Spokane, WA – The Spokane Velocity FC is adding more depth to its already deep roster, signing four new players who have extensive USL, MLS, and international experience.
Midfielder Andre Lewis won a Jamaican Premier League Championship with Portmore United. Defender Ahmed Longmire was the No. 10 pick in the 2022 MLS Superdraft. Winger Pierre Reedy is a former All-American from Penn State. Goalkeeper Peter Swinkels comes with experience from USL League One’s One Knoxville SC. All are joining the Spokane Velocity FC for the 2024 season, pending league and federation approval.
Andre Lewis
Position: Midfielder
Jersey: 77
Hometown: Portmore St. Catherine, Jamaica
Age: 29
Jamaican midfielder Andre Lewis spent the past two seasons with the Hartford Athletic, where he finished the top 10 in most offensive categories both years, including goals (8), assists (6), shots (42), shots on target (21) and chances created (70). He had 50 starts on 61 appearances for 2,304 minutes. He spent the previous two seasons with the Colorado Switchbacks FC, where he contributed six goals and five assists in 40 games and 28 starts.
A former No. 7 draft pick in the 2014 MLS Superdraft for the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS, Andre began his career with Portmore United of the Jamaican Premier League. Upon coming to MLS, he spent time with Charleston Battery of USL Championship, as well as with the reserve squads of MLS teams the Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers. He also played with the Jamaican national program at the youth and senior levels. In 2019, he returned to Jamaica for a season and helped his old team, Portmore, win the Jamaica National Premier League.
“Andre is a great addition to our midfield and will bring a lot of energy and attacking threat to our team,” said Velocity coach Leigh Veidman. “He has an excellent ability on the ball, a fantastic work ethic box to box, and has a real tenacity defensively. His vast experience in the USL and with his national team Jamaica will be a huge asset in the locker room.”
Ahmed Longmire
Position: Center back
Jersey: 21
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Age: 24
Ahmed Longmire was the 10th pick in the 2022 MLS Superdraft, going to Nashville FC. He made his professional debut in 2022 while on loan to Orange County FC of USL Championship, where he appeared in five matches, starting three.
He spent 2023 with Huntsville City FC, Nashville’s MLS Next Pro affiliate. He started eight matches and appeared in 11, generating a passing percentage rate of 88.8%. The Las Vegas native played two years at Utah Valley college, where he played in 39 matches and earned First-team All-WAC honors. Longmire finished his college career at UCLA, appearing in 20 matches over two seasons. During the 2020-21 season he logged a team-high 1,121 minutes and won All Pac-12 honors both seasons.
“Ahmed is still fairly young but brings good experiences from the MLS and USL Championship,” said Velocity coach Leigh Veidman. “He is a center back who brings a physical prowess to our back line, technically good on the ball, and will be a key figure in us implementing our style of play. We are delighted to have him joining us!”
Pierre Reedy
Position: Winger
Jersey: 11
Hometown: Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Age: 26
Pierre Reedy had a standout career at Penn State University, where he had 64 career starts on 69 appearances. He was team captain for three seasons, and left school with nine career goals and 12 assists. His play for the Nittany Lions earned him All-American and All-Big 10 honors.
At the conclusion of his college career, he signed a MLS Next Pro contract in 2021 with Real Monarchs, the development team affiliated with Real Salt Lake. In 18 games, including one with Real Salt Lake, he played 1,324 minutes and made an assist. He left Utah after the season ended and went to Scotland, where he played for Dundee FC on a short-term contract. The season ended with Dundee and Reedy winning the Scottish Championship and securing promotion to Scottish Premiership. Reedy played last season for Charleston Battery of USL Championship, where he made 13 appearances.
“Pierre brings everything we are looking for in a person and a player. He is a great guy off the pitch but comes from a locker room that knows what it takes to be successful,” said Velocity
coach Leigh Veidman. “He brings a fierce competitiveness, a dynamic attacking mindset, and is an extremely hard-working individual when it comes to defending and doing the work that often goes under the radar. He is a great addition to our club and community!”
Peter Swinkels
Position: Goalkeeper
Jersey: 13
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Age: 26
Peter Swinkels had a standout career at San Francisco State, where he notched 17 shutouts in 42 games and won California Collegiate Athletic Association accolades in three out of his four seasons. He also competed on the school’s track team and spent summers playing with San Francisco FC of USL League Two. He spent a final collegiate season as a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire before signing with One Knoxville when it was a semi-pro USL League Two team. His play that year helped One Knox move up to the professional ranks of USL League One, and Swinkels signed for a second season with the team. He appeared in four matches in the 2023 season.
“Peter is a great guy and comes off the back of two years of experience in the USL, he is going to bring a real competitive edge to our team and more specifically the goalkeeping department,” said coach Leigh Veidman. “We are delighted to have Peter joining our club and community.”
