Soccer News: Six Surf SC Teams Are Manchester City Americas Cup Champions
Representatives from the 2014 EPL Champions Manchester City kicked off the inaugural Manchester City Americas Cup youth soccer tournament over Memorial Day weekend at the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, CA.
Manchester City FC, one of the world’s most high-profile and successful football clubs partnered with Surf Cup Sports to produce the Manchester City Americas Cup, a huge event already successful in its first year. After the announcement that Surf Cup Sports, which manages the Surf Cup tournaments, was producing another signature youth soccer tournament, the response was overwhelming. Surf Cup Sports turned away 73 teams and expects even greater competition for next year.
A total of 238 teams and approximately 4,000 players from all over the Southwest competed against stiff competition for the chance for an automatic acceptance for the team to the famed summer Surf Cup.
Manchester City’s Gavin Rhodes, who flew over from England for the event, was impressed and said, “The tournament is fantastic; the scope and size is really impressive.” Rhodes, who is Head of City Football Schools at City Football Services compared this inaugural Americas Cup tournament to the Gothia Cup and cited that there is nothing like the Americas Cup in England or most of Europe.
“It was a successful event and we look forward to it becoming a global event — The Manchester City Americas Cup has the potential to be bigger and more prestigious than Surf Cup,” said Mike Connerely, president of Surf Cup Sports.
San Diego Surf Soccer Club teams performed well in the Americas Cup, walking off with six Championships. Colin Chesters, SD Surf SC’s Director of Coaching said, “I am very happy with the six winners and the overall performance of all the Surf SC teams who competed in the Manchester City Americas Cup. It was also really very nice to hear very positive feedback from the MCFC coaches who came over to San Diego to watch the tournament.”
The San Diego Surf Soccer Club youth soccer Manchester City Americas Cup Championship teams are:
SD SURF ACADEMY SELECT BU10
“In the short time we’ve been together, our group has worked very hard and done well to build a strong team dynamic,” said coach Ryan Guy. “We still have a long way to go technically and tactically, but I am so proud of their performances throughout the weekend, their dedication to one another, and their ability to focus when the pressure was on.” Guy is a former MLS New England Revolution pro soccer player who is currently on the Guam National Football Team
Soccer Action Recap: The Surf SC BU10 team kicked off the tournament with a tie with the FULLERTON RANGERS (CAS) 0-0. They then went on to beat the HEAT FC (NV) 4-0 and then CHULA VISTA FC (CAS) 1-2. Emerging from bracket, their effort took them to the semifinals were they faced the STRIKERS FC – IRVINE (CAS). Winning the semifinals 2-0, Guy’s team of talented U10 players took the title by defeating TOTAL FUTBOL ACADEMY (CAS) 1-0.
SD SURF EGSL GU9
“I’m so proud of these girls on this Surf SC GU9 team. After recently winning the Cal South State Cup they have continued to work extremely hard. They are a very mature group of girls for their age,” said coach Craig Barclay. “The most memorable moment of the tournament was in the final when they scored two goals in the last ten minutes of the game to win 2-1. It was deomstration of their maturity and desire to excel and was certainly an exciting way to become Manchester City Americas Cup Champions.”
Nominated for the FA’s Young Coach of the Year in 2014, worked for professional club Plymouth Argyle in England before recently moving to San Diego. Now, with a UEFA B, USSF B and a FA Youth Level 3 licenses, Barclay continues to distinguish himself as one of the most accomplished young youth soccer coaches in America.
Soccer Action Recap: The girls started off the tournament with a tie withALBION SC WHITE (CAS) 0-0. They then went on to beat STRIKERS OC 05/06 WHITE (CAS) 4-1 and LEGENDS FC 05 RIVERSIDE (CAS) 3-0. This brought them to the semifinals were they faced REBELS SC G05-06 GOLD (CAS) and won 3-1. They took the title by defeating the EAGLES SC 05/06 (CAS) 2-1 in the final.
SD SURF ACADEMY EGSL GU11
“It was truly awesome to win the inaugural Manchester City FC Americas cup,” said coach Mark Spooner. “It was a great event that will only continue to grow over the years and it’s fantastic the girls will have their names etched in history as the first ever winner. I truly feel that this tournament will become one of the premier Memorial Day tournaments in the country at one of the best facilities in the USA.”
Spooner played professional soccer in England for Crewe Alexandra and Northampton Town FC. In 2003, Spooner represented Great Britain in the World University games (XXII Summer Universiade) in South Korea.
Soccer Action Recap: The GU11 team had a great showing at the tournament going undefeated over five games. The girls defeated the DMCV SHARKS (CAS) 3-0, WEST COAST FC GU11 (CAS) 5-0 and HEAT FC 04 (NV) 3-0. They went on to defeat SDSC ELITE NAVY 03/04 (CAS) in the semifinals 2-1 and matched up against the SCOTTSDALE SOCCER 04G BLACKHAWKS (AZ) in the final, winning 2-0.
SD SURF ECNL ACADEMY GU14
Coached by Cal South Coach of the Year, Seth Trembly, the Surf ECNL U14 girls also went undefeated in the tournament facing tough competition.
Trembly is another former MLS Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake pro soccer player now coaching at Surf SC. As a former U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team player who joined the team at the age of 15 and played along side DaMarcus Beasely and Landon Donovan, Trembly knows what it takes to win and is able to inspire his players to put out the effort for every match.
Soccer Action Recap: Surf GU14 collected wins over the SIMI VALLEY SC ECLIPSE (CAS) 5-0, ARSENAL FC LA GU00 EGSL (CAS) 4-1 and DMCV SHARKS GU14 TOUMI (CAS) 2-1 in bracket play. Then the team shutout the REBELS SC GOLD 00 (CAS) in the semifinals 5-0 and finished the tournament against the BEACH FC BLACK (CAS), winning 2-1.
SAN DIEGO SURF SC SURF ECNL ACADEMY GU15
Coached by Sean Ganey, the Surf SC ECNL Academy GU15 had a great, consistent tournament and emerged undefeated.
“The team worked hard all year to establish their style of play and they deserved to be champions. It is great for them to see the fruits of their labor. The girls scored 23 goals and only gave up 2,” said Ganey.
Ganey is a dedicated youth soccer coach with more than 15 years experience developing youth soccer players in Southern California. Ganey played soccer and graduated from Vanguard University and has since enjoyed success mentoring players and building teams that play Surf’s brand of the beautiful game.
Soccer Action Recap: The girls started the first day of the tournament with an amazing 7-0 win against HEAT FC 00 EN (NV) and 5-0 win against MTN VIEW/LOS ALTOS SC MONSOON 99G BLUE (CAN). They continued their undefeated streak with a 2-0 win against REAL SO CAL G99 EGSL BLUE (CAS). They then faced PALO ALTO SC 00G BLUE (CAN) in the semifinal with a 5-2 win and ultimately defeated PATEADORES MV G99 (CAS) 2-0 in the final.
SD SURF ECNL ACADEMY GU16
Paul Dolinsky’s ECNL U16 team turned in a series of outstanding performances this past weekend — not only did the team go through the tournament undefeated, but they never allowed a goal to be scored against them. “The girls played very well. Their approach was fantastic and they maintained a clean sheet for the entire weekend. They worked very hard and I am super proud of them.”
Another former pro soccer player, Paul “Pauly” Dolinsky left home in his teens to play pro soccer in Holland for Feyenoord Rotterdam where he competed alongside European greats such as Robin Van Persie. Pauly is the assistant Director of Coaching for the Surf girls, and they are gearing up to compete in the upcoming ECNL playoffs in June.
Soccer Action Recap: They faced CRESCENTA VALLEY 98 BLUE (CAS) 3-0, PALO ALTO SC 99G GREEN POWER (CAN) 4-0, FRAM HOFFMAN (CAS) 5-0, PATEADORES ELITE (CAS) 6-0 in the semifinal and LVPSA ’99 GIRLS BLACK (NV) 4-0 in the finals.
