Charlton opens US academy...

[BuffloSoldier]

Interesting. (http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=21799)

[kevruth]

This is great news. Steve Gritt and Alan will be here next week to open the place up. This is great news for Charlton, it's U.S. supporters and U.S. youth soccer.

I tip my hat to the club for this one. :cool:

[California Jack]

This is great news. Steve Gritt and Alan will be here next week to open the place up. This is great news for Charlton, it's U.S. supporters and U.S. youth soccer.

I tip my hat to the club for this one. :cool:


Me too!

I'm not a Charlton supporter, nor do I live in Arizona, but if Charlton or another club opens an academy in Southern California, I think it might find a wealth of talented youth! So I do hope Charlton succeed in the effort. If they do draft some Americans, maybe they can win my allegiance yet.

[Mattinho]

I grew up in Tucson(Toosahn you bitches) and am utterly shocked!!

There is alot of untapped talent in Tucson. Very little scouting from D1 coaches happens in this area mostly due to the fact that it is fairly isolated and there are no D1 Colleges in the state of Arizona with soccer programs.

I was on the state team for years along with Whitfield and Mastroeni, I played USL ball out of highschool(Tucson Amigos) and was recruited by the top Junior colleges in Arizona, but other than that I had to beg for any kind of consideration from a major program. I didn't feel like playing NAIA so I left for greener pastures. My story is a dime a dozen in Arizona and am glad that kids from the area may finally have something to shoot for.

[RobtheAggie]

Very interesting. I think this is a very important move for the Addicks. The long term investement could produce quite a few players for their senior team. If nothing else, the MLS will get the benefit of quite a few players who have trained in a professional atmosphere. I think that parents will be more willing to send their kids to a Academy in the US than oversees.

This has quite a fdw ramifications to it.

[hartley]

This is fantastic.

I wonder if there are plans to have Charlton acadamies in other locations. One in the east and one in the midwest would be good too.

I know that the club will take things a step at a time and do it smart.

I also hopes this means Curbs may take a look at some current American talent that could come to the club.

[servotron]

My wife and I are considering a move to Tucson in the next year or two....

Maybe I'll drop by the academy and see if they'll take me on the team as the EPL's oldest rookie! :D