The Latest Score Issue #10

The

LATEST SCORE

FEATURE STORY

THE CLUB 2 CLUB SUMMIT RETURNS

SUMMER 2023 MAGAZINE

ISSUE #10

SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS IN EXETER & PLAISTOW! WELCOME LETTER

TEAMING UP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY

CONTENTS 04

CLUB DIRECTORY

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PROMINENT PARTNER

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Sports Medicine – Foot & Ankle – Hand & Upper Extremity Spine Care – Joint Preservation & Replacement – Knee – Shoulder Physical & Occupational Therapy – Podiatry – Athletic Training

SEACOAST BLUE PAGES

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CLUB 2 CLUB SUMMIT

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PHANTOMS STRIVE FOR MORE IN 2023

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GA LEAGUE

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TRIP OF A LIFETIME

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MEET MATT RENNER

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coreorthoandsportsmed.com

Dear Seacoast United Families and Friends, I hope all of you are enjoying the summer thus far and managing to spend time with family and friends.

While the weather has not been great, it’s still the time of year when the kids are off school, vacation time, beach time, etc. and a chance to enjoy some well- deserved down time.

All of our regions have experienced tremendous amounts of success competing both in New England and across the country in 2023. The club’s MLS Next U19 boys finished top of the Northeast Division and qualified for the highly competitive national playoffs. Seacoast United has also enjoyed sending multiple teams overseas with various groups touring the United Kingdom in the spring and several teams headed to Sweden this summer. More and more teams will have the opportunity in 2023-24 as the world claws its way back from the impact of the pandemic and international travel. The club’s ‘Nate Hardy Memorial Day Tournament’ in New Hampshire and ‘Coastal Summer Challenge’ in Maine served as the perfect finale to the 2022-23 season, which saw hundreds of boys and girls teams across New England participate.

The highest level of soccer we offer is the Seacoast United Phantoms, who participated in the United Soccer League Division 2 (USL 2). This summer has proven to be another successful season. The Phantoms were consistently among the top three teams in the Northeast and are jockeying for playoff position. A huge thank you goes to all the host families and everyone involved in putting the squad together. Interestingly enough, this year’s team includes more than 12 players who have come through SUSC’s Academy program past and present. Last year’s team had four players selected in the MLS Draft. Everyone was delighted to see Kamal Miller become a consistent starter for the Canadian National Team and put in some outstanding performances in the recent Gold Cup competition.

With the advent of summer, so cometh the camp season. Over the course of July and August, we will host more than 100 soccer camps across Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts ranging from young grassroots classes in Kittery, ME to residential camps at Gould Academy (Bethel, ME), Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, NH) and Camp Bournedale (Plymouth, MA). In total, we expect to have more 5,000 players kicking a ball, which is incredible.

Seacoast United will make another first this summer as a Nike Club for more than 25 years. We will send close to 500 spectators to New Jersey in late July to help support the English Premier League’s Summer Fest.

Through the club’s relationship with Brighton & Hove Albion, fans will be in the Brighton section as they take on fellow Premier League side Newcastle United at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Many thanks to the EPL, Brighton and Nike for allowing us the opportunity. I will be there and definitely on the lookout for the Newcastle/Brighton split scarf.

For all of the good our coaches and staff are doing on the field, it is just as important to highlight the work Seacoast United is doing off of it. Making a difference in people’s lives is something we work at every day and sport is the perfect vehicle for that. The United Sports Foundation will host its annual ‘Jarkko Tuominen’ golf tournament on Monday, Sept. 25 in honor of my late friend and former Nike Soccer employee, Jarkko.

It marks the 18th edition of the golf event and for the past several years we have been fortunate enough to hold it at the beautiful ‘Links at Outlook’ in South Berwick, ME. The spring of 2023 saw the United Sports Foundation (USF) hold the annual ‘Bob Masi’ golf tournament and for the first time hosted a brand new event in Massachusetts as part of SUSC’s Mass South inaugural event. This fall, USF hopes to do the same in the Portland, Maine region, Bedford/Concord, New Hampshire region and SUSC’s Mass North area. All are done in an effort to bring people together and raise money for the USF scholarship fund.

In closing, I sincerely hope all of you enjoy this summer and can take advantage of the school holidays. On behalf of everyone at the club, the players, the parents, the coaches, the businesses and the communities we serve, thank you for being a part of Seacoast United.

Kind Regards, Paul Willis

UNITED SPORTS FOUNDATION

seacoastunited.com Like us on Facebook for news, healthy tips & medical information.

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OUR CLUB

OUR CLUB

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Making a difference in people’s lives, on and off the field For Seacoast United, the passion among its directors, players and fans helped turn a small New Hampshire soccer club into one of the most successful soccer organizations in the country.

Hampton, Epping & Kingston, NH

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The club was founded in 1992 with the simple mission to advance the physical and social well-being of kids and adults through competitive soccer. Seacoast United has grown exponentially ever since.

It started with two teams and evolved into multiple locations spanning from northern Maine to Rhode Island. What was once a handful of members now includes nearly 10,000 active soccer players.

The club expanded from just two fields to several world-class indoor and outdoor facilities. Seacoast United has built a reputation among community and business leaders for creating more than just championship soccer teams.

The impact of Seacoast United Soccer Club can be felt both on and off the field and, increasingly, around the world. Seacoast United teams are designated for league play within the MLS Next and Girls Academy League, Development Player League (DPL) and National League Pro, National League and New England Club Soccer League (NECSL). The Seacoast United Phantoms participate in the United Soccer League League Two (USL 2) as well.

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Epping, NH

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Bedford, NH

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Concord, NH

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Portland & Bangor, ME

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Amesbury & Andover, MA

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Boston & South Shore, MA

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PROMINENT PARTNER

MORE THAN BUYING UNIFORMS

G N O E V I L E L I SM R E W O P

SOCCER.COM, originally founded as Eurosport, has over 35 years of experience outfitting youth soccer teams, players, parents, coaches and fans around the world. We are players, parents, coaches and fans. Our aim is to inspire you to play better, cheer louder and have more fun by bringing you the best selection of soccer gear, expert advice and stories of greatness at every level of the game.

Growing up with the game.

When two young soccer players couldn’t find cutting-edge cleats in the U.S., they solved their problem in the classroom. Through a high school project, Mike and Brendan Moylan mailed their first 24-page “Eurosport” catalog in 1984 and never looked back. Still a familyowned business today, SOCCER.COM‘s spirit of helping our fellow soccer players and fans get more from the game is stronger than ever today.

Passing it on.

We believe in the power of sport to unite communities and change lives. That’s why in 1991, we created Passback, a program that collects and donates gently used gear to players from underserved communities. Now operating in partnership with the US Soccer Foundation, Passback has redistributed more than one million items to players in need. Playing on our home field. Headquartered in Hillsborough, NC, our “home field” is North Carolina’s vibrant Triangle region that’s also home to Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh.

What excites you the most about this partnership?

Friendship with Paul MM: You are lucky in life to have a career that allows you to do the things you care deeply about. It’s even better when you are able to work with others that you enjoy on and off the business pitch. Paul and his team have a great way of making people feel part of everything they are doing. The basis of our partnership is finding ways for each of our teams to achieve more than we could independently and share ways to help the other grow.

How do you see both organizations evolving over the next couple of years?

Belief in the word ‘partnership’ MM: The youth sports landscape is evolving and families are expecting more. Both 3STEP and Soccer.com are looking to find ways to shorten the distance on big projects and create more value for players and families. Our goal is to partner with the best sports focused companies to aggregate the best options for our 3STEP and Soccer.com mutual players.

How did the partnership with Seacoast United get started?

3STEP Sports, Nike MM: I got a call from Brian Cummings, who I had known at Under Armour, in September of 2021 to let me know about 3STEP’s partnership with Seacoast United. I shared that I had known Paul Willis through the years and that he couldn’t have found a better person to be part of 3STEP. What does it mean to have Seacoast United part of the Soccer.com family?

MM: Soccer.com is more than a business to my brother Brendan and I – it’s a way of life and it represents what we believe in both personally and professionally. Occasionally, we are lucky enough to meet others that share that same passion for what they do and it shows in how they treat others. Having known Paul through his relationships with mutual friends and spending time with him at soccer events it was always evident to us that he shared both our love of the game and the people that supported him

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PARTNER BLUE PAGES

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AP PAREL & EQUIP MENT NIKE Soccer.com Veo

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CLUB TO CLUB SUMMIT

When Seacoast United first hatched the idea for Club to Club summit in 2005, founder Paul Willis asked Nike soccer executive Joe Elsmore to deliver the opening remarks. Soccer was still a burgeoning sport in America at that time and club soccer – especially clubs with regional reach such as Seacoast – was in its nascent stages.

Everyone laughed when Elsmore showed the skit to the small group of clubs in attendance in 2005 at Wentworth By The Sea. The Simpsons, at least at the time, were right. Americans didn’t get it – or didn’t fully see – the beauty of the game. Soccer was still a niche piece within the overall sports landscape in America.

Elsmore arrived with a sense of humor. He queued up a 1997 episode from The Simpsons titled ‘The Cartridge Family’ that spoofed the sport within America. The skit wasted little time poking fun at the American sports fan, opening with a television advertisement promoting soccer coming to the fictitious town of Springfield.

“Soccer wasn’t anywhere near where it is now in this country,” Willis said in a March interview nearly 18 years later.

“The Continental Soccer Association is coming to Springfield,” said the announcer reading the ad. “It’s all here – fast-kicking, low-scoring.

And ties? You bet.”

“It was more about the clubs learning from each other,” Willis said.

“You could still have experts come in. But the idea was to bring the clubs together and try to learn.”

Willis and co. certainly got one thing right – the soccer boom was coming. The sport has surged in popularity domestically. According to a Gallup poll released in 2022, eight percent of Americans named soccer as their favorite sport in 2019 compared to just two percent in 2004. The figure is even larger in the ages 18-29 demographic.

The sport is pushing into popular culture, too. Nearly 900,000 Americans watched the season 3 premiere of Ted Lasso on Apple TV. Welcome To Wrexham, a docuseries chronicling Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney takeover of a storied English football club, is a hit on Hulu.

In June, Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami announced the signing of global superstar Lionel Messi. The club nearly quintupled its following on Instagram, growing from one million followers prior to the announcement to nearly five million in 24 hours.

Homer Simpson takes the bait and buys tickets to the game. From there, the skit takes off, showcasing classic Simpsons wit while leaning into all the classic tropes poking fun both at the American sports fan and soccer itself.

All of this serves as a prelude to 2026 when the United States hosts the World Cup.

International star Pelé shows up to briefly sell a product before leaving with a bag of cash. The game begins with both sides – Mexico and Portugal – passing the ball back and forth in a triangle formation without advancing up the pitch.

“To think the World Cup is coming here is amazing,” Willis said.

“When you look at soccer in this country and see where it’s going – the women’s game has done so well. But there’s more we can do.”

The summit has grown, too, and made its triumphant return in 2023 after being placed on pause as the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic. Seacoast hosted 65 clubs – the most in summit history – in early February at the swanky Wentworth By The Sea owned by Ocean Properties on the coast of New Hampshire. Clubs traveled from as far as Florida and Chicago for two days worth of panelists and workshops.

Seacoast’s cadre of guest speakers grew in accordance as well and took on an international flair, including NBC Sports broadcaster and ex-English footballer Robbie Mustoe, who interviewed Paul Barber, the chief executive and deputy chairman of English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

“That was a nice touch,” Willis said. “Mustoe appreciates what America has given him. He’s very intelligent and articulate. For people to get analysis from him about the Premier League and the World Cup, that was something we’ve never had before.”

In total, the event featured more than 15 presentations split across two days and two ballrooms. And as the game has evolved stateside, so have the challenges facing clubs.

Famed Simpsons broadcaster Kent Brockman can’t hide his boredom, drearily offering play-by-play: “Halfback passes to center, back to wing, back to center, center holds it. Holds it. Holds it…”

The camera then cuts to an international broadcaster in the next booth delivering the exact same play-by-play with the same fervor and excitement you’d expect from a World Cup final, seemingly hanging on every pass: “Halfback passes to center! Back to wing! Back to center, center holds it! Holds it!! Holds it!!!”

The episode cleverly nails it. Before long, the sold-out crowd grows restless and fights break out, devolving into a full-blown riot. Even in that instance, the Americans don’t quite get it, and the skit leans on a group of Scottish soccer fans to show them how to properly scrap in the crowd.

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Club to Club Summit

GOES GLOBAL

Seacoast United

CLUB 2 CLUB

Willis thought he could help. Some eight years earlier, Seacoast broke ground on its first facility in Hampton, New Hampshire. Outdoor facilities followed several years later and Seacoast United expanded its reach across northern New England. The whole idea behind the summit, he says now, was to create a forum for clubs to help other clubs potentially facing the same issues. What’s the best strategy to build out your own facility? How do you hire and retain better coaches?

Scott Wollaston, the CEO of North Carolina Fusion, a big player in the national landscape, spoke about the importance of developing both your staff and your facilities. Ian Buckman, the director of Brighton’s academy program, delivered a special presentation on the importance of player development both on and off the field.

Willis hopes to continue growing the summit in the years to come, finding a balance between star-powered panelists and an event that feels personalized to club directors – something that gets lost at bigger coaches conventions. Soccer continues to evolve and he feels Seacoast’s Club 2 Club summit can function as the fulcrum for club directors across the country growing alongside it. The challenges club directors face in 2023 may be slightly different, but the essence that everyone must work together and share their ideas to work together to elevate the game remains in place.

“There are some synergies there between what Brighton does and what these clubs can do,” Willis said. “Not in terms of facilities compared to ours or the amount of money in their budget compared to ours. But there are synergies in terms of how you look after players, further develop your coaches. And he’s smart enough to communicate that to clubs that aren’t in the professional ranks. That mixture is attractive to people who come to the event.”

When Willis opened this year’s summit, he showed the same Simpsons clip that they showed in 2005. Again, the room roared in laughter, including some who were there years ago and others attending the summit for the first time.

Two months after the event, Barber was named the Premier League’s chief executive of the year.

“What’s interesting to me is that Paul is not getting on his pulpit and saying you need $50 million or a 30,000-seat stadium” Willis said.

Willis’ message was simple: Look how far we’ve come since then.

Now, we need to work together to ensure it keeps growing the right way.

“Twenty-five years ago, Brighton was 30 minutes away from getting kicked out of the professional league entirely in England … They’re not historically one of the top clubs in the Premier League. It’s not the first city in England you’d say is a soccer hotbed. But if you asked anybody in England, regardless of what club they support, which club is the best run club? Everyone is saying Brighton. Their new ownership is clever about investing,” Willis continued.

Here’s the full list of presenters at the 2023 Club to Club summit Paul Willis – Founder, Seacoast United Scott Wollaston – CEO, North Carolina Fusion James Peterson – Sponsorship Manager, 3STEP Sports Matt Brown – COO, Community Athletic Solutions Ian Burgess – Vice President, 3STEP Sports Soccer Ian Buckman – Academy Director, Brighton & Hove Albion John Broderick – Former Chief Justice, New Hampshire Supreme Court Jesse Schram – Seacoast United alumni, Clinical Social Worker Paul Barber – CEO & Deputy Chairman, Brighton & Hove Albion

Club to Club Summit

“He had no backdrop, no anything. He just spoke from the heart. He wants to share what he experienced. He was the least soccer person of anyone there. He’s the only person that got a standing ovation? What does that tell you? His presentation, for me, is another reason why the summit is important. Everybody who left there knows you have the opportunity to make a difference in a kid’s life.”

The event took a multifaceted approach to building an organization.

Sean Carey – NECSL League Director George Wright – Head of Business Development, North Carolina Fusion Tom Arnett – Chief Customer Officer, MOJO Sports

Broderick’s family dealt with a public mental health crisis in 2002 when his then 30-year-old son attacked Broderick while he slept, inflicting enough injuries to leave him in serious condition, according to the Associated Press. The story was picked up nationally.

Broderick’s family opted to tell their story in the hopes other families could learn from their past and see how mental illness manifests in their childrens’ lives.

Ciaran McArdle – President, XL Sports Tours

“He has a saying ‘I didn’t know then, I know now,” Willis said. “He didn’t know his son was struggling. He probably said that phrase half a dozen times in his eloquent presentation.”

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Seacoast United

Robbie Mustoe – NBC Sports

Not every presentation had a direct connection to the pitch, either. The most powerful hour of the summit was delivered not by a soccer coach or former player, but instead by 76-year-old former chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court John Broderick, who has embarked on a campaign to combat the mental illness crisis affecting youth athletes.

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USL LEAGUE TWO

PHANTOMS STRIVE FOR MORE IN

GIRLS ACADEMY OVERVIEW

A PROGRAM ON THE RISE The summer of 2022 was a record-breaking season for the Seacoast United Phantoms. Seacoast’s USL 2 side won the league’s Northeast Division for the third time, set a regular season points record and conceded just two goals at home all season. They were one of just eight teams remaining nationally in the postseason tournament.

The question now – how will they build on that success in 2023?

Much of the Phantoms’ success is attributed to a fertile talent pipeline throughout the program. The 2022 team featured 12 Seacoast Academy alumni. Several were key contributors, including top scorer Taig Healy.

“Having both current and former Academy players involved with our USL 2 side is exactly what it’s all about,” Phantoms head coach Alex Ryan said.

“The USL 2 forms the top of our pyramid. It’s a place where local talent can play and gain exposure in the summer. We also recruit high-caliber players from the collegiate system and bring them to the Seacoast area for the summer. It forms a talented and unique group of players from various backgrounds.”

Four Phantoms players were later drafted in the December MLS Draft, including Moise Bambito, who was named to the 2023 Major League Soccer Generation adidas class and later selected No. 3 overall by the Colorado Rapids in the December SuperDraft – a Seacoast record.

The Girls Academy League continues to raise the bar for youth female soccer players across the country. Seacoast United, one of 92 member clubs, is following suit.

Off the field, Seacoast’s Girls Academy implemented programs to provide support networks among players and give them each a voice.

Seacoasts’ Girls Academy program braved harsh New England weather, especially early in the season, to travel throughout the region seeking competition. Seacoast fields teams across six age groups U13 through U19 and spent a considerable amount of time traveling to the southern part of the conference – New York and New Jersey specifically – for games early in the spring calendar.

“We adjusted our off-field activities to allow older players to speak with our younger players on different topics they’ve experienced throughout the years,” Scott said.

“It brings its challenges, however it allows us an opportunity to discuss resiliency with our players and provide them an extra opportunity to bond off the field,” said Girls Academy director Chris Scott.

Seacoast fielded its full component of six teams this spring. The U15 through U19 teams don’t compete in the fall schedule due to high school soccer scheduling complications.

“It’s great to create the feel of a full program and environment,” Scott said. “We’re always looking for ways to have our younger players and teams learn from our older teams. Having both groups watch each other’s games and compete in combined training sessions allows our older players an opportunity to be role models and leaders within our program.”

“These types of environments have been great to have the younger players engaging and learning. It also allows our older players to develop life skills as role models, leaders and public speakers.”

On the field, Seacoast United’s U15-19 GA teams headed to Greensboro, NC in mid-April for the GA Spring Showcase event.

“Our teams love attending this event every year, as it gives them an opportunity to play against top quality opposition from across the country who they would not normally face locally,“ Scott said. “That event is geared towards the college recruitment process, and gives our players the opportunity to showcase themselves in front of the nation’s top college programs.”

For more information on Seacoast United’s Girls’ Academy program please contact Academy Director Chris Scott – cscott@ seacoastunited.com

“To have four players drafted and another turn pro is fantastic. It’s a testament to their hard work,” Ryan said. “It’s brilliant that Seacoast United can have an impact on their soccer career and inspire the next generation of players in the area. It shows where the program is headed.”

The Phantoms kicked off their 2023 campaign on May 25 with a 1-1 draw versus the Western Massachusetts Pioneers. With a healthy mix of returning players and new additions, the club will look to replicate last year’s success and hopes fans show up to the Seacoast United complex in Epping to cheer on the lads.

At the time of writing this, the Seacoast United Phantoms defeated rivals Boston Bolts 1-0 to secure their status as USL 2 northeast divisional champions. They clinch a spot in the USL 2 playoffs and will compete against the top 32 clubs from around the country.

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INTERNATIONAL TOURS

TRIP OF A LIFETIME “Seacoast United 2012 Boys and Girls from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts came together for a trip of a lifetime to England during February vacation 2023. The group spent the first part of the trip in London, staying at a hotel right beside Tower Bridge, getting views down the Thames along with sightseeing tours of the rest of London along with the world famous Wembley Stadium. The group trained with Youth Academy staff of Tottenham Hotspurs at their training ground and played games against local opposition. Going to watch the games at Tottenham, West Ham and Watford was an unbelievable experience for the families and was enjoyed by all. The group also headed up to the English Football Association’s national football centre, St Georges Park, where players trained with an FA coach and even the parents got the chance to play against the kids and have their own games!”

“We were able to attend several Premier League matches, visit famous soccer stadiums such as Old Trafford and Wembley Stadium, and even meet some professional soccer players. The highlight of the trip for me was attending a match between Wolves and Crystal Palace. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric and the game was incredibly intense. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all our players and one they will never forget.

The added experience came with friendly games against local teams who were very competitive. This trip is something we’ve done in last 5 years and will continue to do every year for our seacoast express teams”

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SUMMER CAMPS MA, ME & NH

GOAL KEEPERS SCHOOL

SUSC KEEPERS HEAD TO SCHOOL Do you know a top goalkeeper in northern New England? Chances are they’ve trained with the Seacoast United Goalkeeping program.

More than 200 goalkeepers compete for Seacoast United in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine ranging from ages nine through 19. Many of those keepers enter the program through the Seacoast United Goalkeeper School (SUGS) as the club aims to work with as many goalkeepers in the area as possible that are hoping to take the next step in their skill development.

“I’m extremely fortunate to work with so many talented goalkeepers who go on to play Division I, II or III,” said Andrew Pesci, Seacoast United director of goalkeeping.

“Some of our youth goalkeepers are even selected to attend United States National Team ID events. Goalkeeping is a very difficult position. It requires special attention and takes several years to reach a high level. When our goalkeepers go play in college, that’s really the beginning of their goalkeeper career in a way. However, I do love it when they come back in the winter and train with me.”

Pesci and his staff of goalkeeper-specific coaches work with more than 500 keepers every year – a number that is expected to continue to grow in 2023.

“Everyone on our staff was a goalkeeper at one point, so they understand the demands of the position and what it takes to become successful,” Pesci said.

“Many played collegiately. Some are even college goalkeepers right now. That has really helped guide our goalkeepers to understand what they need to do to get recruited to play in college.”

The Seacoast United Goalkeeper School offers a variety of programs ranging from a one-week overnight summer camp in Brewster to a more intensive 12-week endeavor. Each year, the program continues to grow to match the increasing demand. Seacoast started just offering winter and summer programs. But it now offers year-round opportunities for goalkeeper to continue to learn, develop and achieve their goals on the pitch.

Seeking more information?

Email Andrew Pesci at apesci@seacoastunited.com.

Seacoast’s Memorable MLS Next Season Seacoast United’s 2023 MLS Next program turned in a historic season playing at the highest level of youth soccer in America.

Seacoast’s U19 team won the Northeast Division and entered the postseason as the No. 2 overall seed in the country, finishing with 2.55 points per match average while also winning the MLS Flex bracket.

“This is a fantastic achievement that is going to be remembered for years to come,” said MLS Next Academy Director Alex Ryan. “To finish ahead of professional academies is not an easy feat. It was certainly a record breaker.”

The U19s traveled to Texas in June to compete among 32 remaining clubs for the national championship. The group has an impressive mix of committed college players, including: New Hampshire, Maryland, Washington, Bryant, Williams College, Franklin Pierce, Colby College, Boston College and Northeastern.

The U15-U17s finished their regular season and traveled to Dallas for the final showcase of the season. The event provided a chance to compete against competition outside the northeast in front of more than 200 different college coaches. Opponents included Charlotte FC, Michigan Wolves and Indiana Fire.

The U13s and U14s wrapped up league play at the end of May and their final competition was the NE Cup in early June. The U14s embarked on the trip of a lifetime early in the season, traveling to Manchester, England. They competed against two Welsh Premier League sides, trained at the Wolves training ground and had a session with Everton FC’s top youth coach.

The group also took part in sightseeing, stadium tours of Anfield (Liverpool FC), Old Trafford (Manchester United) and Molineux (Wolves) and watched live games between Manchester United and West Ham, as well as Stoke against Brighton. It was quite a memorable trip for our players.

For more information on the MLS Next program, please contact Alex Ryan – aryan@seacoastunited.com

Camps

Seacoast United offers a variety of camps for players of all ages throughout the year based in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.

Seacoast’s Residential Soccer Camps are tailored to provide motivated players with a high-level training opportunity during the offseason.

These camps are available to boys and girls from U7 to U18 looking to take their game to the next level. Throughout each camp, all players are taken through a daily curriculum that includes skills sessions, speed and agility work, small-sided play as well as full-sided matches. Sessions are run by qualified and highly educated full-time and part-time staff members from the Seacoast United Soccer Club.

Seacoast United Soccer Club offers Advanced Training Camps and Clinics in numerous locations in the states of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. The Seacoast United full-time and part-time staff offer the highest quality instruction to motivated players willing to learn, be tested and pushed technically and tactically in a learning friendly environment. The Advanced Training Camps and Clinics are offered to players from U8 to U17 looking to grow their confidence, increase their creativity on the field and work hard in all aspects of the game.

The Summer Skills Camps and Clinics are a fantastic way to introduce players ages six through 14 to Seacoast United Soccer Club’s fun developmental approach to the game of soccer. The professional, dedicated full-time coaching staff offers sessions full of competitive yet fun technical challenges and game play. Players thrive within the atmosphere created by all SUSC staff allowing them to develop their love for the game while improving important basic and more advanced skills.

The Grassroots Soccer Camps and Clinics through Seacoast United Soccer Club are a unique opportunity for young children to get involved in the game of soccer. The overall theme is for children to relate having fun with playing soccer and to develop the necessary skills to be a competitive player in the future. The program ranges from ages 3 to 5 years or 3 to 6 years, and offers an inclusive, learning friendly atmosphere for all involved in each session. All age groups are appropriately challenged with specifically designed developmental games and activities For more information, visit seacoastunited.com/programs/camps.

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SUSC ALUMNUS MATT RENNER

SUSC ALUMNUS MATT RENNER scores with Apple TV+ documentary series featuring Lionel Messi

Seacoast United is proud to acknowledge alumnus Matt Renner, a player and member of one of two inaugural SUSC teams in 1992, is one of the executive producers of Apple TV’s upcoming documentary series on Lionel Messi.

“Matt played on our first U14 side coached by myself and Chris Laberge,” said Seacoast founder Paul Willis. “The team included one of his best friends, Nate Hardy. While we dearly miss Nate, his service to America as a member of Navy Seal Team Six and as a fallen hero is with us every day and will never be forgotten. Both the Hardy and Renner families were instrumental in starting the club alongside current Clemson head coach Mike Noonan and myself.”

Renner had a stellar club career before embarking on a successful college career at Colgate University. Shortly after, his desire to be in the entertainment business led him to California, where he received an Emmy Award for his work on the amazing documentary ‘Free Solo.’

Renner’s initial claim to fame was his production work on the highly acclaimed ‘Deadliest Catch’ series. We hope to work out a date this fall for a special preview of the Messi series in New Hampshire that coincides with a special announcement related to the ‘Nate Hardy Scholarship Fund’ as part of the United Sports Foundation. Stay tuned.

The following is a press release from Apple announcing the Messi series.

Today Apple TV+ announced a new untitled four-part documentary series from SMUGGLER Entertainment, featuring exclusive behind the-scenes access to global superstar Lionel Messi, who is widely considered to be the greatest-of-all-time in a sport that commands the devotion of five billion fans around the world. The series filmed in Paris, Qatar and Argentina, tracks the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner through his five FIFA World Cup appearances and his FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 win, in one of the most exciting finals in history. In his own words, Messi tells the definitive story of his incredible career with the Argentina national football team, providing an intimate and unprecedented look at his quest for a legacy-defining World Cup victory.

Just days before the tournament kicked off, Messi told the filmmakers, “It would be the ultimate experience to win a World Cup and to be able to close out my career in that way. I’ve daydreamed about it after many years of fighting for it. I made a million possibilities of what could happen … the first match, the round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semifinal and the final. I’m also going to live it as something special, because it’s the last one. To finish my last year winning a World Cup would be the dream ending.” In a matter of weeks, and in front of record-breaking viewership, Leo Messi solidified his place in the pantheon of sport as he hoisted the World Cup. The currently untitled documentary event is executive produced

by Emmy Award winner Tim Pastore (“Free Solo,” “Jane”), Emmy and Tony Award winners Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody, and Emmy Award winner Matt Renner (“Free Solo,” “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth”) of SMUGGLER Entertainment, alongside Jon Henion (“Welcome to Wrexham”) and Juan Camilo Cruz (“In Her Hands”).

The series is produced for Apple by SMUGGLER Entertainment, andproduced in association with Pegsa.

The filmmakers followed Messi throughout the thrilling FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, providing rare and unique access before, during and after the monumental feat of becoming a legendary champion. From Qatar’s training grounds to the chaos of press junkets to the quiet contemplation of Messi’s private room, the series highlights a thrilling mash-up of the public and private worlds of the planet’s top living athlete as well as that of his loyal supporters across Argentina and those who made the pilgrimage to Qatar. The series also features the most personal interviews to date with Messi, alongside conversations with teammates, coaches, competitors, devout fans and commentators testifying to the incredible influence and impact he has on a nation and the world, along with the grace, fortitude and willpower he has demonstrated throughout his career. The docuseries charts the dramatic path of his first match with the Argentina national football team where he was shown a red card in his first minute, to carrying the weight of a country on his shoulders through several elusive World Cup wins, leading to his early retirement in 2016, and ultimately the comeback to become a FIFA World Cup champion and be crowned the 2022 tournament’s best player.

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 365 wins and 1,465 award nominations and counting, including multiEmmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

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UNITED SPORTS FOUNDATION/SEACOAST TOURNAMENTS

JARKKO TUOMINEN

GOLF TOURNAMENT. 18th Annual at the Links at Outlook, South Berwick, ME

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

UNITED SPORTS FOUNDATION utdsportsfoundation.org

SEACOAST TOURNAMENTS

DISCOVER. EXP LO RE TH E LATEST N EWC OM ER TO TH E O PA L C O LL EC T I O N Waterfront lodgings don’t get better than Wentworth by the Sea. Picture this: A stately, terracotta-roofed retreat ringed by unspoiled, sprawling grounds and a picturesque marina. What a place to stay; what a place to reset.

O PA LC O LL EC T I O N . C O M / W E N T WO RT H