Pacesetter Soccer Club News Release -- www.pacesettersoccer.net
Monday, January 27, 2014
TOLEDO, Ohio -- Pacesetter Soccer Club is excited to announce an official partnership with Aston Villa Football Club of the English Premier League. It is the first agreement of its kind for Pacesetter and Aston Villa, with the goal in mind of developing top-level soccer players in North America.
"The partnership is an exciting opportunity for both Pacesetter Soccer Club and Aston Villa" said Jimmy Walker, Executive Director of Coaching at Pacesetter Soccer Club. "Aston Villa Football Club is one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in England and was a founder member of the English Football League, established in 1874. They have had a massive history, including winning the European Cup, the English League Championship along with multiple F.A. and League Cups. Aston Villa is one of the top five teams in the history of the English Premier League and it is a fantastic opportunity for the Midwest and for American soccer that this link has been formed."
The Partnership will involve the Academy staff at Aston Villa working alongside Pacesetter Soccer Club Coaches. The goal is to share coaching education techniques and ideas to help develop top players in North America. The agreement will also serve as a potential scouting network between top American players and Aston Villa, with the hopes of one day seeing a local player in the English Premier League. This opportunity will also serve as an avenue to promote the Aston Villa brand in America and grow its fan base throughout the USA.
“We’re very happy to support Pacesetter Soccer Club and we wish the partnership every success" Aston Villa Chief Executive Paul Faulkner said. "James Walker and his family have had a long association with Aston Villa and this new venture is really exciting. The club already has strong links with the U.S., with Brad Guzan our current No. 1 goalkeeper and Brad Friedel, amongst others, also having played an important role for us in recent times, and we hope that an association such as this could pave the way for other American players to join Villa in the future.”
Pacesetter Soccer Club is ranked the No. 1 club in Ohio North featuring boys and girls teams from the ages of 8-20. Since 1980 the Pacesetter Soccer Club has fielded teams that have competed at state, regional and national levels. The club has provided soccer expertise and helped to develop soccer players during the past 30 years. Many Pacesetter alumni have gone on to play in college, professionally, and at the national team level.
In 2013 Pacesetter Soccer Club and Aston Villa put together a Super-20 League Team that advanced all the way to the National Championship in Florida. After unprecedented success in their inaugural season, both parties agreed to move forward with the club partnership which kicks off in January 2014.
For all the latest news and information on Aston Villa visit www.avfc.co.uk. You can also follow Villa on Facebook www.facebook.com/avfcofficial and Twitter @AVFCOfficial. Official Aston Villa merchandise is also available for purchase immediately for all soccer enthusiasts and supporters in the U.S.A. For all purchasing information visit http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/Shopping.