United City plants football flag in New Clark City

Left: Arrey A. Perez (BCDA)
Right: Eric M. Gottschalk (UCFC)

United City Football Club has found a new home.

The defending Philippines Football League champions has selected New Clark City in Pampanga as its future base of operations on Monday.

UCFC President and Co-Founder Eric Gottschalk shares, "This is a historic day for all of us within the organization as we are finally able to announce New Clark City as our permanent home. This has been in the works for several months, and we would like to thank Vivencio B. Dizon, President & CEO of BCDA (Base Conversion and Development Authority), and his team for their support in bringing professional football to the Province of Pampanga and New Clark City."

Gottschalk adds, "Our move to Pampanga has a lot to do with the already existing sports mentality within the community, especially the love for football, and since the PBA has no foothold in Clark, UCFC will be the only professional sports franchise in the province."

The club already has plans in place, as Gottschalk notes, "Our community work will start right away with many plans already developed. The UCFC football academy will take shape before the end of 2021, and we continue to finalize the location for our future football stadium."

Serving as the temporary home of UCFC will be the New Clark City Stadium, the 20,000-seat athletics stadium that served as the central hub of the 30th SEA Games in 2019. Plans are set to host its first match at the venue in early August, once the AFC Champions League campaign in Uzbekistan has been completed.

In addition, the club already has identified a prime location to break ground for their future stadium, with only the necessary paperwork needed to be completed before it is made official.

To mark the move and reflect its commitment to its new community, UCFC will also embark on a name change effective after the conclusion of the 2021 PFL season, becoming United Clark Football Club in the process. The change will also be reflected on its crest, as well.

UCFC becomes the latest crown jewel for New Clark City and its ambition to become the Philippines' sports hub. Having hosted the SEA Games, it also is set to host the final qualifying window for the FIBA Asia Cup, and is also set to host a couple more major competitions later this year.