Albion PROS have confirmed the club is set to return to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) for a third consecutive year, albeit with a slight t
Albion PROS have confirmed the club is set to return to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) for a third consecutive year, albeit with a slight twist. The club has changed its name to Albion Soccer Club (ASC) San Diego, and is in the midst of confirming a change of home venue from Mission Bay High School in Pacific Beach to San Diego State University’s Sports Deck facility.
Additionally, the newly named ASC San Diego comes into 2018 with a new focus on philanthropy. The club has committed to donating $1.00 from every ticket sold throughout the campaign to a local charity. The San Diego Center for Children will be the recipient from the first home match.
“We’re excited to announce our 2018 schedule, our new philanthropy model and our new fundraising partnership with San Diego-based Classy, which will help us raise money for local nonprofit organizations throughout the course of the season,” said Noah Gins, CEO and Co-Founder of ASC San Diego. “San Diego has huge potential to become a top leader in the soccer community, and we believe that ASC’s integrated philanthropy approach will lead the way on and off the field.”
Classy, a social enterprise that creates online and mobile fundraising tools, will power ASC’s philanthropic efforts through its software, allowing ASC and its fans to donate and fundraise for the selected nonprofits. To deepen their commitment, Classy will also match every donation that ASC San Diego makes through its ticket sales throughout the 2018 season.
“Like ASC, Classy was founded here in San Diego, and we care deeply about finding ways to give back to the local community that has supported our own growth through the years,” said Scot Chisholm, CEO & Co-Founder of Classy. “ASC’s unique philanthropy model challenges the status quo of how sports teams are typically led, so we’re inspired and thrilled to support their efforts to strengthen our community through the game of soccer.”
“We are one of the only clubs in America to successfully build a ‘full pyramid’ soccer organization—a professional soccer team that sits atop, 10 teams in our US Development Academy, 130 teams in our Albion Academy, 100 teams in our Albion Junior recreational program, and community programs that form the base,” commented Gins. “With the US National team not making the World Cup for the first time in 30 years, there is more pressure than ever to change the way we develop players in this country, and ASC is at the forefront with this approach.”
Albion has made quite a name for itself in recent years, finishing its inaugural NPSL campaign undefeated in the regular season and taking the nation by storm when the club declared interest in the NASL in the build up to its second season. With the foundations of American soccer still reeling from the United States Men’s National Team’s failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the response to ASC’s third consecutive season will be interesting.
The club hits the field with two key pre-season match-ups on March 3 and March 10th, both of which will be played at Mission Bay Stadium in Pacific Beach. The first home Regular Season game will be against FC Arizona on Saturday, March 24, 2018, location to be announced. All tickets will go on sale Thursday, February 15.
The team is managed by Head Coach Jeffrey “Ziggy” Korytoski, assisted by Andre Schmid, Frankie Sanfilippo, Marc Riley, and Martin Johnson with players from all over the world with professional, national team, and collegiate playing experience.
“Our goal for 2018/2019 is both ambitious and attainable,” said Gins. “We are prepared to build upon the foundation that we’ve developed over the past several decades, move up the US Soccer Pyramid, and increase our stake as a dedicated community partner.”
