CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 22, 2019) – Chattanooga Red Wolves SC has signed Irish-American forward Conor Doyle to its USL League One team. Doyle will join the club for its inaugural season from NPSL’s Jacksonville Armada FC, pending league and federation approval.
“I’m very excited to be a part of the inaugural season here in Chattanooga. Hearing the amazing things about the city and seeing the roster that is being put together made it a fairly easy decision to make,” said Doyle.
Doyle brings international, EFL, USL and MLS experience to Chattanooga. He began his professional career in 2010 with Derby County FC of the EFL Championship.
“Doyle has experience at the highest levels of professional soccer and is a notable addition to our roster,” said Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Head Coach and Technical Director Tim Hankinson. “Combined with our other players with MLS and USL Championship-level experience, Doyle is strengthening our ability to compete and win within USL League One. This season will be an exciting one to watch.”
Doyle spent three seasons with Derby County, making 23 appearances, including matches in the English FA Cup, before being loaned, and later permanently acquired, by MLS side D.C. United. In 2013, he helped United secure the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship. During his three seasons with the club, he tallied 56 appearances and was featured in the CONCACAF Champions League for two consecutive seasons.
In 2016, Doyle was acquired by MLS side Colorado Rapids in exchange for a third-round pick at the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. After appearing in three matches for the Rapids, he was loaned to USL Championship’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. After rostering with the Switchbacks for the remainder of the 2016 season, Doyle signed with NASL’s Puerto Rico FC in 2017 and with Jacksonville Armada FC ahead of the 2018 season.
Doyle has made appearances for both Ireland U-21 and United States U-20 and U-23 teams. He is the 16th signing for the Chattanooga Red Wolves and the tenth signee with USL Championship experience.
In addition, two members of the Chattanooga Red Wolves roster were recently recognized as the most talented signees of USL League One. Out of the league’s 10 professional clubs, USL’s John Arlia ranked Eamon Zayed and Ualefi Rodrigues Dos Reis as the league’s top two players signed for the inaugural 2019 season.
“We are thrilled for Eamon and Ualefi to receive this recognition,” said team owner Bob Martino. “From the start, President Sean McDaniel and Head Coach Tim Hankinson have been committed to identifying and recruiting top-rated, talented players. We know the Red Wolves have the unparalleled talent to take us through the league’s first postseason, and it’s fantastic to see the soccer community and USL taking note of the impressive roster we are building.”
In a separate USL League One survey, Chattanooga Red Wolves Steven Beattie received 48 percent of the vote as the player that’s the biggest stand out.
The USL rankings follow a Sports Illustrated spotlight on the league overall, which outlined the USL’s growth through the debut of League One. Sports Illustrated linked the USL’s growth to the increasing soccer landscape in America and forecasted even more expansions before the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States.
For more information on Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, visit www.chattredwolves.com or follow the team on social media: @ChattRedWolves on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
