Now Minnesota United’s affiliate, Forward Madison FC builds for inaugural season

Everything is starting to shape up for Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season.

After revealing the brand’s identity (think pink!) last month and the club’s partnership with Minnesota United on Friday, the Flamingos have immediately begun building for the 2019 season, which they’ll play in USL League One, the new American third division.

Madison opted for experience in their first player signing, which actually came back in October. Attacking midfielder Don Smart, a Jamaican who has made a career in USL, joined the team as a free agent. “He has the ability to both score and assist, but it’s his overall qualities on both sides of the ball that fans will be most excited about,” said manager and technical director Daryl Shore in the club’s release.

The Flamingos added another attacker as their second player in Ecuadorian Danny Tenorio. “Danny is an exciting attacking player who can play as a 10 or out wide because he is calm on the ball and looks to involve the players around him,” Shore said in the club’s release. Tenorio spent time with various clubs in Ecuador before moving to Florida and eventually Madison.

Madison’s third signing was a familiar face for Shore, as Jeff Michaud, a midfielder, hopped aboard. Michaud played for Shore when the two won the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) championship with The Miami FC 2 earlier this year. Shore described Michaud as a “hard-working, two-way midfielder” who can also score.

The Flamingos’ most recent signing may well be their most attention-grabbing: Panamanian international Josiel Núñez. An attacking midfielder with fourteen caps for his country, Núñez joins from CD Universitario in Panama. “For us to get a player who has been capped with his national team like Josiel has is a testament to what our entire organization is trying to achieve both on and off of the field,” Shore said in the release. “Josiel’s experience playing for Panama will bring a tremendous amount of quality to our team.”

Madison also released the information for its first-ever home match. The Flamingos will open their home campaign against Greenville Triumph SC on April 27 at Breese Stevens Field. The USL League One season will begin March 29.

Interested in covering Forward Madison FC? We’re looking for a Madison-area contributor to join our team — check out the details here.