Albion Soccer Club, San Diego's powerhouse youth club, has announced another expansion - this time in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with Inspirada
Albion Soccer Club, San Diego’s powerhouse youth club, has announced another expansion – this time in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with Inspirada FC Elite. Going forward Inspirada will be known as Albion SC – Las Vegas as the club adopts the Albion crest, colors, developmental methodology, and commitment to excellence.
Albion San Diego has long been renowned for leading the line in youth soccer development. As a member of the United States Soccer Development Academy for both boys and girls, the club has long overseen the development of the future of American soccer. In 2015, the club launched Albion SC PROS, an elite “senior team” playing in the National Premier Soccer League that serves as an outlet for the homegrown players the club has developed as they pursue careers in professional soccer.
Now expanding to Las Vegas, Albion SC brings its status as an elite, nationally recognized organization, its resources, a proven structure and an elite operational curriculum that had been cultivated in San Diego over the course of the last 20 years.
“For Albion SC, this association allows us to expand our brand into the Las Vegas soccer community and help improve upon what Inspirada FC has accomplished in just a few years,” said Noah Gins, Executive Director of Albion SC. “With Inspirada, we have a great partner who shares our commitment to the development of both players and coaches. Together we intend to improve the soccer opportunities for kids in Las Vegas and throughout Southern Nevada.”
As part of Albion’s elite status with Puma, the club has forged a developmental pathway with the Premier League’s Arsenal Football Club. Through this bond, Albion players and coaches are afforded the opportunity to access Arsenal’s players, coaches, and training methodology. Crucially, Albion players have the opportunity to train in London at the Arsenal Training Centre in London Colney in Hertfordshire.
“Albion SC, under the leadership of Noah Gins, has built the best soccer curriculum and programming, along with the best youth club culture that I’ve seen in America,” said Etienne Barbara, Director of Coaching and Technical Trainer for Albion SC Las Vegas. “This structure allows us to continue expanding our Las Vegas club in the best soccer traditions, creating a great experience for our kids and their families, as well as a home for the best coaches.”
In addition to re-branding as Albion SC – Las Vegas, the club has also secured the services of Amanda Schmutz who will assume the role of Director of Coaching and College Placement. Schumtz’s reputation precedes her. As one of the scant handful of female Elite Clubs National League head coaches, Schmutz has continuously placed her players in collegiate teams, including Big 10, PAC 12, SEC and Ivy League programs. Schmutz maintains a USSF A License and will be tasked with crafting the club’s college placement platform and implementing the Albion SC Curriculum as required by the U.S. Development Academy Program criteria.
The acquisition of Inspirada FC by Albion SC truly does represent the next chapter in elite youth soccer in America. The continued growth of the game in this country affords opportunities for enhanced player development, augmented sharing of ideas and best practices, and ultimately, an optimal environment for young people to be raised in. Albion Soccer Club has produced one of the nation’s most exciting young professionals in the LA Galaxy’s Ariel Lassiter, and there are certainly more players of a professional caliber coming through the pipeline.
Inspirada FC Elite will officially unveil its affiliation with Albion at an exhibition game between Albion PROS and UNLV on Saturday, March 4 at 3:00 p.m. and UNLV’s Peter Johann Soccer Field. The club intends to round out the current season as they are now, before officially re-branding to Albion SC – Las Vegas at the start of next season, with tryouts set for early June.
In the intervening weeks and months, prospective players are encouraged to train with the coaching staff and interact with the Albion PROS during a spring break camp scheduled for April 10-12 at Capriola Park in Henderson.
For more information, visit www.albionsclv.org.
