Where are all the Soccer Supporters

[The Magician]

Daily Record
20 June 2007
COWBHOY COUNTRY
By Gary Ralston

THE United States boasts more registered youth soccer players than any other country in the world.

The latest number is 18 million and rising but Celtic have set their sights on inner-city kids who have been traditionally denied access to the beautiful game.

Over the next five years they will use the power of soccer to deliver positive lifestyle and educational messages while increasing awareness of the club in a market it is ambitious to crack.

They could even unearth the next Freddy Adu, Cobi Jones, Alexei Lalas or Kasey Keller as they extend their community coaching scheme across the Atlantic - free of charge to all kids who participate.

Celtic have announced plans for 30 community soccer academies across the northern states of the US and into Canada, working with up to 30,000 kids in cities such as Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Detroit, Toronto and Cleveland

Click below to read the full article:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=cowbhoy-country--&method=full&objectid=19325086&siteid=66633-name_page.html

[SignGuyDino]

There needs to be more futsal programs. It's real big out west and the northeast but nonexistent in the rest of the country.

Real easy to run and it's actually suggested by some soccer experts to be better for younger kids to play because it's 5 on 5, more touches, kicks, goals, etc.

Lot of inner city programs are over-doing basketball when a lot of minority kids need to be playing this. Once they are hooked, look out for us in a few years.

[heavesrock]

Ah, we don't need soccer crap.

[The Magician]

Ah, we don't need soccer crap.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal ...

GuGuGuGuGuGuGuGu Gooooooooooooooooooooooal!

[Pounder]

Ah, we don't need soccer crap.

I see Charlton getting demoted hasn't changed you much.

:D

Celtic has the right idea... but wait until they see the bill. There's a wasteland of European efforts to start American academies... though Mexico has some staying power.

[heavesrock]

Nah, actually I've following Charlton quite closely and am excited for the following season.


What I meant is seems the point of this is that basketball or whatever isn't good enough. What's wrong with basketball and baseball was my point.

[Pounder]

Nah, actually I've following Charlton quite closely and am excited for the following season.


What I meant is seems the point of this is that basketball or whatever isn't good enough. What's wrong with basketball and baseball was my point.

That almost makes sense.

Dino's description of "overdoing" basketball programs in the inner cities DOES miss a point or two. If you've grown up with a sport, having someone force-feed another one is rather counterproductive. That doesn't mean that sports like soccer aren't making inroads among the "fringes" of some communities (my understanding is that Eddie Johnson isn't exactly the suburban type).

I may have mentioned it here before, but in states adjoining where I live, I'm starting to see some of the "old suburban soccer powers" go heavy into lacrosse, while the kids of migrant farm workers are finally getting noticed within the system (including 3-4 state MVPs). Stuff happens, but at least this stuff is an improvement.

I doubt Celtic will get to where this article talks about getting to. However, as long as people learn from mistakes, try to refine their approaches, and generally be patient (time is the BIGGEST issue here), the worm will turn.