Well my expectations were high when I learned that Ian Joy would be coming back to the US, I hoped that there would be room on the RSL roster for him but it simply wasn't to be.

That doesn't mean that Ian is unemployed as he has spent the last several days with the Portland Timbers and today it was announced that Ian will be playing in 2010 for the US Soccer 2nd divisions Portland Timbers:

At the age of 14, Joy started his career in the youth academy of English Premier League club Manchester United. After making his professional debut with Scottish side Montrose FC during the 2000-01 season, Joy went on to play for England’s Kidderminster Harriers (2001-03) and Germany’s Hamburger SV Reserves (2003-05) before landing with German 2.Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli, where he played for four seasons from 2004-08 and helped the club earn a promotion.

In 2008, Joy moved his career to the United States, signing with Real Salt Lake. He played in 19 games during his first season in Salt Lake and helped the club to its first playoff appearance, reaching the Western Conference final. An injury limited Joy to just one MLS game in 2009, and he returned to Germany in July to play for Ingolstadt 04.

Joy represented the United States at the U-17, U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels. In total, he made 55 appearances with U.S. Youth National Teams and scored four goals. 

The Timbers open the 2010 campaign on Saturday, April 17, at PGE Park as they play host to the Rochester Rhinos at 7 p.m. Convenient and affordable season ticket packages start at $96 and are available by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555. Purchasing a 2010 season-ticket package or making a $50 per-seat deposit towards 2011 MLS season tickets guarantees priority status for season tickets for the Timbers inaugural MLS season in 2011.

I like Ian Joy as a player and as a person and I wish him well, and hopefully he will impress enough that when Portland starts to work on their 2011 MLS roster that Ian will still be there.

OFF MY SOAPBOX