Marquee team to train at famed Chelsea Football Academy in London and compete against top international soccer clubs
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Dec. 29, 2009) - Some of America’s most gifted high school soccer players were selected today to Disney’s Soccer Showcase All-Star Team, which will represent the United States against top international youth teams in Europe this summer.
The 18-member all-star team is comprised of the most elite 17-under boys who competed in Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea Football Club this week at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. The Soccer Showcase, with more than 520 teams from around the country, annually attracts the most decorated high school soccer players in the nation and the all-star team was chosen based on the performances of the players throughout the tournament.
The select group of all-stars includes four players from Dallas– Chandler Crosswait, Murphy Short, James Hickey and Andre Reyes – who have previously competed against the United States 17-under National team. Also on the team are Malcolm Harris and Michael Gamble, who play for the nation’s top ranked team (Baltimore Bays) and who led their 15-under team to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship last year.
For the third straight year, the Disney all-star team will train at the Chelsea Football Academy near London in August and then compete against a variety of elite international youth soccer teams.
“Chelsea is committed to the ongoing development of soccer in the U.S., including fostering young talent,’’ said Chelsea Chief Executive Ron Gourlay. “ We look forward to hosting Disney’s Soccer Showcase All-Star team at our world-class training facility in Cobham this summer.’’
Last summer the Disney’s Soccer Showcase All-Star team worked out at Chelsea’s Academy training facility and experienced firsthand the day-to-day life of a top-flight English Premier League team, training with the academy coaches and competing against academy players. The Disney All-Stars finished with a 2-0-1 record.
“It was an unbelievable trip on all levels. From a soccer standpoint, it was an invaluable experience,” said Steve Nichols, 2009 Disney All-Star team head coach. “Having these kids see a Chelsea match in person and play the Chelsea Academy gave them exposure to the highest level of football. The coaches also benefitted as we got to witness how Chelsea coaches run their drills, practices and overall program.”
More information about Disney’s Soccer Showcase All-Star team will be available at www.chelseafc.com/america, Chelsea Football Club's dedicated membership site for fans in America.
The Disney All-Star team is sponsored by adidas, which is dedicated to providing developmental and educational experiences for top level youth soccer players, college players and coaches, and operates Disney's Soccer Showcase All-Star Team program.
Disney’s Soccer Showcase 2010 All-Star Team:
Andrew Glaeser- Foothill FC MVLA Raptors 92 Gold (Mountain View, CA)
Christopher Maierle- Hicksville American SC Strikers (Hicksville, NY)
James Hickey- Dallas Texans Academy (Plano, TX)
Derek Creviston- Concorde Fire USSF Developmental Academy (Atlanta, GA)
Chris Williams- Florida Rush Nike (Ocoee, FL )
Murphy Short- Solar Academy ( Dallas, TX)
Stewart Abrahart-Alpharetta Ambush (Alpharetta, GA)
Malcolm Harris- Baltimore Bays Chelsea (Baltimore, MD)
Andre Reyes- Dallas Texans Academy ( Plano, TX)
Omar Mata-Tulsa Soccer Club (Tulsa, OK)
Emmett Lunceford- Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (Greenville, SC)
Brian James- Weston Academy 93 (Weston, FL)
Chandler Crosswait- Solar Academy (Dallas, TX)
Michael Gamble-Baltimore Bays Chelsea (Baltimore, MD)
Khaliq Mckenzie- Sockers FC Chicago Academy (Chicago, IL)
Jonathan Salcedo- Santa Clara Sporting 92 (Santa Clara, CA)
Agyeman Botchway- Concord Fire USSF Developmental Academy (Atlanta, GA)
Robert Johnson- Campton United SC Navy (Geneva, IL)
NOTE: Downloadable photos and video of Disney’s Soccer Showcase will be available online at the media-only website www.wdwnews.com (username: disney, password: magic) For breaking news and daily updates follow us on the Disney Parks Blog at www.disneyparks.com/blog and @DisneySports on Twitter.
Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex
Opened in 1997 at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex is the leading multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States, accommodating 60 different sports and athletes from more than 70 countries in hosting more than 250 events each year. The 220-acre, state-of-the-art complex features: the Milk House, a 165,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,500 for basketball; the 9,500-seat Champion Stadium ballpark; the Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; and the Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport field house. In addition, the complex has 11 tennis courts, including a stadium court, and a track and field complex. The complex is home to the Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves spring training, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, Chelsea Football Club events, the Special Olympics Florida Summer Games and AAU National Championship events, among others. Please visit www.disneysports.com for more information.
About Chelsea Football Club
Chelsea Football Club’s Academy aims to produce home-grown professional soccer players capable of competing with Europe's elite. Based at Chelsea's state-of-the-art training facility on the outskirts of London, the Academy nurtures talent from the age of seven upwards. Whether spotted locally or brought in from abroad, any young player wanting to join Chelsea must strive to be the best in the world.
About adidas
adidas has been providing innovative products for the world's best athletes for more than 50 years, from past legends to today's superstars. adidas is a global designer, developer, and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that includes brands such as Reebok, TaylorMade, and Rockport.