USL News Release
Thursday, January 24, 2008
TAMPA, FL –United Soccer Leagues announced today announced today, plans to include 12 elite-level Super Y-League players from their 2008 Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Camps in a unique undertaking with the storied youth academy of West Ham United in London. An inventive element for USL in 2008, this venture furthers the ongoing mission to develop an international platform for foreign clubs to connect with the North American game and provide the best opportunities for USL players with professional aspirations.
“Building upon the foundation established by the Super Y-League Select Team tours during the past two seasons, we wanted to expand our focus specifically on players that have the ability to compete in Europe and for their respective National Team,” said USL Founder and President Francisco Marcos. “This model allows players to experience, first-hand, what it takes to become a professional in one of the best academy systems and clubs in the world.”
The selected players will begin training with West Ham United on Friday, March 28. Ten field players and two goalkeepers will travel to London for the intense training and experience. During their ten day venture, players will train within their corresponding West Ham Academy age group and attend English Premier League matches. Players are being selected by the league’s national scouting system at the ODP National Camps. US Soccer National Team and Staff Coaches will have the opportunity to provide feedback on player recommendations. The camps conclude the first week of February in Florida.
“Europe and the rest of the world are beginning to recognize that North America is developing players,” said West Ham United CEO, Scott Duxbury. “USL’s dynamic structure that provides elite players, youth to professional, the ability to develop and compete in national leagues, provides a unique platform for our technical staff to better identify players and prospects for the club. We are glad to host their top youth players and provide them the West Ham experience.”
About West Ham USA Video [+] About the USL-West Ham Partnership [+]
Throughout the trip, West Ham United Academy will play matches against the youth academies of Reading FC (EPL), Leicester City (Championship) and Ipswich Town (Championship). The younger players will reside in the West Ham United Hotel at Upton Park while players in the two oldest age groups will be housed in the Academy house with players currently enrolled in the club.
USL announced its international development efforts to its clubs this past November. This program with West Ham United closely dovetails the development efforts that USL has initiated to establish foreign club partners and provide elite USL players the opportunity to reach Europe. West Ham United and USL entered into a partnership agreement in October of 2007 to connect the European club with North America, vice versa.
Senior Director of Youth League Development, Jeff McRaney, will accompany the players on tour. Assessments of the players will be provided to USL professional clubs and the US Soccer National Team staff.
About the West Ham United Youth Academy
The West Ham United youth academy is recognized one of the most successful youth soccer programs in the world having developed such talents as Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) and Michael Carrick (Manchester United) among others. Jonathan Spector, a former USL Super Y-League and USL Premier Development League, and current U.S. National Team member regularly starts as a defender for the club. Three West Ham players were on the England Under-21 team that reached the semi-finals of the 2007 UEFA Under-21 championship this summer. West Ham Academy Director Tony Carr has been central to the success of the academy since 1973 and will lead the implementation of his system with USL.
