Following the news of local USL side Orange County Blues rebranding on Friday as Orange County SC, came more news, regarding the roster for the 2017 season, with three players announced. Dutch winger Jerry van Ewijk joins the club alongside returning midfielders Richard Chaplow and Dusan Stevanovic.

Van Ewijk, 24, joins OCSC after spending his career in his native Netherlands. Starting with then-second tier AGOVV Apeldoorn in 2011, he moved to De Graafschap in 2012, staying with the side until 2015, when he moved to Go Ahead Eagles.

Chaplow returns to the team after joining OC in Aug. 2016. The England midfielder was part of the corps of midseason signings that boosted the team, propelling them to the playoffs on the final day of the season and in turn to winning the first playoff game in club history.

The 31-year-old was undoubtedly a key cog in the team last year, but he was also involved in the biggest controversy of the season, when Robbie Rogers accused Chaplow of repeatedly using a homophobic slur at him during a game. Investigations on several levels ensued, with Chaplow denying the charge but being suspended two games by USL for vaguely worded allusions to bad language. As a result, the decision to bring him back will likely be considered controversial in some corners.

A much quieter presence on the team in 2016 was Stevanovic, who earned a contract last season from the open tryout and lasted the entire season with the team. The 24-year-old had some experience playing professionally in Serbia, where he was born, but Stevanovic also grew up in Orange County and is therefore a local product.

So the first three players for the 2017 season are now officially announced. Expect another 20 or so to come down in the next two months.

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