Bethlehem Steel FC sign three players

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Three new faces have been recently announced by Bethlehem Steel FC as the newest players to join the team ahead of their opening season in the USL. With the team announcing a staff addition earlier on, it’s fair to say that the Steel are making a lot of waves ahead of their inaugural USL season.

Smartly, the team have signed a player from each outfield position. A defender, a midifelder and a forward. The motives of the team are also becoming a lot clearer with two players aged under 21 and the other amassing the most minutes in Sacramento Republic FC’s history. Youth and building for the future is the vision whilst adding an experienced player to lead from the Defense and mentor the next generation.

The three players in question are Micheal Daly, Gabe Gissie and Bolu Akinyode.

Micheal Daly is the vet of the three with the 28 year old appearing in 33 games in total last season for Sacramento.

19 year old Gabe Gissie is a very smart signing. Not only did the 19 year old play in 33 games for his team last season, that team was also Republic FC meaning that he will already have great chemistry with Daly. The youngest player to ever score a USL goal joins the Steel having experienced a final and the USL for two years.

21 year old Akinyode signs from the New York Red Bulls affiliate side.  Having started 10 games last season, the striker is looking to emerge as a dominant force this season after helping his team to the playoffs.

In a press release from the team, head coach Brendan Burke stated the following: “We think he will be an immediate contributor to our squad and look forward to getting him down to Philadelphia to start training in a few months.”

A short bio of the three new signings can be seen here, but you can find out more in the official press release (in which this information and quotes were sourced) here

Micheal Daly

Position: Defender
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
Born: June 4, 1987
Birthplace: Sonoma, Calif.
Hometown: Sonoma, Calif.
Nationality: United States

Gabe Gissie:

Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Born: November 23, 1996
Birthplace: Monrovia, Liberia
Hometown: Loganton, Pa. 
Nationality: Liberia

Bolu Akinyode

Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Born: May 30, 1994
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Nationality: Nigeria