Members of the advisory board for Hershey FC NPSL and Central Penn United U-23 teams
Local soccer clubs are kicking it up a notch.
Four central Pennsylvania youth soccer clubs have collaborated to form an advisory board to better recruit and train regional young male soccer players.
The board is made up of Hershey Soccer Club, Capital Area Soccer Association (CASA), Penn FC of Harrisburg and Eagle FC.
The group will support the creation of the Men’s Hershey FC National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) Team and the Central Pennsylvania United Under 23 Team (Central Penn United U-23).
“Over the years, these community clubs and directors have informally worked together to improve the players and performance of area youth soccer clubs,” said Tony Potter, president of Hershey Soccer Club. “However, this dynamic collaborative effort is designed to build a single top-flight team. The advisory panel is excited and dedicated to creating top-level soccer in our highly competitive East Region of the NPSL with a specific focus on developing players for college and professional play.”
The new Men’s Hershey FC NPSL team, which is U-17, U-18 and U-19, will provide a space for high-level development, recruitment and training of young soccer players from Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon and Perry counties.
Eric Pettis, the former owner of the Harrisburg City Islanders professional soccer team, was a catalyst for the initiative.
“As community-based clubs, Hershey SC, CASA, Penn FC and Eagle FC are committed to continuing the long tradition of putting the larger central Pennsylvania soccer community first,” Pettis said. “We encourage local young men with a passion for elite soccer competition, and the personal dedication required to be a successful teammate, to try out and earn the right to play with the best. We are hopeful this new alliance leads to a top-tier NPSL soccer team in central PA that will qualify for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.”
Joining Pettis on the board are Hershey Soccer Club Directors Anthony Potter and Keenan Schaeffer, CASA Director Gino DiFlorio, Penn FC Director Bill Becher, Eagle FC Director Brian Redding and longtime Trinidad and U.S. soccer pro Richard Chinapoo.
According to a spokesperson for the board, through the high-quality training of the new Central Penn United Under 23 Team, the advisory board will ensure skilled players train together and fuel a talent pool for the Hershey FC NPSL Team.
An open tryout for the Hershey FC NPSL and Central Penn United U-23 teams will take place on Feb. 6 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at In The Net, 798 Airport Rd., Palmyra.
For more information and to register, visit HersheySoccer.org.
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