Clarkston FC Takes On The Regional Tournament
Last Fall, Clarkston FC finished undefeated to claim the State Division II Championship, earning their first berth at the highest level in their division. As a once in a lifetime experience, these players were granted an opportunity to represent Clarkston, a community in Atlanta, GA. Unlike other high-priced soccer clubs, these players had to earn their way to the Regionals Tournament.
Last Fall, Clarkston FC finished undefeated to claim the State Division II Championship, earning their first berth at the highest level in their division. As a once in a lifetime experience, these players were granted an opportunity to represent Clarkston, a community in Atlanta, GA. Unlike other high-priced soccer clubs, these players had to earn their way to the Regionals Tournament.
With the help of local soccer podcasts: Home Before Dark, Unrelegated, Atlanta United Fan TV, Soccer Down Here, Siempre United and others the dream became a reality for these players. After months of fundraising for the Clarkston FC Team, these contributors helped raise a grand total of over $10,000.
The trip to South Carolina was successful because most of these players were able to experience something that they never had before, including traveling across the state, playing against other teams in a Regional Tournament, and gaining recognition from other high profile teams as well.
Soccer in the Streets’ School Program Manager, Garrick Dawson, was lucky enough to travel with the players to Greenville, SC.
“It is not every day that a group of refugees, all from different parts of the world, get to travel to showcase their skills at the regional level. Unlike many players who played in the President’s Cup, Clarkston FC has rarely traveled for tournaments, let alone stay in a hotel for one. You could tell this was a trip these kids had been waiting for months on end. The trip itself was a memory that the kids will never forget,” said Dawson.
At the tournament’s end, the Clarkston FC Team did not come home with the Championship Trophy, but they did learn valuable lessons on and off the field with the help of our sponsorship. Soccer in the Streets emphasizes the positive choice of soccer and serves to employ its five foundational pillars: Respect, Teamwork, Perseverance, Tolerance, and Sportsmanship.
Head Coach Abdul Bangura reflected on how gracious he is that everyone pitched in to make this dream come true for the players.
“Overall, it was an amazing experience for the boys and coaches. That was a lifetime experience for all of us. We interacted with a lot of people and made new friends,” said Abdul.
On the field, the players learned lessons about player development and discipline, and the tournament left them with room to grow as well.
“As a coach, I told them before going to Regionals that, there are better teams out there that can outplay us if we don’t stick to our game plan: stay disciplined and put the work in.”
The Regionals Trip for Clarkston FC was a once in a lifetime experience. The Clarkston FC team has grown over the years learning valuable lessons along the way. Soccer in the Streets thanks everyone for funding the trip and supporting the Clarkston FC team.
Atlanta United Side Wins Soccer in the Streets’ ATL Champions League Event
ATLANTA (June 4, 2018) – The Eighth Annual Soccer in the Streets Champions League event was held on Sunday, June 3 at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground and the home side – Atlanta United – gained revenge by defeating the Manchester United side in a rematch of last year’s championship match-up. However, the main goal of the event was raising funds to bring soccer to lower income communities while leveling the playing field for children regardless of socioeconomic status.
Over $150,000 raised to support sustainable free youth soccer programs in Atlanta
ATLANTA (June 13, 2018) – The Eighth Annual Soccer in the Streets ATL Champions League event was held on Sunday, June 3rd at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground and the home side – Atlanta United – gained revenge by defeating Manchester United in a rematch of last year’s championship match-up. However, the main goal of the event was raising funds to bring soccer to lower income communities while leveling the playing field for children regardless of socioeconomic status.
The tournament helps Soccer in the Streets provide sustainable free youth soccer programs that cultivate change, education, and empower youth. Hosted by Atlanta United, the event raised over $150,000, breaking last year’s record total of $136,000.
“It’s a credit to our many participants who worked hard to raise money and give of themselves today with this great event,” said Bill Ford, Soccer in the Streets’ Events Chairman and Board Member. “To see so many amazing people come together for a common purpose and driven by their passion for the game to help us in our mission of giving all children a chance to succeed is inspirational.”
ATL Champions League 2018 featured 12 teams and over 150 participants. They represented eleven international clubs, plus Atlanta United, as they battled it out for the title both on and off the pitch. Leading the way in fundraising again was the Liverpool side sponsored by Meehan’s Public House, raising a team total of $35,000. Atlanta United came in a close second with just over $33,000. The top two fundraisers were both members of the Liverpool side, Paul Hourigan and Ben Butler, and they raised more than $13,000 and $10,000, respectively. For Hourigan, it was the second consecutive year as the event’s top fundraiser, edging Butler who was the top fundraiser for the event’s first six years.
“What Soccer in the Streets does for the community is so powerful,” said Hourigan. “I was blessed to play the game growing up in England and play at the college level. What this program provides for kids who may not have the opportunities that I had is special. And, all of the money raised goes to the program so that they can offer the best coaches to the kids who get the chance to play this great game.”
“I love the game,” said Butler, who is also a member of Soccer in the Streets’ Board of Directors and has been involved in the program for eight years. “Having played as a kid in England and seeing how the game can impact lives is why I continue to be involved. Soccer in the Streets program provides so much more than just soccer. It is using the game to provide opportunities for the kids to play, learn and grow. I am still in awe of how the program helps so many kids realize that they must have a structure in their day-to-day lives.”
Behind the competitiveness and fun of the ATL Champions League is the most important aspect of this tournament: raising funds for Soccer in the Streets to bring soccer to lower-income communities, providing sustainable free youth soccer programs that cultivate change, education, and empower youth.
"The ATL Champions League tournament continues to provide a wonderful opportunity for our staff, our neighbors and our community partners to compete against quality competition and raise money for a tremendous organization," said Atlanta United President Darren Eales. “We are proud to host the tournament at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground and to support our partner Soccer in the Streets, an organization that positively impacts a broad range of local youth through the game of soccer.”
Since 1989, Soccer in the Streets has used soccer as the medium to instill healthy lifestyles and positive choices to thousands of children in the metro Atlanta area. With a holistic approach, the organization centers its programs on character development, life skills, mentoring, and employability. The local non-profit ensures all children have a chance to succeed on and off the field. Since early 2016, Soccer in the Streets has provided upwards of 6,000 children with after school soccer-based educational programs in underserved communities.
Sponsors:
About Soccer in the Streets:
Soccer in the Streets empowers underserved youth through sports-based training, character development, mentoring, and employability programs. We reach kids on the field, in small-group classroom sessions, through hands-on experiences and activities, and participation in youth leadership councils. Equal access to quality soccer training and educational opportunities, as well as leveling the playing field across the board, are also key elements in our core mission. For more information about Soccer in the Streets, visit www.soccerstreets.org, or follow us on Twitter at @soccerstreets and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/soccerstreets/.
Media Contact:
- Tess Patton, Manager of Communications - C: 770-503-6794 E: tess@soccerstreets.org
- Andy McGowan, Watkins McGowan - C: 404-834-3481; E: andy@watkinsmcgowan.com
IGNITE Spark Innovation In East Point
Soccer in the Streets, an Atlanta based youth development nonprofit, and CEMEX, a global leader in the building materials industry, arrived at East Point to support a social impact soccer program.
The event was designed to raise awareness for the need of social impact programming for kids from underserved communities and bringing the people of East Point together around a common cause for good.
Soccer in the Streets, an Atlanta based youth development nonprofit, and CEMEX, a global leader in the building materials industry, arrived at East Point, on May 10th, to support a social impact soccer program.
The event was designed to raise awareness for the need of social impact programming for kids from underserved communities and bringing the people of East Point together around a common cause for good.
The Community Soccer Festival was held at Oz Pizza in downtown East Point. A pop-up soccer field was built, where kids and families met and played for free. The event was hosted by Soccer in the Streets, an Atlanta organization that promotes youth development through grassroots soccer programs, and a team of employees from CEMEX who are visiting the city on a management development program.
The CEMEX Team were involved in an IGNITE 2018: Spark Innovation session to develop leaders who embrace new ways of thinking, learning, working while trying to achieve greater success as the industry evolves with digital technologies.
“Soccer in the Streets will be expanding its presence into East Point later in 2018. This event will bring a spotlight on the benefits our programs will bring to the kids and families of the community,” said Phil Hill, Executive Director at Soccer in the Streets.
The success of the event will bring light to other areas in metro Atlanta as Soccer in the Streets highlights East Point for community engagement.
In a press release issued by CEMEX, its USA President Ignacio Madridejos said, “CEMEX is leading the way when it comes to digital transformation and innovation in the building materials industry. Madridejos also commented, “We are constantly working to improve our interactions with customers and looking for innovative ways to serve them. By learning perspectives from other industries, we can create better processes for our customers as we move into the future.”
We enjoyed having CEMEX IGNITE 2018 Team with us and look forward to exploring future opportunities!
