One of the top strikers in the North American Soccer League will be joining the Carolina RailHawks for the 2013 season. Veteran forward, Nicholas Addlery, has signed with the RailHawks after four seasons playing for NASL rival Puerto Rico Islanders.  Addlery is added to an explosive RailHawks offense that finished with 44 goals and will return their top 5 goal scorers.

“Nick is a proven striker and has been one of the top players in the league,” said RailHawks Head Coach Colin Clarke.  “He will be a great addition to our attack and be a leader on and off the field.  Nick was a consistent presence in the community in Puerto Rico and I know he will be heavily involved in the Triangle community.”

Addlery, a Jamaican international, has enjoyed an illustrious career that includes championships with the Vancouver Whitecaps (2008), USSF-D2 (2010) & CFU Championships (2010, 2011) with Puerto Rico, and the MLS Supporters Shield (2007) with DC United. While with the Islanders, Addlery has appeared in over 100 matches and tallying 48 goals, finishing 2012 as a top 5 goal scorer in the NASL.  Addlery had the honor of representing Jamaica on the international level with 6 caps.

“As I leave the Islanders, I am elated to be joining the Carolina RailHawks, one of the best organizations in the league,” said Addlery.  “I look forward to reuniting with the greatest coach in the league [in Colin Clarke], being a part of this storied franchise and a positive role model in the community. My sights are set on helping the team to the 2013 NASL Bowl.”

Addlery has spent his time off the field giving back to the community, particularly through the Fundación Hogar Niñito Jesús, a shelter for children ages 0 to seven years old. For nearly two decades the Fundación Hogar Niñito Jesús have provided protection services to minors removed from their homes by the Department of the Family.

Addlery and his RailHawks teammates will open the NASL Spring Season on Saturday, April 13 with the Grand Opening of the New WakeMed Soccer Park as the RailHawks host league foe FC Edmonton. On February 24, the RailHawks will host, 2012 MLS Playoff participant, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in the 5th Annual Hilton Garden Inn Community Shield Match. RailHawks 2013 Season Tickets and the Whitecaps 3-Pack are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the St. Lawrence Homes Box Office at 919-459-8144 or emailing tickets@CarolinaRailHawks.com.  Additional information on 2013 ticket packages is available by visiting www.CarolinaRailHawks.com/STH.  In November 2011, the Carolina RailHawks announced that it will donate 10% of its total ticket revenue for each of the 2013-2015 seasons back to the Triangle community.  The RailHawks donation will focus on supporting soccer-related programs that will help to further build and strengthen soccer in our area.