 3-1 upset win over Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids.

Prior to joining Orlando City, Burke scored four goals in 19 appearances with the USL’s Los Angeles Blues (now named Orange County Blues FC) in 2012 and earned the USL Premier Development League Most Valuable Player award with the Kitsap Pumas in 2011. Burke was also four-year letterwinner at NCAA Division I school University of San Francisco, where he emerged as a dynamic playmaker and earned All-West Coast Conference Second Team honors three-straight years from 2008-10.

The Armada will start preseason training in mid-January and play a friendly against MLS’s Philadelphia Union at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6 in at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.