Portland Timbers News Release - www.portlandtimbers.com

Thursday, April 17, 2008

PORTLAND, OR -- The Portland Timbers have signed midfielder Bryan Little and Solomon Islands international Benjamin Totori for the 2008 season, it was announced pending USSF and international clearance. Little joins the Timbers from Auckland City FC of the New Zealand Football Championship, where he was the team’s leading scorer through early April. Totori is a member of the Solomon Islands National Team.

Little, 29, appeared in 12 matches with Auckland City during the 2007-08 season and recorded a team-high eight goals through his final match with the club on April 12, including a hat trick in season opener on Nov. 4 against Manawatu. Little finished his season with Auckland among the league’s leading goal-scorers.

From Edinburgh, Scotland, Little began his professional career with the Berwick Rangers of the Scottish Second Division before moving his career to New Zealand in 2003. In 2006, he was a part of Auckland City FC’s Oceania Club championship team and helped guide the team to the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. Little, who began training with the team Monday, won several titles during his time in New Zealand, including the 2003 National League championship with the Miramar Rangers and the Chatham Cup with Team Wellington in 2004.

Totori, 22, made his Solomon Islands National Team debut in 2007 with four goals in five 2010 World Cup qualification matches. Recently, Totori competed with the Solomon Islands U-23 National Team during the Oceania Football Confederation’s 2008 Olympic qualification tournament in March. In five games, Totori scored 10 goals to earn the tournament’s Golden Boot Award and helped the Solomon Islands finish second in the tournament. Totori has been a member of the Solomon Islands National Team pool since he was 15.

This season with Waitakere United, Totori has scored 10 goals in 18 matches to help the club maintain its first-place position in the NZFC. His 10 goals rank among league leaders in scoring, and he is currently third in the race for NZFC’s Golden Boot Award – annually given to the league’s leading scorer. Totori began his professional career in New Zealand with Youngheart Manawatu in 2005-06, and was named the club’s Rookie of the Year.

With Totori, the Timbers now have 23 signed players entering the 2008 season.

Portland will honor long-time team icon Jim Serrill – better known as “Timber Jim” – on Timber Jim Retirement Night as the Timbers open their 2008 USL First Division campaign Thursday at PGE Park. The first 2,000 fans receive 2008 schedule magnets courtesy of PGE, and the first 1,000 will also receive a “Farewell Timber Jim” T-shirt presented by Shindaiwa. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Tickets, starting at $11, are available through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (503) 224-4400.