Back to the Philadelphia Union Newsfeed

Derrick Jones becomes first player to go from Union Academy to starting for the Union

When the opening whistle blew and the Union’s 2017 season officially started, Derrick Jones made history.

Jones became the first player in Union history to make a start at all three organizational levels. Jones joined the Union family as a member of the Union Academy, where he trained and attended school. From there, Jones became a member of Bethlehem Steel FC, the Union’s USL affiliate. And this season, he wasn’t just a member of the traveling 18, but he was a starter, becoming the first player to ever start a game at all three levels as a homegrown player.