Plainview, NY – (Monday, May 3, 2010) – The Rough Riders, Long Island’s premier soccer franchise is proud to announce an official partnership with West Ham United International Academy.
The Rough Riders will be the exclusive affiliate for West Ham United on Long Island. The partnership initially entails player identification and developmental at the youth level.
West Ham United youth development system has produced such players as Trevor Brooking, Alvin Martin, Tony Cottee and Paul Ince. More recently, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson and Frank Lampard have begun their careers at West Ham.
“West Ham is renowned for their development of players,” said Mike Kelleher, West Ham United International Academy Manager. “Potentially six former West Ham United players will be playing for the English National Team this World Cup.”
“European clubs are gaining more interest in American players, due to the growth of American soccer,” said Flavio Ferri, Rough Riders General Manager. “A prime example is the recent success of former Rough Riders player Mike Grella, who is now playing with Leeds United.”
Rough Riders President, Peter Zaratin, recently returned from a five day visit with West Ham United to finalize this exciting venture for both clubs. “This partnership is based on player identification and finding the next Michael Grella on Long Island who can play in England,” said Zaratin. “All too often professional European clubs focus only on brand expansion in North America. After meeting with Tony Carr and Paul Heffer from West Ham United I am confident the club’s intentions are pure – produce top level soccer players!”
To identify talented American players Tony Carr and the West Ham United Academy Coaches will conduct a National Player Identification Camp from July 21st to the 24th in Northern Virginia. As part of the West Ham United and Rough Riders partnership 20 players from the Juniors Rough Riders will be selected for the national ID camp.
The best players from the identification camp will be invited to attend the West Ham United Academy in London.
For additional information on the West Ham United Academy partnership please continue to check www.liroughriders.com or call the Rough Riders corporate office at 516.622.3900 ext. 13.
About West Ham United
West Ham United Football Club has one of the most respected youth academies in world football. Under the direction of academy director Tony Carr, the West Ham United Academy has produced many players who have gone on to play at the very top level of professional football. The club has established the International Academy to develop partnerships and programs in the USA and Canada that can share West Ham United Academy coaching methodology to assist the long-term development of North American players.
About the Long Island Rough Riders
The Rough Riders have been part of the Long Island soccer landscape since their inception in 1994. In 1995 both the Rough Riders Men’s and Women’s teams won their first United Soccer League (USL) National Championship. Since their initial success, the Rough Riders Men’s team has gone on to win the 2nd Division National Championship in 2002 while the Rough Riders Women’s team qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008.
The Rough Riders are known for developing players including former US National Team members Chris Armas, Tony Meola, and MLS All Star Giovanni Savarese and Jimmy Rooney along with US Olympic Team Member and current Junior Rough Riders Coaching Director, John Diffley.
More recently the Rough Riders helped jumpstarted the careers of Mike Grella who is currently playing at Leeds United in England, Mike Palacio at FK Radnicki Obrenovac in Serbia, Gina DiMartino Philadelphia Independence in the Women’s Professional Soccer league and Sue Weber who has just returned to the Rough Riders after being drafted by the Boston Breakers in 2009.
The Rough Riders are also comprised of a Junior Rough Riders program, featuring elite level players from 8 to 17 years of age. Junior Rough Riders teams compete in regional and national tournaments while teams from 13 to 17 years old participate in the Super Y-League (SYL), the youth component of the United Soccer Leagues (USL).
