In June we sent our ’94 goalkeeper Max Brown to Ohio for a trial-weekend at PSA and to train with Brad Friedel.  Brad was in Cleveland during the off-season and it was the right time and a good opportunity for Max to be evaluated for a position at Premier Soccer Academies (PSA), Brad’s newly founded, year-round, cost-free residential youth soccer academy—host to elite youth soccer players from around the world.  PSA is the first Academy of its kind in the United States.

After a good trial weekend, Max was asked to return for another evaluation, this one would be a week-long and took place in mid-August.  Brad was not there during that week because he was back in the UK minding the net for Aston Villa in the Premiership.  After a strong week of soccer at PSA, Max was offered a full-time spot in the Academy—to which he left New York for the first week in September to begin the experience.
 
For the club in general, from the ’94 team all the way down to our six year olds—Max’s success is yet another example of how we are meeting our mission as an organization.
 
We are proud that Max, a member of the first Manhattan Kicker FC team, and 100% a product of our development system, was accepted into an Academy like PSA.  It speaks to the type of program we have built and the level of players we are producing.  While it is difficult for us to lose the services of an important member of our club, one of the objectives of our program is to develop each of our players to reach their maximum potential, then open doors and provide an opportunity for them to succeed at whatever the next level might be for that person.
 
In this context it is important to understand that, while Manhattan Kickers FC provides the complete youth soccer experience, with exposure to the highest level of youth soccer throughout the world and the most advanced and progressive level of training – when a player is both ready and old enough to take the next step—physically, technically and psychologically—our organization is prepared to arrange trials with Academies like PSA, professional teams in Europe or South America, and of course provide introductions or recommendations to Division I, II or III college programs throughout the United States.
 
Link to PSA