[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Columbus Crew announced today that the Crew Youth system has extended its partnership with the CSA Wolves, an affiliate program based in the Detroit metropolitan area. The new, two-year contract will extend the partnership to it’s fourth and fifth year in the Crew system.
“The Wolves have been a great partner with us since 2011 and have long been one of the most successful youth programs in the nation.” said Andrew Arthurs, Crew Senior Vice President of Soccer Business Development and Executive Director of Crew Juniors. “Through the U.S. Soccer Development Academy platform, CSA Wolves offer top Michigan youth the opportunity to compete at the highest level of youth soccer in the United States. This partnership allows us to extend that pathway for their outstanding players all the way into the Columbus Crew First Team. We are excited to be able to enhance the support to these teams with more technical support and oversight, as well as training, friendlies and matches in both Detroit and Columbus.”
The partnership began in 2011 as part of a comprehensive relationship between the youth club ranked fourth in Soccer America’s 2010 rankings and one of the most successful MLS youth organizations in the country, not to mention the first of it’s kind. The Crew Youth system was ranked eighth overall in Soccer America’s 2010 rankings.
“We have enjoyed the initial years of our relationship with the Crew,” said Brian Doyle, Michigan Wolves-Hawks Director of Coaching, in a press release. “We are excited to continue working together to develop outstanding players and teams.”
With the partnership, Crew Youth and Adidas will supply match and training gear to the Wolves teams, as well as bring them to Crew matches through the year and numerous event series annually. In 2009, the CSA Wolves secured a national championship for the Under-16 squad in the US Soccer Development Academy.
