Youth Soccer News: Albion SC and Eastside FC Announce New Partnership Activities

Building on the partnership announced in May, San Diego’s Albion Soccer Club and Washington’s Eastside Football Club will work together at both the Far West Regionals and the upcoming Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase to provide amenities for teams from both clubs. The strategic association is designed to allow the clubs to share best practices in areas such as coach and player development, competition models and efficiencies in club operations and services.

“The partnership is one that we are very excited about and will encompass many different aspects moving forward,” said Albion SC Director of Coaching Noah Gins. “The clubs will be focusing on developing players and bringing forth opportunities to players in both programs.”

In their first combined event, the clubs are hosting a joint hospitality tent at the Far West Regionals in Phoenix, AZ, June 18-24. The tent will provide a place for Albion SC and Eastside FC coaches and players can relax between matches and spend time getting to know each other off the pitch. Both Albion SC and Eastside FC have several teams participating in the Regionals.

“The Boys U-17 team competed in the ‘group of death,’ playing the top teams in the region and beating Eastside 3-0, West Coast 2-0, and Del Sol 2-1,” Gins said about Albion’s success in the Regionals. “They now compete in the quarterfinals on Friday morning. Meanwhile, the Boys U-15 team has beaten Hawaii Rush 2-0 and tied CVS Stars and Sereno, putting them into the Quarterfinals against Fullerton Rangers."

Eastside FC will see their Boys U-17 team also compete in the Quarter Finals, meeting Sereno 95 White on Friday morning. Also on Friday the Girls U-15 team will take on Leahi 97 Premier from Hawaii, the Girls U-16 team will meet Oregon Rush and the Girls U-17 will go up against Tucson Soccer Academy 95 Red in Quarter Final action.

Next month at least seven Eastside FC teams will make the trip south for the annual Albion Cup which takes place July 21-23. Again the clubs plan to host a joint hospitality tent for all teams. In addition, several Eastside FC teams are considering arriving early in order to train with Albion SC counterparts and to enjoy an evening barbecue.

“This is the beginning of a very exciting chapter in two elite clubs coming together in a very progressive way,” said Gins.

Eastside FC was originally founded in 1970 as a soccer development program for players and families who were looking for the highest level of competition available. The club has grown to an elite level with over 50 teams that regularly win championships at the Washington State, Regional and National levels. The club also consistently produces high-quality academy, college and national-level players.

Established in 1981, Albion SC is a Southern California Premier Club with over 50 teams and a solid, structured organization that allows teams to excel. Staff members are trained in the “Albion Way,” a system designed to train and develop players and teams in the most progressive methods. Every player is expected to master the “Core Curriculum” which allows players to have the best foundation for the game and to exhibit some of the best technical skills in Southern California.

For more information, contact:

Tim Bauman, President, Eastside FC, at 206-849-7180 or gtbauman@aol.com

Noah Gins, Technical Director, Albion SC, at 619-279-2812 or ngins@albionsoccer.org

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