Vancouver Whitecaps Press Release - www.whitecapsfc.com

Friday, October 23, 2009

VANCOUVER, BC - Whitecaps FC Residency recently announced that goalkeeper Brandon Watson, defenders Patrick Bennett and Lucas Sweda, midfielder Alex Rowley, and striker Caleb Clarke have all joined the club's full-time program. The five British Columbia-based youngsters form part of a new-look Whitecaps Residency squad, as the program now enters its third year of existence.

Watson, 17, joins the Residency program for the 2009-2010 year after a spell with the reserve team of United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) club Victoria Highlanders FC. The native of Victoria, BC, developed his goalkeeping skills as a member of Victoria United Metro, having been named Most Valuable Player of their U-17 side. Watson also played in the USL Super Y-League with Victoria United and Coastal WFC. He was also a member of the BC provincial team program from the U-13 to U-15 levels.

Bennett, 16, also comes to the Residency program from Vancouver Island following successful playing spells with Bays United FC and Victoria United Metro. Born and raised in Victoria, BC, Bennett is a defender of promising talent, having been a member of the BC provincial team program at the U-15 and U-16 levels. He also trained in the Canadian Soccer Association's (CSA) National Training Centre (British Columbia Region) program in 2008 and 2009 and is part of Canada’s national youth team player pool.

Sweda, 15, joins Whitecaps Residency following recent success with Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club. A right fullback who was a member of the Whitecaps FC Academy in 2006, the Burnaby, BC, native helped Coquitlam Metro-Ford Juventus to U-16 Coastal 'A' Cup and BC U-16 provincial championship titles in the 2008-09 season. Sweda recently represented BC, as Coquitlam Metro-Ford Juventus finished fifth at the 2009 Canadian U-16 Club Championship in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The defender has also appeared in the Super Y-League with Mountain WFC from the U-13 to U-15 levels, having led Mountain U-14 Boys to a third-place finish at the 2008 Super Y-League North American Finals in Tampa, Florida. Sweda also developed as a player with South Burnaby Metro Club and Burnaby's Cliff Avenue United.

Rowley, 16, also comes to the Residency program following recent success with Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club. A central midfielder, the native of Maple Ridge, BC, also helped Coquitlam Metro-Ford Juventus to U-16 Coastal 'A' Cup and BC U-16 provincial championship titles in the 2008-09 season. Along with Residency teammate Sweda, Rowley and Coquitlam Metro-Ford Juventus represented BC at the Canadian U-16 Club Championship. The midfielder also trained in the CSA's National Training Centre (British Columbia Region) and was a member of the BC provincial team program from the U-13 to U-16 levels. In August 2008, Rowley had a one-week trial with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian FC.

Clarke, 16, comes to Whitecaps Residency after an impressive youth soccer career. Born and raised in Richmond, BC, the young striker won a BC U-12 provincial championship title with Richmond Selects and enjoyed training spells in Italy with Serie A club Udinese Calcio in August 2008, and from April to May of 2009. Clarke trained in the CSA's National Training Centre (British Columbia Region) program in 2008 and 2009 and is part of Canada’s national youth team player pool. He also played in the Super Y-League with Coastal WFC U-16 Boys, and was a member of the BC provincial team program from the U-13 to U-15 levels.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency is based out of the Whitecaps Training Centre at Simon Fraser University (SFU), with a number of the players attending Burnaby Central Secondary School. The team plays in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Professional Development League (PDL).

The elite youth program - for players from U-17 to U-19 - provides a development gateway through to professional opportunities with the Whitecaps men’s team and European clubs. The program uses the European club model of identification, development and placement.

Whitecaps Residency and the Whitecaps youth prospects programs are committed to cooperation and communication with the provincial and Canadian national team programs. Each player's professional commitments, education, club, and national or provincial team responsibilities are carefully considered and coordinated for optimal periodization.