Know Your Blitzers: Jim Orvis and Sam Byles

[ ON SALE: 2016 season ticket packages ]

We’re just over a month away from the opening kick of FC Buffalo’s 2016 National Premier Soccer League season, which means you need to know a bit more about your 2016 Wolves.

We’ve still got plenty of player commitments to announce in the coming days and weeks, but we’ve posed some question to our first batch of commits in order to get to know them a bit better.

In the first batch of recruits, we learned a bit about Bayley Winkel and Andres Vega, as well as Keith Traut and Ian McGrath. Then we met Kieran Toland and Andrew Crawford, Isaiah Barrett and Ross Suitor, and goalkeepers Nick Jeffs and Steve Casey. Grand Island residents Troy Brady and Frank Cotroneo then joined St. Lawrence man Austin Dilts and longtime Blitzers player Kendell McFayden in the bio pages.

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JIM ORVIS

Jim has three goals and seven assists for Southampton Solent University after a youth spent between Cambridge United and Northampton Town amongst other stops.

orvisBest soccer memory: Scoring the 94th minute winning goal in FA Youth Cup (U18s) to win 2-1. Great feeling.

Favorite club player: Andres Iniesta

Clubs prior to college: Team Solent, Soham Town Rangers, Cambridge United FC, Northampton Town FC

Favorite food from home: Steak, chicken, curry & chili con carne

Hobbies? Gym, football, golf, basketball, cricket, socializing with friends, movies & TV shows.

Favorite movie: “Inception” (maybe “Shawshank Redemption”)

Favorite band: G-Eazy & Drake

What are you looking forward to about Buffalo? Playing in another country again and another American experience!

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SAM BYLES

Sam has excelled at holding mid for Southampton Solent University after spending his U7-U18 years at Arsenal with the Academy and Reserves.

bylesBest soccer memory: Playing for the England National team at u16/17

Favorite club player: Messi

Clubs prior to college: Arsenal F.C

Favorite food from home: Salmon or noodle stir fry

Hobbies? Golf, racket sports, going to the gym, enjoying nights out with friends.

Favorite movie: “Django Unchained” or “Man on Fire”

Favorite artist: J.Cole

What are you looking forward to about Buffalo? The nice summer weather, visiting Niagara Falls.