New Saint Louis FC Signee Jonathan Barden Played For Ottawa Fury FC Last Season

Sam Fink on This Is Silly!, Plewa Joins Real Monarchs

Saint Louis FC announced another addition to the 2018 roster Monday with the signing of defender Jonathon Barden. The defender spent last season in Canada with Otttawa Fury FC. Fans of the local United Soccer League club may remember some of his work from last season.

Barden is the latest signing by the club this offseason. The club will begin its fourth season in the United Soccer League (USL), the second tier of professional soccer in the United States, in March.

STLFC will enter the 2018 USL campaign under first-year head coach Anthony Pulis, who takes over for the departed Preki.

Jonathan Barden appeared in 27 matches for Ottawa last season, recording a lone goal. That goal, of course came against Saint Louis FC.

Officially listed as a midfielder/defender, he showed off his offensive skills in the 38th minute on September 3 in Ottawa. Barden beat STLFC’s Ryan Howe along the sideline before dribbling into the penalty area. He made a quick move to avoid a sliding Ivan Mirkovic before beating Devala Gorrick on the short side.

.@jbarden100 has signed with @SaintLouisFC.

Remember this goal he had against his new side in Week 24?#USL Story ↓https://t.co/NK7cQVLM3n pic.twitter.com/pITEUkPOpa

— USL (@USL) December 18, 2017

Barden grew up in Harrow, England and spent his youth years playing in West London for the Wealdstone FC youth system.

His soccer career brought him stateside in 2011 to play collegiately at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He made 65 starts over four years for the Dukes program.

Off To Iceland To Play Professionally

While in college Barden played for the Ottawa Fury, then of the Premier Development League. After college, his first professional contract was with Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja in Iceland’s top league, the Pepsi-deild karla or  Icelandic Men’s Premier League.

IBV, as it is more commonly known, plays in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. The town is  off the southern coast of Iceland, in case you aren’t familiar with the country and think it is covered in ice. The town is comprised of a group of islands off the coast, six of which are only home to a single hunting cabin each.

After two years of playing in Iceland, Barden returned to North America to rejoin the team in Ottawa, now known as Ottawa Fury FC and playing in the United Soccer League.

Despite playing soccer away from England since 2011, Barden still maintains his accent, as you can tell from his interview last year discussing his goal against Saint Louis.

Jonathan Barden talks about his goal vs Saint Louis FC

 

“The Fans In St. Louis Are Some Of The Best”

Barden is excited to play for coach Pulis and in front of the St. Louis fans.

“I’m delighted to have signed with Saint Louis FC,” said Barden. “Anthony is a really ambitious manager and he is assembling a great squad that I cannot wait to join.  Also, the fans in St. Louis are some of the best in the league so I’m excited to play in front of them and bring the success they undoubtedly deserve this season.”

 

 

Excited to announce my signing for @saintlouisfc! Can’t wait to get going with the 2018 season and to play in front of some of the best fans in the league!

A post shared by Jonathan Barden (@jonathanbarden) on Dec 18, 2017 at 1:15pm PST

Fink To Join This Is Silly! Podcast

Sam Fink will be featured on the latest episode of the This Is Silly! podcast with the St. Louiligans. The characters, some would call them stooges, behind the podcast and Twitter account announced on the social media platform today that they would be recording the episode with Fink on Wednesday evening.

Look for the episode to become available on Thursday morning wherever the best podcasts are listened to or at StLouligans.com

Plewa Signs With Real Monarchs

Former Saint Louis FC defender Konrad Plewa will be taking his talents to Herriman, Utah as he has signed a deal with Real Monarchs SLC. Plewa made 20 appearances for Preki last season in St. Louis.

Plewa came to St. Louis last offseason after winning the USL Cup with New York Red Bulls II the previous season. The Polish defender is a little over a year removed from suffering a stroke after returning from a NYRBII road trip in 2016.

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