Preseason Friendly

Forward Madison FC vs Indy Eleven

Friday, February 22, 2019 – 2:00 P.M. CST

Sportscore II – Rockford, IL

Where to Watch

Closed-door friendly

Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for updates

Indy Eleven, a friendly foe for Madison

Forward Madison FC will kick off its first-ever closed-door exhibition match this Friday afternoon when it takes on Indy Eleven of the USL Championship in Rockford, IL. The match marks the first opportunity for Head Coach Daryl Shore to put his 16 signed players in a game setting, along with several trialists who have also made the trip.

It's somewhat fitting that Indy Eleven will be Forward Madison's first non-competitive opponent due to the friendly ties already established between the clubs. FMFC Managing Director Peter Wilt helped establish Indy in 2013, and served as the team's president until midway through the 2016 season. Don Smart, Forward Madison's first signing, is also a beloved figure in Indianapolis, having made 101 appearances for the club between 2014-17 and earning the nickname "Mr. Indy." Finally, winger Paulo Jr. is also a recognized name from his short stint for the Crossroads Club in 2017.

Shore, who continues to build Forward Madison's inaugural roster, will likely use the friendly as a chance to see how his players perform together as a unit. The team has thus far signed players in 10 of the 11 typical starting positions, missing only a second center back at this point.

Following the Indy Eleven friendly, FMFC will travel down to St. Louis for games against St. Louis FC and St. Louis University. Forward Madison also recently announced the addition of an April exhibition against UW-Madison at Breese Stevens Field, with tickets set to go on sale soon.

Indy Eleven finished 7th in the USL Championship Eastern Conference during the 2018 season, earning a trip to the playoffs. The team is coached by Martin Rennie, who previously managed Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.

Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season is nearly here! The team will kick off its first-ever game on April 6 in Chattanooga, and open at home on April 27 vs Greenville Triumph SC. Get tickets to see Forward Madison’s inaugural season at: https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/tickets.