In June 2008, Chelsea Football Club announced the start of an unprecedented initiative to partner with America's top youth football clubs.
Chelsea is well underway with building a network of top youth clubs across America to develop Chelsea Soccer Schools, a new Tournament called the Chelsea Sevens, coaching clinics and exchange programmes.
The Chelsea youth super club network will comprise top regional clubs across America, affiliated with U.S. soccer organisations like U.S. Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer Club, Super Y-League and the U.S. Development Academy.
The American youth club initiative will lead to the first Chelsea association with the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy.
The first relationship formed was with one of the largest and most successful youth football clubs in the U.S, the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) of North Carolina. This was followed by partnerships with LAFC of Los Angeles, Matchfit of New Jersey and most recently, the Baltimore Bays.
Chelsea FC chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'Our new Chelsea youth super club network is the latest of many strategic projects Chelsea have in the U.S.
'They are all designed to assist the growth and development of US soccer at the grassroots as well as the top level. The youth movement in the United States is a massive part of that.'
BALTIMORE BAYS:
In March 2009, the Baltimore Bays, recently named number one youth soccer club in the country by Soccer America, announced a formal partnership with Chelsea that will benefit youth soccer players throughout the state.
'The Bays partnership with Chelsea will continue to enable us to impact elite athletes in the soccer community and will help all soccer players who are interested in learning and improving their game,' said Kevin Healey, president of the Baltimore Bays club.
'This is a real partnership. We're not simply using the name. Our players will have greater opportunities to learn and maximize their potential as a result. It really says a great deal about our local talent pool when we attract the attention of a world renowned Club like Chelsea,' added Healey.
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CASL:
The Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) was founded in 1974 as a not-for-profit organisation. The mission of CASL is to provide instructional and competitive youth soccer opportunities that enhance the character, community and love of the game. Integrated in this is the building of self-esteem, self-confidence, team work and respect for others, as well as all the inherent benefits of physical exercise.
CASL includes approximately 9,000 registered youth soccer players, making up nearly 800 teams, totalling 20,000 players, coaches, officials, parents, volunteers and supporters.
The American youth club includes girls and boys ages four to 19 in the Greater Raleigh, North Carolina area and hosts multiple tournaments throughout the year.
CASL chief executive Charlie Slagle said: 'From their young Academy players to the first team super stars, Chelsea are one of the elite clubs in international soccer. For them to devote time, resources and energy to our young players and dedicated coaching staff truly shows their commitment to the game here in the US.
'We work very hard to be one of the top full-service clubs in the country and to be selected to form an affiliation with a club of Chelsea's standard is very gratifying, it shows people understand that what we are doing is having an impact beyond our local community.'
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LAFC:
LAFC, a three-year-old club and academy based in Simi Valley, California, was the third US youth club to partner with Chelsea.
As a result of the partnership, LAFC Chelsea will offer more scholarships for young athletes with financial hardship. LAFC provides kids across Southern California and throughout the country with the opportunity to play competitive soccer regardless of ability to pay club membership costs.
LAFC includes over 50 boys and girls' teams with 800 players from ages eight to 18. In 2008, the academy placed five players on US national teams and Olympic Development Program rosters.
LAFC president Don Sheppard said: 'LAFC was created to provide an affordable option for skilled players to play top-tier club soccer. We've been able to reach out to economically disadvantaged communities to recruit some of the best talent in the US.
'For a world-renowned club like Chelsea to recognise our mission and be a part of it shows the calibre and quality of their organisation and their commitment to develop US soccer.
'We are a young programme and a partnership like this allows us to reach the next level on skill development, player participation and overall club exposure. We have a top-tier coaching staff system and now with Chelsea our players will receive an international view of the game - something they may not have received otherwise.'
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MATCHFIT:
Match Fit includes approximately 400 registered youth soccer players, girls and boys aged from four to 19. The academy is based in Central New Jersey and extends to New York and Pennsylvania.
The Match Fit Academy Football Club is a non-profit educational and training organisation dedicated to providing the best instruction and character-building experience for youth soccer players. The academy identifies players with outstanding potential and places them in a learning environment designed to encourage personal development.
As a result of the partnership, the Match Fit Academy side is now known as Match Fit Chelsea and will host Chelsea-sponsored tournaments, training sessions with their coaches and player and coach exchange programmes.
Match Fit director of operations John R Calcaterra said: 'Partnering with Chelsea gives us the opportunity to not only stimulate the development of youth soccer in the Tri-State area, but across the entire country.'
'Chelsea wants to develop the game and are opening themselves up to the sharing and collaboration of curriculum. This is a monumental partnership in the history of American youth soccer.'
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