SOCCER PROGRAMS MERGE AND AFFILIATE WITH ENGLISH GIANT AS NEW ENGLAND AZTEC IS BORN
Amesbury, MA - March 5th, 2008 - With a packed house of more than 200 people in attendance at Amesbury Sports Park, Aztec Soccer and New England Soccer School officially merged operations last night, unveiling their new logo and identity as NEW ENGLAND AZTEC. In addition, the organization announced its affiliation with England's Everton FC of the Barclays Premier League and its youth academy's training system. Families packed the Corner Kick Pub & Restaurant with the overflow crowd watching a live video feed in the downstairs function room. Tonight, the presenters will head back to ASP for a second event for the leaders of local town soccer associations as NE Aztec announces its ambitious community development program.
Representatives of Aztec, NESS, and Everton were on hand to talk about aspects of the new organization with families from both clubs. Jeff Winterton, technical director of the Aztec boys program, discussed the similar philosophical aspects of Aztec and NESS. Winterton will serve as director of New England Aztec's Soccer Tots program for children aged 18 months - six years, as well as director of New England Aztec's U10 Academy.
Brian Kelley, technical director of the NESS boys program, discussed the reasons for the merger, indicating New England Aztec will offer area players and teams an opportunity to reach their fullest potential in a way no other club from this part of the state has ever done before. Kelley will serve in a similar capacity with NE Aztec.
Dushawne Simpson, technical director of the Aztec girls program and head coach of the Aztec NPSL & WPSL teams, talked about the pyramid structure for the organization. Players can conceivably play their way from U11 all the way to the highest level of adult amateur soccer in the US with NE Aztec. Simpson led the Aztec PASL men's team to the 2005 PASL National Championship in what is now the official developmental league for the MISL and will continue in his role with NE Aztec. The Aztec NPSL, WPSL, and PASL teams will continue to be known as Boston Aztec, the pinnacle of the New England Aztec organization.
Mike Kersker, the Aztec president and president of NE Aztec, discussed the programs New England Aztec will offer and described to the families what they can expect during the next year as the clubs integrate operations. New England Aztec will have 27 teams in various age groups competing in the MAPLE & MASC leagues this spring, and will offer programs for all youth ages as well as community development programs, coaching and refereeing clinics, and more.
Tosh Farrell, technical coordinator for Everton Academy, came over from England to discuss how players will benefit from Everton curriculum and the opportunities the Everton relationship will provide NE Aztec players and teams. This includes opportunities for area players to go overseas and train with Everton youth teams. Everton is the club that developed current Manchester United star and England international Wayne Rooney.
New England Aztec will operate out of the state-of-the-art Amesbury Sports Park and Soccer ETC in Beverly, and will utilize other area facilities as well. The WPSL women's team and NPSL men's team will play its first season at ASP this coming summer, while the PASL men are slated to return to Soccer ETC in the winter of 2008-09 after taking a hiatus this past season so the organizations could focus on sealing the deal with the merger.
New England Aztec will have many more announcements as operations merge, including the launch of a new website, www.neaztec.com. Video highlights are expected to be available at www.neaztec.com soon. Both www.aztecsoccer.com and www.nesoccerschool.net will remain active while the new website is finished. The organization will also launch a new e-newsletter in the weeks ahead.
