Creating Opportunities for Meaningful Soccer Travel
Creating a player development pathway in the USA as well as abroad, Albion SC forms a partnership with European Soccer Solutions.
Exploring the world as a youth soccer player is one of the most magical experiences. More than just creating lifelong memories, traveling with a youth soccer team provides the special and unique opportunity to see that the love and shared passion for the beautiful game transcend the differences that so often divide people. It should be an immersive experience that allows players to test their soccer skills and the team’s abilities against new competition on far away fields.
Europe’s vibrant soccer culture is dynamic and impacts everyday life. Unlike on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, in Europe, the focus on soccer is singular.
Noah Gins, CEO of San Diego based Albion SC understands the value of experiencing team travel. Gins, who played professionally and for the US National team traveled often to Europe, has traveled overseas with his youth soccer teams for years and knows first hand the importance of a great tour provider. After working with European Soccer Solutions (ESS) for several tours, Albion SC has just announced a three-year strategic partnership with the travel organization.
ESS will serve as the official Albion SC travel partner. and will work with their Albion national affiliate clubs such as Las Vegas, Hawaii, San Diego North, to name a few.
FOR THE LOVE OF FÚTBOL. Soccer. Adventure. Culture.
Albion teams will be traveling to youth soccer tournaments and soccer events in Spain and throughout Europe for the next three years, along with sending selected Albion SC players and coaches to San Sebastian, Spain to participate in the ESS Residency Program.
“We have worked with many companies and realize, that for us to fully execute, we need the best possible partner who can handle all aspects of the tour,” said Gins.
“We rely on ESS to facilitate the best tour for our families, players, teams and truly give us the professionalism to match Albion SC,” said Gins. “We found this high level of professionalism in our partner at ESS and look forward to building this international pathway for our players and teams in the next three years.”
“We are more than excited to be involved with a club like Albion SC, who have proven to be one of, if not the, best clubs in the United States over the past decade,” ESS co-owner Todd Stauber.
“Albion SC thinks outside of the box — with player development at the forefront.”
Todd Stauber, ESS Co-Owner
“We’re able to provide Albion SC and their affiliates opportunities that allow them to continue to set themselves apart from other clubs in the United States,” said Stauber.
“We have been traveling internationally with players and teams for 20 years. In the last 5 years, we have really focused on providing our players with international experiences in Spain and Europe,” said Wayne Crowe, Albion Director of Soccer.
“Albion believes that providing our players a pathway to experience soccer in Europe is key to the total development of a player.
Wayne Crowe, Albion Director of Soccer.
“We need our players to feel it, to see it, and to touch it — to play soccer on international soil. The experience is a game-changer,” said Crowe.
European Soccer Solutions was founded in 2016, hosting tours to the Mediterranean International Cup and the Donosti Cup in Spain, along with tours to play friendly matches against La Liga academy opponents in the Basque Country of Spain.
ESS also operates a full-time residency program in San Sebastian, where they are partnered with the famous Basque academy Antiguoko KE, the boyhood club of Spain legends Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta.
Originally founded in 1981, Albion SC took their biggest step as a club in 1998 when Gins stepped in to professionalize the club and create a club-wide curriculum in order to develop players and teams that could play at the highest level in the United States.
Since then the club has grown to over 120 teams, many affiliate clubs around the US, and the reputation as one of the top clubs and coaching staff in the United States.
