Celtic to Start 30 Community Soccer Academies Across N. America!
By: JT | June 20th, 2007
Celtic in the Community, the social service arm of Celtic FC, has started a football training program for inner city coaches and players all across North America. Throughout this summer, in 15 different cities, Celtic in the Community will use the sport and the brand name of the club to work in inner cities to give children an opportunity to participate in a sport that is currently not available to them. But that’s only the beginning.
The long term goal is to create 30 “Community Soccer Academies” across North America in the next five years with the hope of working with 30,000 youngsters at one time. The permanent academy program is being done in conjunction with The Salvation Army, via a substantial charitable grant from McDonald’s. The program will also offer volunteer coach education aimed at instructors at the recreational level. And the best part is that it’s all FREE!
Now that’s grassroots football development, Celtic style!
HAIL HAIL THE CELTS ARE HERE!
Category: Celtic
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Comments
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Awesome. One interesting thing - in their list of 15 starter cities are 13 real cities, plus Dublin, Ohio (kind of understandable, I guess, with the Irish connections of Celtic) and Chilliwack, Canada … (I believe the internet term is WTF?)
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United States
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I made a note to see what Chilliwack, BC was all about and nothing is obvious. No supporters clubs or anything like that, and Victoria and Vancouver are relatively close.
But they have about 70,000 folks there and their most famous native son is the “Happy Faced Killer” himself, Keith Hunter Jesperson! So there you go.
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United States -
Don’t forget ’supermodel’ Tasha Tilberg, who not only comes from Chilliwack, but also has the same birthday as me. Way better looking than Jesperson, and more amenable to local tourism-board advertising.
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United States -
Sounds cool, but I guess it all depends on what they define inner city to be. Plus, would they really be able to reach out to non-hispanic kids living in the inner city, who so far have had little or no exposure to soccer?
I think it could be a great thing. Could you imagine what it would be like if they were successful? They would accomplish what MLS never has.
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United States -
Yes, Christian - nothing to shut up Alexi Lalas like the next great American footballer going up through Celtic’s system and never even touching the MLS. Actually, foreign investment in American soccer can only be good for the MLS - I’m sure they’re thrilled about this.
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United States -
This is great news. With Celtic’s academies, Beckham’s academies, Brad Friedel’s academy in Ohio, etc., we might be seeing a fundamental change in US youth soccer.
Posted from
United States
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