Chelsea Football Club today announced a partnership with the Match Fit Academy of New Jersey, one of the most successful youth soccer academies in America.

The partnership is the second major step in the club's nationwide Super Club Network initiative to partner with America's top youth soccer clubs.

As a result of the partnership, the Match Fit Academy side will now be known as Match Fit Chelsea and will host Chelsea-sponsored tournaments, training sessions with our coaches and player and coach exchange programmes.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'Match Fit is one of the leading youth football academies in America. Our programmes will exchange information and coaching techniques, with the goal of benefiting both organisations. Chelsea are committed to advancing the game of soccer at all levels in America, including the development of young elite players for professional sport.'

To kick off the new partnership, Chelsea's top academy personnel, Academy director Neil Bath and youth coach Paul Clement, will join Match Fit for a coaching Q&A during the Academy's visit to America, which begins today.

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 want 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.'

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.

Match Fit Director of Coaching and Player Development Malcolm Murphy said: 'We are incredibly honoured to partner with Chelsea as we will get an insider's look at their coaching philosophy and training techniques. We are excited about the trickledown effect from our Chelsea partnership, and how the club will influence our players. This partnership opens us up to a world of opportunity, as we will be exposed to the Chelsea brand of soccer.'

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.