Orange County Soccer Club and the Anaheim Family YMCA Announce Youth Soccer Partnership
- Partnership to kick off with 2022 OCSC Season and YMCA Summer Youth Soccer Season
- Expansive agreement includes technical soccer support, enhanced volunteer coaching content, player appearances, clinics, camps and a “YMCA Family Night” at the OCSC home game on Saturday, July 30th
- YMCA Youth Soccer Leagues to Feature OCSC-Branded Soccer Jerseys
June 21, 2022 – Today, the Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) and the Anaheim Family YMCA announced a new one-year partnership making an impact in the Anaheim & regional communities of N. Orange County through health equity and youth programming.
As part of the collaboration, OCSC will serve as the “Official Youth Soccer Technical Partner” for the Anaheim Family YMCA’s youth soccer league, which will feature OCSC-branded YMCA youth soccer league jerseys.
“We are thrilled to join together with the YMCA of Anaheim in this official partnership to support the Anaheim community,” said Jeff Garner, OCSC President of Business Relations, “With six YMCA soccer arenas in the heart of Anaheim, this partnership will serve as an opportunity to unite and celebrate the local soccer community and recognize the unique neighborhoods that make this region the best in the country.”
The partnership also includes integrated content and branding opportunities within YMCA soccer facilities. Throughout the upcoming year, the two organizations will also work together to identify and offer a range of experiences and opportunities to grow the game of soccer while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for Anaheim’s youth.
“We are thrilled to have the OCSC as an official partner of the Anaheim Family YMCA”, said Marty Dutch YMCA Board Chair. “Our primary goal is to deliver services that are important to our Anaheim neighborhoods and they were clear…WE LOVE SOCCER, and we want a safe place to play! We are very excited to bring this level of soccer experience and expertise to our YMCA Soccer Arena. The OCSC partnership will help us grow our soccer programs, expose our volunteers and staff to professional training and elevate our “cool” factor.”
“The YMCA and the OCSC are very much aligned in both our healthy living and youth development efforts,” said Brent Finlay, President & CEO of the Anaheim Family YMCA. “We are happy to begin working with the OCSC on elevating our regional youth soccer program and better preparing our coaches to help Y kids reach their potential. By targeting youth health and wellness so all Anaheim, Cypress, Stanton, La Palma and Buena Park residents can reach their full potential and thrive.”
On Saturday, July 30th the Anaheim Family YMCA will be having a “YMCA Family Night” at the OCSC home game against the San Diego Loyal.
The next OCSC match of the 2022 USL Championship season is Saturday, June 25, 2022, at home against Loudoun United at 5:00 p.m. at Championship Soccer Stadium in the Orange County Great Park of Irvine. For club news and updates, visit OCSC at www.orangecountysoccer.com, download the official team app, and follow OCSC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
For more information about the Anaheim Family YMCA, visit www.anaheimymca.org and follow the Y on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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About the Anaheim Family YMCA
The Anaheim Family YMCA was founded in 1911 and currently impacts over 20,000 youth, teens and adults in Anaheim, Cypress, Stanton, La Palma, and Buena Park. YMCA programs span from early childhood education, after-school, youth sports, swim, summer camps, summer learning, S.T.E.M. enrichment, healthy living and wellness, volunteerism, and community service. The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB:
Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) is Orange County’s only professional soccer team and a founding club of the United Soccer League (USL). The USL Championship comprises 27 teams across the United States and is the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The team plays its home games at the immaculate 5,500-seat Orange County Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium located in Irvine, CA, a new facility surrounded by world class amenities and 24 soccer fields. OCSC won its first USL Championship in November by defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies by a score of 3-1 at the 2021 USL Cup. OCSC is dedicated to being the leader in professional player development in the United States, providing the most talented young players in Southern California and across the United States a pathway to professional soccer and to the top leagues around the world. OCSC’s strategic partner is historic European power Rangers Football Club of Glasgow of the Scottish Premier League. In November 2021, OCSC’s 17-year-old center back, Kobi Henry, became the first active USL player to be called up to the full US Men’s National Team for a friendly game against Bosnia and Herzegovina and in June of 2021 Henry was transferred to Ligue 1 side, Stade de Reims in the largest transfer in USL history. Additionally, in 2019 OCSC signed the youngest male in United States soccer history to a professional contract, Francis Jacobs, at the age of 14; Jacobs played in the 2020 Alkass Cup with Rangers in Qatar and will be returning to train with Rangers in future. OCSC also executed the first ever player move from the USL to the German Bundesliga by sending Bryang Kayo to VFL Wolfsburg in early 2020, followed by the transfer of OC native Aaron Cervantes to Rangers FC in late 2020. OCSC also received the largest transfer fee in league history within the USL for a 2021 intraleague transaction. Club owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased the club in 2017, re-branded the team as Orange County SC and continues to lead the OCSC management team as Chief Executive Officer. OCSC, alongside its sister organization the 501c3 Orange County Soccer Club Community Foundation, are committed to creating a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players, and youth clubs of Orange County.
