Former FIFA World Cup and English Premier League Player to Visit Milwaukee
Soccer News: The Milwaukee Soccer Development Group (MSDG) announced the hosting of four fundraising events with former USMNT defender Jay DeMerit scheduled for Saturday, October 17th, 2015.
DeMerit represented the USA in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer, and is the only Wisconsinite to have played in the English Premier League (EPL), where he played for Watford Football Club from 2004-10.
A series of fundraisers will be held throughout Milwaukee whose shared proceeds from sponsorship and ticket sales will benefit DeMerit’s Rise & Shine Foundation and MSDG to help youth both internationally and locally.
Events include the following:
1. EPL Viewing Party of Watford vs Arsenal at Moran’s Pub, 11am to 2pm
2. Private Lunch at Sobelmans Pub & Grill, 2:30pm to 3:30pm
3. Youth Clinic at InBounds Training Center in Glendale (ages 11-14), 3:30pm to 5:30pm
4. Interactive Discussion of Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story at InBounds, 6pm to 8pm
The interactive discussion will focus on Jay’s struggles, failures, and triumphs as told in his documentary of a young American’s impossible journey from Green Bay, WI to the English Premier League– a journey never experienced or heard of in the soccer world.
After he failed to break through with U.S. professional leagues, Jay left for Europe at the age of 21 without any professional experience. He scraped by for almost two years before finally getting his chance. Based on one tryout in the final preseason game, Jay signed a professional contract with Watford FC. He then helped his team earn promotion to the EPL by scoring the “40 million pound goal” and became an instant hero in England. Jay went from playing in front of 50 people to 50,000 almost overnight.
Mark Concannon will be interviewing Jay for the Interactive Discussion in between watching clips of Jay’s documentary. The final event starts at 6:00 P.M. and is free to the general public after sponsorship support from Graef Engineering, Sobelman’s Pub, Keeper Goals, Stefans Soccer, InBounds Training Center, and Moran’s Pub.
Visit www.msdgsoccer.com for more information on events and to purchase tickets.
