Project 51O

Oakland Roots Sports Club have added six players from Project 51O to the first team on Academy Contracts. The group includes four receiving an Academy Contract for a second consecutive year in, midfielder Javier Bedolla-Vera, goalkeeper Edwin Rodriguez, defender Damario McIntosh, and forward Etsgar Cruz. Joining them on Academy Contracts for 2023 are defender Thomas Camier and goalkeeper Adan Corona.   

“These young men have taken advantage of their opportunities with Project 51O and in training with the first team over the past year,” said Oakland Roots SC Technical Director Jordan Ferrell. “This is a reward for their dedication and work ethic. We are very proud of the first full season of Project 51O’s development of local young players and relationships we’ve grown with the soccer landscape here in the East Bay and across Northern California.”

The average age of this group is under 17-years-old. Javier Bedolla-Vera and Damario McIntosh are 15-years-old, Edwin Rodriguez is 16-years-old, Etsgar Cruz and Adan Corona are 17-years-old, and Thomas Camier is 18-years-old. The Academy Contract group will wear the following numbers for Oakland Roots SC; 34. McIntosh, 38. Cruz, 39. Bedolla-Vera, 50. Camier, 61. Rodriguez, and 62. Corona. 

Congratulations to all six, this is what we mean when we say #51GROW.

Project 51O, USL League Two side, has qualified for the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup by finishing top in the Southwest Division in their 2022 campaign. Project 51O has been drawn against Crossfire Premier in Round 1 with the match to take place at 7PM PT at Ohlone College on March 22nd. 

“We can’t wait to take part in one of the most prestigious soccer tournaments in the United States,” said Project 51O Head Coach Dannylo Ayllon. “Getting the opportunity to test ourselves and represent Oakland against other top teams from our region and hopefully down the road against a professional side is one that we can’t wait for.” 

This will be Oakland Roots SC development side’s first appearance in the over 100-year-old tournament. 

Ticketing details to follow.

#51GROW

Oakland Roots Sports Club and Project 51O announce new Project 51O Head Coach Dannylo Ayllon. Coach Ayllon is a product of Oakland and the East Bay having most recently served as Assistant Coach for Project 51O and San Francisco State University, as well as being a mentor and Head Coach for East Bay United Bay Oaks for over 10 years. Dannylo Ayllon will also serve as 2nd Assistant Coach for Oakland Roots SC Head Coach, Noah Delagdo.

“Dannylo has shown a level of maturity, commitment, and growth within our environment that earned him this job,” said Roots Technical Director Jordan Ferrell. “He has been committed to local youth development in the East Bay for years and knows the youth game in the 51O area well. The integration from Project 51O is starting to come to fruition and we know Dannylo will continue that.” 

Coach Ayllon was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and raised in Oakland and Alameda, California. He is a graduate of Cal State University East Bay and holds a USSF B License. 

“Oakland Roots is special to me as someone raised in the East Bay who knows what this City represents. To be a part of such a special club means more than I can explain,” said new Project 51O Head Coach Dannylo Ayllon. “I can’t wait to continue the work to develop the next generation of 510 talent and can’t wait to get started.”

Project 51O’s previous part-time Head Coach, Michael Hannon, will continue with the club focusing efforts on domestic scouting for Roots Recognize Initiative and the first team.

#51GROW

Project 51O 2023 Season:

News regarding the USL League Two Season is in the works. Additionally, Project 51O will take part in the UPSL Spring Season with details to follow. 

Oakland Roots SC announce the signing of Project 51O’s Vice Captain and Manteca, California native, Daniel Gomez. His signing marks the first player to come through the USL League Two Project 51O team into the USL Championship first team and the third player to play for Project 51O and sign a professional first team contract following Joseph Restani and Tarn Weir. 

“It is exciting for everyone involved with our club to see Daniel take his opportunity with Project 51O and not only become a leader for that team but turn it into an opportunity with the first team,” said Oakland Roots Technical Director Jordan Ferrell. “The system we have implemented with Project 51O is truly growing as we see more local Northern California kids stepping into the professional ranks.”

Gomez is a midfield product out of CSU Stanislaus in California’s Central Valley. 

Congratulations, Daniel. 

What we mean when we say 51GROW.

Oakland, CA – Oakland Roots Sports Club reserve side Project 51O is set to take on Chivas de Guadalajara U20’s in a friendly on November 16th at James Logan High School in Union City, California. 

“We are excited to play the U-20’s from a top academy in North America,” said Project 51O Head Coach Mikey Hannon. “Whenever any side from Chivas comes to town you know it will be a special atmosphere and environment for our guys to play in. We can’t wait for November 16th and hope to see a lot of our fans out there.”

The game is open to the public by purchasing a ticket at Ticketon.com or by using the link below. 

About Oakland Roots 

Oakland Roots Sports Club seeks to harness the magic of Oakland and the power of sport as a force for social good. Whether on the pitch, in the stands, or within the community, Oakland Roots will represent our one-of-a-kind city with passion, pride, and commitment to all things Oakland. Player by player. Supporter by supporter. Resident by resident. One day at a time. One game at a time. This is about Oakland first, always. 

Roots Contact

Tommy Hodul, VP of PR and Communications
Tommy@rootssc.com

Project 51O clawed back from a two-goal halftime deficit to secure a 4-4 away draw against Vallejo Omega FC, in an exhilarating top-of-the-table clash in the UPSL’s NorCal division. The Team from The Town entered the match needing a single point to secure the division crown on rival territory, setting the stage for a grandstand finish to the regular season. 

It was the home side who came flying out of the gates, opening the scoring just before the quarter-hour mark with a composed low finish past 51O goalkeeper Adan Corona.

Omega would double their lead just 10 minutes later with another well-worked team goal, and in the 32nd minute of the match, a heavily deflected free-kick from 30 yards gave Omega a shocking three-goal advantage.

Just before the halftime whistle, skipper Javi Ruiz Duran teed up a speculative left-footed effort from outside the 18-yard box. The shot took a heavy deflection, just sneaking under the outstretched arm of Omega’s goalkeeper and into the back of the net, providing 51O with some much-needed momentum heading into a season-defining second half. 

As the sun set over the North Bay, and the floodlights illuminated the pitch, the Project got active. Javi Mariona cut the deficit to one with a rasping daisy cutter free kick that skimmed the turf on its way into the back of the net. Omega responded with a surge of energy, opening the game up into an end-to-end track meet, much to the enjoyment of the packed crowd at Dan Foley Park. The sustained pressure finally cracked 51O’s backline, and an Omega winger snuck in behind to dink over Corona, and restore the two-goal advantage.

Facing the most important twenty minutes of their season, 51O dug deep into their well of perseverance. Julian Valle turned his defender inside out and slid a ball across the six-yard line to the onrushing Luis Saldana, who tapped in to begin the comeback in earnest. The provider would become the finisher in the 80th minute of the match, as Valle equalized with a bullet header into the bottom left corner, giving 51O all the offense they would need on the night. The point secured consecutive USL League Two and UPSL Division titles for 51O, a remarkable achievement at the expense of older and more experienced opponents. 

Project 51O will await results from across the league to learn whom they will host in the first round of the UPSL Playoffs, slated for the weekend of November 11th. 

It was a two win weekend for Oakland, as Project 51O dispatched Elk Grove Blues by a score of 6 to 1 at the Oakland Roots Training Facility, hours before their parent club would shut out San Diego Loyal. Clear blue skies over The Town provided a picturesque backdrop for football, and the Project did not disappoint. 

After a foul near the 18-yard box was awarded to the visitors 5 minutes into the match, the resulting set piece snuck into the bottom corner, giving the one-win Blues a shock lead against the top team in the division. 

As has been the case after every setback this season, 51O roared back with a vengeance. The equalizer came courtesy of the effervescent Javi Mariona, making his return to the 51O setup after an extended period with the Roots first team. After Etsgar Cruz forced a giveaway just outside the box, Mariona pounced, jinking to the left with a scissor, and powering a finish over the right hand of the goalkeeper at the near post.

It was Estgar Cruz’s turn 15 minutes later, as the 17-year-old found himself on the end of a searching ball from the back line. After collecting himself, Cruz fired a right-footed finish across his body into the far left corner of the net, giving 51O the lead. Carlos Cruz would get in on the action just before the half-time whistle, capitalizing on yet another Blues mistake, and slotting in to give the Project a comfortable 3 to 1 advantage heading into the half. 

As the second half commenced, Mariona doubled his output for the match with a bar-down finish off a feed from Javi Bedolla Vera, before the game transitioned into a possession training exercise for 51O. After a lull in the action, a clumsy foul in the box gave Mariona the opportunity to grab his hat-trick. Although his initial effort was saved, the rebound fell to the feet of the Salvadoran, and he tapped in to make it 5-1. 

Aiden Vangelatos rounded off the scoring for the home side with a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner, securing yet another win for the Project, who now own a 9-match unbeaten streak. 

51O will conclude their regular season next Saturday away against Vallejo Omega FC, in the last match before the UPSL Playoffs begin. 

Project 51O continued their undefeated UPSL campaign Wednesday night with a comfortable 3-1 win over Davis Legacy. After clinching a playoff berth with a victory over Acoreano Sport in Modesto on Sunday, 51O faced a quick turnaround against their NorCal rivals, a fixture that was certainly marked by gaffer Mikey Hannon as a potential banana peel on short rest. 

It was Davis who struck first, with a towering header off a corner 13 minutes into the match. Despite the setback, 51O’s response was instantaneous, piling pressure onto the home side’s defense to great effect, yielding an equalizer just two minutes later.

After a classic back to front team move, Luis Saldaña followed up on a rasping drive, delicately dinking the ball over the helpless Davis goalkeeper, and tapping home for the easiest goal he’ll score all season, providing Project with a rapid-fire equalizer. 

Just one minute later, Tomas Caminos would give 51O the lead after yet another incredible display of possession football. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box after a dizzying array of passes, Caminos split two Davis defenders with a right-footed fake shot, before rifling a low, left-footed drive into the far right corner of the net, providing the Team from The Town with a lead they would not relinquish.

After the half-time break, the metronomic Randol Villa added an insurance goal, breaking forward from his pivot position in midfield. Following a lightning counter-attacking move, Saldaña committed a Davis defender on the dribble before dishing to Villa, who made no mistake with his finish, squeezing a near post strike past the onrushing goalkeeper in the 59th minute. 

51O would see out the remaining 30 minutes with relative ease, keeping the ball moving and causing the elder home side to chase shadows all over the pitch.

With the win, Project 51O consolidated its lead on the top of UPSL’s NorCal division, ahead of a closed-doors tilt against Elk Grove Blues this Sunday at the Oakland Roots Training Facility.