Reigning PFL champ now known as United Clark

United City is now United Clark. UCFC

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The club that has won every PFL championship since its inception in 2017 is taking its talents up north.

United City announced on Monday that it will now be known as United Clark for the upcoming season after sealing an agreement with the Bases Conversion Development Authority to have the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles as the site of its new stadium.

"This is a historic day for all of us within the organization as we are finally able to announce Clark as our permanent home. This has been in the works for several months, and we would like to thank Vivencio B. Dizon, president and CEO of BCDA, and his team for their support in bringing professional football to Clark," club owner Eric Gottschalk said.

The former Ceres Negros club's move to Angeles from Bacolod makes it the third team to represent Pampanga in a regional league after the MPBL's Pampanga Giant Lanterns, who also call Angeles their home, and the NBL's Pampanga Delta.

"Our move to Pampanga has a lot to do with the already existing sports mentality within the community, especially the love for football," Gottschalk continued.

Currently, plans are now underway about the construction of the stadium that United Clark will call home.

"We have already identified a prime location, and we are just waiting to complete the paperwork before the plot will also be announced," Gottschalk said on the construction update.

He then revealed to Dugout Philippines that the club's new stadium will be built just near the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

The stadium is expected to be opened before the end of 2023.

In the meantime, the club will use the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Capas, Tarlac as its temporary home.

"Our inaugural friendly match [is] planned for early August," Gottschalk bared, barring new developments in the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the other hand, Gottschalk revealed that the United Clark's football academy is scheduled to be finished before 2021 ends.

United Clark will first see action in the AFC Champions League group stages later this month before it defends its PFL title later in the year.

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