Phantoms and Classics Team Up

New Hampshire Soccer Alliance To Develop Local Talent

October 2, 2007

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The USL’s New Hampshire Phantoms are teaming up with the New Hampshire Classics club team to form the New Hampshire Soccer Alliance, a partnership designed to develop players from kindergarten to the pros.

The alliance creates an opportunity for a very powerful youth club in the region. Both organizations will remain intact, with separate boards, but the alliance will focus on cooperatively working together rather than competing for the same resources (players, coaches, facilities, etc.). Payers have seamless access to premier level play in both USYSA and Super Y, as well as a path to a professional level team.

"We are most interested in the growth and improved quality of soccer in New Hampshire from the youngest youth level to the professional level," Jim Dedeus, General Manager and coach of the Phantoms, said in a statement. "Together, we are looking to be the premier level opportunity for soccer players in New Hampshire. NH Classics, with its established program and reputation, is the perfect partner with which to establish the NH Soccer Alliance."

Both clubs plan to work together to manage teams and players as they are guided through the each age group. The Phantoms will have a youth system churning out players and the Classics can take advantage of resources (coaches, camps, clinics, professional games, etc.) provided by a professional team in the Unites Soccer League while still remaining autonomous as a club.

"We recognize the difficulty and effort involved in creating a club with premier level teams in all age groups. We also recognize the value of having a broad range of clubs in the area providing soccer for all levels of play," Jay Joseph, the Classic’s Director of Soccer Operations, said in a statement "It is in the best interest of the top youth players for clubs to work collaboratively so the NH Classics and NH Phantoms are taking the first steps to establish the NH Soccer Alliance."

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