ABBEY VILLA S.C. AND FC SPARTANS MERGE
Abbey Villa S.C. (AVSC) and FC SPARTANS are pleased to announce that the two clubs have agreed to merge effective immediately. As of June 1, 2015, the combined club will be named Atlantic United Soccer Club (AUSC). With over 55 teams and more than 750 players, Atlantic United becomes one of the largest and most competitive premier soccer clubs in New England with Training centers in Metro West, Greater Boston, Greater Lowell, South County and Rhode Island, providing convenient accessibility for the serious soccer player.
We are also pleased to announce that due to this merger we will also be forming New England Premier Futsal Club (NEPFC) – a new club dedicated to the beautiful game of futsal. NEPFC will play futsal all year long, host tournaments, play in regional tournaments and become THE destination futsal club of New England.
Des Rice, President & Founder of Abbey Villa S.C., established his club in 2002. Abbey Villa S.C. emphasizes a player-centered development approach based on the Dutch principle of play, which revolutionized the game in the early 1970s, known as “Total Football” (totaalvoetbal). The legendary footballer from that era, Johan Cruyff, going on to play with and manage F.C. Barcelona is credited with the enduring popularity and dominance of this style of play (also known as “Tiki Taka”). Abbey Villa S.C. has an operations staff with 3 full-time employees and a coaching staff which includes 12 full-time employees, possessing the highest levels of education and accredited licensure from professional soccer coaching organizations including USSF, NSCAA and UEFA, as well as having range of collegiate and international coaching and playing experiences.
Elliot Mejia, President & Co-Founder, and Terry Lehane, Vice President & Co-Founder, established FC SPARTANS in 2009. Over the course of 6 years the club has grown from 1 to nearly 20 teams. “The leaders of both organizations put their egos aside and thought of what was best for the soccer players of this area. Abbey Villa S.C. and FC SPARTANS had been competing for the same players and we felt this was the right time to combine and become one. This powerful merger creates exciting opportunities for everyone in both organizations as well as the competitive players in the area. By combining our resources, there will be tremendous growth opportunities which will enable us to rival any club in the region,” stated Elliot Mejia.
“Abbey Villa S.C. is very excited to have Elliot, Terry and the entire FC SPARTANS organization join the Abbey Villa S.C. family to create this new footballing entity Atlantic United. The leadership team of FC SPARTANS along with their coaches bring a wealth of experience related to developing and running successful youth soccer programs. It quickly became evident that Abbey Villa S.C. and FC SPARTANS goals and missions were aligned. The geographic expansion with a quality club such as FC SPARTANS is strategically important to us. This combined club will be able to provide a path for all of our players to develop in an elite training environment,” stated Des Rice.
Atlantic United will also have an extensive Youth Academy program for boys and girls (ages 5 to 10) run by the club’s professional coaching staff. With more than 150 players, Atlantic United has an established, rapidly growing Youth Academy with numerous training centers in close proximity to our players.
“FC SPARTANS has been a close neighbor and respected rival since Abbey Villa S.C. started operating out of the MetroWest area. Given our geographic proximity, FC SPARTANS and Abbey Villa S.C will start working together immediately to ensure a smooth transition for our players, our coaches, and of course our families. We are all very excited about this new partnership and look forward to developing our players into better soccer and futsal players.”
Abbey Villa S.C. (AVSC) and FC SPARTANS are pleased to announce that the two clubs have agreed to merge effective immediately. As of June 1, 2015, the combined club will be named Atlantic United Soccer Club (AUSC). With over 55 teams and more than 750 players, Atlantic United becomes one of the largest and most competitive premier soccer clubs in New England with Training centers in Metro West, Greater Boston, Greater Lowell, South County and Rhode Island, providing convenient accessibility for the serious soccer player.
We are also pleased to announce that due to this merger we will also be forming New England Premier Futsal Club (NEPFC) – a new club dedicated to the beautiful game of futsal. NEPFC will play futsal all year long, host tournaments, play in regional tournaments and become THE destination futsal club of New England.
Des Rice, President & Founder of Abbey Villa S.C., established his club in 2002. Abbey Villa S.C. emphasizes a player-centered development approach based on the Dutch principle of play, which revolutionized the game in the early 1970s, known as “Total Football” (totaalvoetbal). The legendary footballer from that era, Johan Cruyff, going on to play with and manage F.C. Barcelona is credited with the enduring popularity and dominance of this style of play (also known as “Tiki Taka”). Abbey Villa S.C. has an operations staff with 3 full-time employees and a coaching staff which includes 12 full-time employees, possessing the highest levels of education and accredited licensure from professional soccer coaching organizations including USSF, NSCAA and UEFA, as well as having range of collegiate and international coaching and playing experiences.
Elliot Mejia, President & Co-Founder, and Terry Lehane, Vice President & Co-Founder, established FC SPARTANS in 2009. Over the course of 6 years the club has grown from 1 to nearly 20 teams. “The leaders of both organizations put their egos aside and thought of what was best for the soccer players of this area. Abbey Villa S.C. and FC SPARTANS had been competing for the same players and we felt this was the right time to combine and become one. This powerful merger creates exciting opportunities for everyone in both organizations as well as the competitive players in the area. By combining our resources, there will be tremendous growth opportunities which will enable us to rival any club in the region,” stated Elliot Mejia.
“Abbey Villa S.C. is very excited to have Elliot, Terry and the entire FC SPARTANS organization join the Abbey Villa S.C. family to create this new footballing entity Atlantic United. The leadership team of FC SPARTANS along with their coaches bring a wealth of experience related to developing and running successful youth soccer programs. It quickly became evident that Abbey Villa S.C. and FC SPARTANS goals and missions were aligned. The geographic expansion with a quality club such as FC SPARTANS is strategically important to us. This combined club will be able to provide a path for all of our players to develop in an elite training environment,” stated Des Rice.
Atlantic United will also have an extensive Youth Academy program for boys and girls (ages 5 to 10) run by the club’s professional coaching staff. With more than 150 players, Atlantic United has an established, rapidly growing Youth Academy with numerous training centers in close proximity to our players.
“FC SPARTANS has been a close neighbor and respected rival since Abbey Villa S.C. started operating out of the MetroWest area. Given our geographic proximity, FC SPARTANS and Abbey Villa S.C will start working together immediately to ensure a smooth transition for our players, our coaches, and of course our families. We are all very excited about this new partnership and look forward to developing our players into better soccer and futsal players.”
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