WASHINGTON, D.C. - D.C. United announced today that goalkeeper Troy Perkins has joined English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers FC for a 10-day training assignment. Perkins arrived in England on Monday and has been training with Bolton's first team. He is scheduled to join the Black-and-Red on January 28th to begin pre-season training for the start of the 2005 campaign. Bolton are currently in 11th place in the Premiership, registering 30 points from their first 23 games.
"This is a great opportunity for Troy to get some solid training at Bolton before our pre-season begins," said United Technical Director Dave Kasper.
Perkins joined the Black-and-Red as an undrafted rookie in March 2004 and quickly became one of the unsung heroes of United's season. Perkins backstopped United to their first road win of the year with a clean sheet in only his second match of the season, a 1-0 win over New England on May 29th. He finished the campaign with three shutouts and a 1.63 goals-against average in 16 League appearances.
Prior to joining United, Perkins backstopped the Cape Cod Crusaders of the Premier Development League (PDL) to the club's first national championship in 2003. In 2002, his .87 goals against average was the second lowest in the PDL.
Perkins completed his college career at the University of Evansville in 2003, where he played every minute of every match for the Purple Aces. Perkins allowed only 21 goals in 19 matches, compiling a 1.09 goals-against average. In 2002, he earned second-team All-Conference USA honors for the University of South Florida, keeping seven clean sheets on the campaign. He was also honored twice as the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week, first against Saint Louis University, as his four saves helped the Bulls snap SLU's nine-game winning streak. In 2001, Perkins was named to the third team All-Conference USA.
