Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union II is an American professional soccer team based in Chester, Pennsylvania, competing in MLS Next Pro. Founded in 2015 as Bethlehem Steel FC, the club serves as the official affiliate of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. The team plays at Subaru Park and has experienced significant evolution throughout its history, including a name change in 2020 and a transition from USL Championship to MLS Next Pro in 2022. Their most notable recent achievement was winning the 2024 MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference Championship.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Philadelphia Union II operates as a reserve team designed to bridge the gap in player development between youth academy and professional soccer. The club's primary purpose is to provide a developmental pathway for players transitioning from high school and college to professional soccer. The team's colors are navy blue and gold, maintaining a connection to both the original Bethlehem Steel F.C. and their parent club.
Most recent season and achievements
The club achieved significant success in 2024 by winning the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference Championship, marking their most notable accomplishment since joining the league in 2022.
History
Early years
The formation of Philadelphia Union II began with the formalized partnership between United Soccer League and Major League Soccer in 2013, which encouraged MLS teams to create their own development teams. In June 2015, the Philadelphia Union surveyed fans about interest in fielding a USL team. Following positive feedback, the club officially announced the creation of a team to play in the Lehigh Valley on August 19, 2015, making the Union the ninth MLS team to independently own and operate a USL club. This announcement also ended their previous affiliation with Penn FC, established in 2010.
The team name "Bethlehem Steel FC" was chosen through a fan poll, honoring the historical team that played from 1907 to 1930. Brendan Burke was hired as the first head coach on October 29, 2015, and made his first signing with Derrick Jones, a Union Academy player, on December 3, 2015.
Successful period
The inaugural 2016 season featured a roster combining USL veterans like Mickey Daly, Ryan Richter, and Bolu Akinyode with Philadelphia Union draft picks including Josh Yaro and Fabian Herbers, plus international players James Chambers and Cory Burke. Despite showing promise, the team struggled in the final stretch, going winless in their last 12 matches.
In 2017, when USL received provisional Division II status, Steel FC improved significantly. The emergence of Seku Conneh and Cory Burke as scoring threats helped the team double their previous season's win total, finish 8th in the Eastern Conference, and earn their first playoff appearance.
The 2018 season marked their best performance to date, with the team earning 50 points and 14 wins, finishing 6th in the Eastern Conference. They won their first playoff match against in-state rivals Pittsburgh Riverhounds before advancing to the Conference Semi-finals, where they lost to eventual 2018 USL Champions Louisville City FC.
Crisis and recovery
At the conclusion of the 2018 season, Bethlehem Steel announced relocation to Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, due to Goodman Stadium's lack of lighting and non-compliance with USL requirements. On December 12, 2019, the club announced a name change to Philadelphia Union II for the 2020 season. However, on October 16, 2020, the Union announced that Union II would be withdrawn from USL Championship and did not compete in 2021.
Current period
The club announced on December 6, 2021, that it would join the inaugural 21-team MLS Next Pro for the 2022 season, marking a new chapter in the organization's development.
Achievements and Honors
Continental and global competitions
MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference Champions (Playoffs): 2024
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The original Bethlehem Steel FC crest was officially announced on October 27, 2015, during a ceremony at ArtsQuest at SteelStacks. The elongated crest represents the foundation of a new player development program and extension of the Union brand. Gold rivets symbolize the relationship between the Bethlehem and Philadelphia clubs. The Union's rattlesnake alludes to the "Join, or Die" political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin featured in the 1754 Pennsylvania Gazette and is reminiscent of the Gadsden flag. The red beam in the middle pays tribute to the original Bethlehem Steel F.C. logo. In 2016, the crest earned third place recognition for "2016 Primary Logo of the Year."
Traditional home and away kits colors
The club's colors are navy blue, gold, and red, combining the primary colors of both the original Bethlehem Steel F.C. and the Philadelphia Union. In February 2013, before sponsoring the USL team, the Philadelphia Union commemorated the original Bethlehem Steel F.C. with a third kit featuring a black jersey with white trim, a sublimated Union logo, and a Steel F.C. jock tag.
Traditional Rivals
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Philadelphia Union II competed against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds as one of three USL teams in Pennsylvania. The teams faced each other in playoff competition, with Union II defeating the Riverhounds in their first playoff match victory in 2018.
Penn FC
Penn FC (formerly Harrisburg City Islanders) was another Pennsylvania-based rival. Penn FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds compete for the Keystone Derby Cup, which excludes Philadelphia Union II.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Nicknames
The team was originally known as "Steel FC," alluding to the historical Bethlehem Steel F.C. that played from 1907 to 1930, named after the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, once the second-largest steel producer and largest shipbuilder in the United States.
Stadium
Philadelphia Union II plays home matches at Subaru Park in Chester, also home to the Philadelphia Union. Previously, they played at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem for three seasons. The team practices at training fields next to Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Traditions and culture
After the creation of Bethlehem Steel FC, supporters organized through Facebook to form the East End Army, the official supporters group. They supported the team from the lower bowl section of Goodman Stadium, dubbed "the Forge." The official pub partner for Philadelphia Union II was Golazo House located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.