Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has signed defender Sam Strong ahead of its inaugural 2022 season.
Strong’s professional career began in 2018 with former USL Championship club Fresno FC ahead of its inaugural season. While in Fresno, Strong connected with current Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop, who was the General Manager for the Foxes at the time. The central defender made 17 appearances in two seasons for the side.
In 2020, the 25-year-old made the move to Connecticut to join Championship club Hartford Athletic, where he scored two goals in 13 appearances. Strong then returned to California as a member of San Diego 1904 FC, a National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) club. Strong went on to score in his debut in a 3-2 victory over Maryland Bobcats FC on August 8, 2021.
“Sam is an aggressive center back who’s had some experience in the USL Championship,” explained Yallop. “I’m looking forward to working with him.”
The Santa Barbara, California native now joins Monterey Bay F.C. in advance of the club’s first campaign in the USL Championship.
“I’m obviously very excited to join Monterey Bay F.C.,” said Strong. “I’m looking forward to playing with the boys, to playing for Frank and to playing for such a great community.”
Player Information:
Name: Sam Strong
Position: Defender
Age: 25
Height: 6’3”
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California
Monterey Bay F.C. roster as of February 14, 2022: (16)
Goalkeepers:
Dallas Jaye (Danville, California)
Rafael Díaz (Paterson, New Jersey)
Defenders:
Morey Doner (Collingwood, Ontario)
Hugh Roberts (Olney, Maryland)
Grant Robinson (Columbia, Maryland)
Kai Greene (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Sam Strong (Santa Barbara, California)
Midfielders:
James Murphy (Scotch Plains, New Jersey)
Arun Basuljevic (Bronx, New York)
Mobi Fehr (New York, New York)
Forwards:
Walmer Martínez (Santa Cruz, California)
Chase Boone (Beaverton, Oregon)
Seku Conneh (Voinjama, Liberia)
Christian Volesky (Henderson, Nevada)
Christoper Cortez (Mission Viejo, California)
Jesse Maldonado (Chandler, Arizona)
