Cleveland City Stars Launch 2008 Reserve Team Under New Leadership
Published on February 7, 2008 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Cleveland City Stars News Release
The Cleveland City Stars have announced the re-launching of the Reserve Team program for the 2008 season. The CCSR team will be under new management this season, as former CCS assistant coach Jake DeClutehas taken over as reserve team head coach. As an assistant under Martin Rennie in 2007, DeClute helped lead CCS to a 10-1-9 finish in its inaugural season. After wrapping up the first season in CCS history, DeClute spent the off-season as the head coach at Gordon College in Boston, MA where he compiled a 10-8-1 record, including an 8-3-1 record in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.
Originally from Illinois, DeClute was a standout at Wheaton College, where he ranks 10th on the all-time record list with 22 assists. During his playing career, he was selected CCIW all-conference three times and was a two-time captain. DeClute helped lead the Thunder to the 1997 national championship.
"I'm glad to be back in Cleveland with a great team that has a great mission," said DeClute. "I'm excited to be the reserve team head coach this summer and to work with pro team. This is one of the best opportunities for college and high school players that plan a career in pro soccer, and its a chance for them to get to know how they can use soccer to touch the lives of underprivileged kids in the inner city and other parts of the world."
James Jaggard will assume the role of CCSR Manager in joining DeClute in running the 2008 reserve team. Originally from the United Kingdom, Jaggard has extensive soccer experience from across the globe. Jaggard has been a coach at the Liverpool Youth Academy, and spent last season as a member of the CCS Reserve team. He played two games in the 2006 FA Cup, gained experience playing against the Guinea National Team in 2007 and played alongside head coach Laurie Sanchez and Tony Adams with the Wycombe Wanderers. Jaggard was also highly regarded last season as the commentator for CCS pro-team games on the web-radio broadcasts.
The amazing opportunity for this year's reserve team roster will include a Soccer Peace Tour to Kenya. The CCSR program will run from June 20th through August 3rd and will consist of three phases, training camp, Tour of Kenya, and games in Cleveland.
After completing training camp, the reserve team will travel with Jaggard & DeClute to Kenya, help a nation that is currently in great needs and will gain valuable experience with different outreach programs. The CCSR will also face off against Kenya Premier League teams with a great possibility of a match vs. the Kenyan National Team.
This special program for college & high school players will include the entire tour, a life-changing experience of playing professional soccer, exposure to pro-team coaches, mentoring programs, an opportunity to build relationships with the CCS pro-team, and networking connections to help further careers.
"I'm excited to lead the reserve team tour to Kenya this coming summer," said Jaggard. "I have traveled to many different countries in Africa and it always amazes me how relationships are built and gaps are bridged through a game of soccer.
"The current situations in Kenya are awful, and I hope that our reserve team might have a positive influence within the cities we visit and can bring some glimmer of hope to the children and fans that we meet on our journey."
Players that are interested in being an active part of the program can contact Jaggard at james@clevelandcitystars.com or attend the second CCS Tryouts [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=m8876icab.0.0.vndbwgcab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clevelandcitystars.com%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D56%26Itemid%3D86&id=preview] on February 15th.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from February 7, 2008
- Cleveland City Stars Launch 2008 Reserve Team Under New Leadership - Cleveland City Stars
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