Emerald City FC Updates

Dear Emerald City F.C. Families,

It is an exciting time for the Club!  Director Emeritus Bobby Howe is being reinstated as our Director of Coaching ("DOC").

Bobby served as the Club's prestigious DOC during its peak years as Seattle's preeminent premier youth soccer club having previously been the Director of Coaching for the US Soccer Federation. Bobby graciously stepped aside from the role so that the Club could rebuild after the separation from SYSA but he never strayed far, remaining as a coach of numerous highly successful ECFC teams. Following the "player development" philosophy so strongly espoused by Bobby and indoctrinated into all our coaching staff, the Club has regrown and Bobby's reputation and expertise as DOC now return ECFC to the elite club stature to which it belongs. And Bobby is very pleased to be back: "It is an honor to have been asked by the Emerald City F.C. Board of Directors to direct the soccer component of this club and to help maintain its tradition of excellence.  I look forward to working with the players, the coaches and all our stakeholders to help them to understand and to apply our development philosophy which is the backbone of our mission statement."

At the same time, this change is bitter sweet and the Club extends its heartfelt thanks to Erik Oman who filled the role of "Interim Director of Coaching" and DOC during the past three years of regrowth. Erik's enthusiasm for the "ECFC way" is contagious and he created his own legacy as the Club's DOC. The Club has offered Erik a new role as "Technical Director" with oversight of the Development Program as well as continuing his passion for coaching youth teams. We hope he will remain with us for a long time to come.

Other changes in our 2013-14 year included Board adjustments. Steve Tanaka stepped down as president last November -- the Board and Club thanks Steve for his seemingly tireless efforts, between transcontinental flights, to make the Club bigger, better and stronger, and his ongoing volunteer contributions. We also extend many, many thanks to Bill Walsh who participated briefly as executive VP and is now leading multiple specialized marketing efforts, including uniforms, international club associations and more.  We are a volunteer organization, and the contributions of people like Steve and Bill make the difference between mediocrity and supremacy. Please consider what you can offer the Club.

You are always welcome to send questions, comments, suggestions and offers to volunteer. You can direct them to VPMembership@EmeraldCityFC.org and they will be forwarded to the appropriate contact.

Emerald City Football Club Board.
Go Emerald City FC!

ECFC M98 Green wins the 2014 WA Cup!

Congratulations to ECFC M98 Green, coached by John Hamel, for winning the 2014 WA Cup (U15 Gold Division).

Semi final penalty shootout winning save by Ryan Farley.

"Both the semi-final and final were gutsy wins by the boys.
The semi-final was tied 0-0 with 12 minutes left, when Franklin Pierce Fury got a penalty kick off of an incidental hand ball on the outer edge of the box. They converted it, and with their backs against the wall, ECFC pushed players forward with a sense of urgency and tied the game with 5 minutes left. After missed chances by both teams in overtime, two injuries, and two players who cramped up, the boys went to penalty kicks and made 3 out of 5, with our goalie, Ryan, saving two.
In the final on Sunday, the boys gutted out a 0-0 tie in regulation against the dangerous attack of the Gunners. The boys went back and forth with Issaquah into overtime again, both teams missing opportunities. With solid defending and goalkeeping, the score remained 0-0 and went to penalties. Penalties went into the 6th round, where we, ECFC, made the 4th goal and Ryan made a nice save to win the game. All in all, very gutsy performances where the boys never gave up, dug down deep to win battles when they had to, and did what they needed to come away with the championship."  Coach John Hammels recap of the weekends games.


Other notable results
ECFC M97 Green - Semi Finalists (U16 Gold Division)

ECFC M99 Green Pacific Coast Super Cup Finalists

Congratulations to ECFC M99 Green, coached by Bobby Howe, for reaching the finals of the 2014 Pacific Coast Super Cup.

2014/2015 Boys U16-U18 ECFC Tryouts, Tuesday February 25th and Wednesday February 26th

Please visit our club site for more information about upcoming 

Boys U11-U15 and Girls U11-U18 Tryouts

www.emeraldcityfc.org

ECFC ANNOUNCES A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH UC SAMPDORIA OF ITALY’S SERIE A

Emerald City FC is pleased to announce a new partnership with UC Sampdoria from Italy’s top professional league, Serie A, starting with the 2014-15 season. 

Emerald City FC is joining a growing list of national premier youth soccer clubs as a UC Sampdoria North American International Academy partner club.  Emerald City, UC Sampdoria North American International Academy and Global Image Sports will co-sponsor a player identification camp this summer which will not only serve as a tremendous training opportunity for players of every age and gender, but selected players will be invited to attend UC Sampdoria North American International Academy’s residence camp.  Players who perform well at the national camp will then be invited to train with UC Sampdoria’s Academy players in Genoa, Italy.  Moreover, UC Sampdoria’s emblem will appear on Emerald City’s new uniforms for the 2014-15 season and ECFC teams which are able to make the trip to Genoa to visit UC Sampdoria during the Serie A season will be paired with an Italian team of like age for a match before UC Sampdoria takes the field for its match.   

A partnership between teams from Seattle and Genoa is a natural fit of two great port cities with a deep passion for soccer.  This partnership promises to a great opportunity for all Emerald City FC players to build new friendships and develop greater soccer skills in conjunction with a team from one of the world’s greatest soccer leagues.  Buongiorno e benvenuto, Sampdoria!



2014, Our Emerald Year ...

Our Emerald Year…

This year, Emerald City FC celebrates its 35^th year and, appropriately enough, the gemstone associated with the 35^th anniversary is…the emerald.  So, 2014 is the Our Emerald Year at ECFC and we are committed to making it our best year ever.  The strength of our club is showing in every way: our numbers are growing, our teams are winning, our players are developing, our programs are tremendously successful.

 We recently announced a partnership with a Serie A (Italy’s top league) team, UC Sampdoria of Genoa.  This will bring new training opportunities and a new international presence in our city to further enrich the culture of not only our club but the larger soccer community around us.  A new website and new uniforms are also in store for 2014.  Our residence camp returns to Fort Casey August 15-17—a great event (mark your calendars—everyone should plan to attend!).

By every measure, Emerald City FC is a shining example of what can happen when you combine the most talented coaches, the most dedicated parents and the most committed players and focus all of that energy on to a guiding principle of proper player development.  Emerald City FC sets itself apart in many ways, but above all things, we boast the best coaches and best development philosophy in the region—hands down.  Accordingly, as we move forward into 2014, we will continue to embrace a single standard: excellence—in all things.  So, cheers to all and may everyone shine during Our Emerald Year.

Bill Walsh

Executive Vice President

Emerald City FC