Chelsea extends U.S. reach

from www.socceramerica.com

by Paul Kennedy, Friday, Nov 7, 2008 9:00 AM ET

ENGLISH CLUB CHELSEA HAS EXTENDED its reach into American youth soccer by partnering with New Jersey's Match Fit Academy. As a result of the partnership, the Match Fit's Academy teams will now be known as Match Fit Chelsea -- just like North Carolina's CASL program has adopted the name CASL Chelsea FC Academy for its academy teams (and the Chicago Magic is now Chicago Magic AS Monaco and the Michigan Wolves are Derby County Wolves). "Match Fit is one of the leading youth football academies in America," said Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon. "Our programs will exchange information and coaching techniques, with the goal of benefiting both organizations. Chelsea are committed to advancing the game of soccer at all levels in America, including the development of young elite players for professional sport." To kick off the new partnership, Chelsea's top academy personnel, Academy director Neil Bath and youth coach Paul Clement, are visiting Match Fit this week. Match Fit, based in Central New Jersey, includes approximately 400 youth soccer players, girls and boys. Players hail from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.