The Club that Clive built appears to be in a sorry state.
Its six ECNL teams have a combined record of 12-28-6 and a combined goal differential of -50. Only the U16 team has a winning record (4-2-2, +6), take them out and the record is 8-26-4 and -56. Their U12 girls first team--the girls that will play ECNL next year--finished fifth in spring league. Their girls' program, in other words, is a sorry state.
Things are a bit better on the boys side, where they have 2 first-place teams in winter league, and their 05 boys are poised to "win" the 05 Oregon DA. (Officially this is a development league which awards no trophy and keeps no standings, even though it does publish game results). But even there, a coaching exodus is underway, as at least two coaches have left the club for league rivals, and rumors abound of players wanting out. Plus the 05 boys team, which last year played beautiful football on the way to an OYSA State Cup, lately is playing the worst sort of bootball--and there are rumors of a coaching staff that is unable or unwilling to discipline the sideline, lest the star player up and leave.
If you look at the club website, the picture on the front page is a guy who has been dead for fifteen years, and who is no doubt rolling over in his grave at what is now going on. The club has lost it's identity. It's longstanding affiliation with the University of Portland is on the ropes, particularly after the firing of Garrett Smith. And it's connection with the City of Portland is becoming frayed, as it continues to make it's home ground way out in Hillsboro and thus more and more becomes a Washington County club. Expect this trend to increase as the NEU/BSC merger completes this spring and United PDX becomes, along with PCU, the top club choices for kids in Portland.
What community does the club now serve? Is it simply an anti-Timbers club, one that exists to thumb its nose at whatever happens at Providence Park, and has a swoosh rather than stripes on its kit? Is it trying to market superior coaching and development, or is it depending on affiliations with "elite" leagues (Boys DA, ECNL) to recruit talent that was formed elsewhere, but looking for more exposure? What is the club's value proposition--why should a boy go there rather than Westside, Crossfire, ADF, PCU, or United PDX? Why should a girl prefer FC to THUSC or Crossifre (or Westside TS, for that matter)?
The club is at a crossroads. As one of the longest-existing youth clubs in town, it has long enjoyed a good reputation, and an association with one of the region's great soccer minds. But about half of it's players were born after Clive Charles passed away, and the rest were small children when he passed on; he's but a face in a history book. Unlike Seattle, where state association policies ensure the blue-chip clubs a place atop the local soccer pyramid, it's dog-eat-dog in the local club scene; and the competition smells blood in the water.
If FC is not careful, the club might join its founder in the great beyond.
Its six ECNL teams have a combined record of 12-28-6 and a combined goal differential of -50. Only the U16 team has a winning record (4-2-2, +6), take them out and the record is 8-26-4 and -56. Their U12 girls first team--the girls that will play ECNL next year--finished fifth in spring league. Their girls' program, in other words, is a sorry state.
Things are a bit better on the boys side, where they have 2 first-place teams in winter league, and their 05 boys are poised to "win" the 05 Oregon DA. (Officially this is a development league which awards no trophy and keeps no standings, even though it does publish game results). But even there, a coaching exodus is underway, as at least two coaches have left the club for league rivals, and rumors abound of players wanting out. Plus the 05 boys team, which last year played beautiful football on the way to an OYSA State Cup, lately is playing the worst sort of bootball--and there are rumors of a coaching staff that is unable or unwilling to discipline the sideline, lest the star player up and leave.
If you look at the club website, the picture on the front page is a guy who has been dead for fifteen years, and who is no doubt rolling over in his grave at what is now going on. The club has lost it's identity. It's longstanding affiliation with the University of Portland is on the ropes, particularly after the firing of Garrett Smith. And it's connection with the City of Portland is becoming frayed, as it continues to make it's home ground way out in Hillsboro and thus more and more becomes a Washington County club. Expect this trend to increase as the NEU/BSC merger completes this spring and United PDX becomes, along with PCU, the top club choices for kids in Portland.
What community does the club now serve? Is it simply an anti-Timbers club, one that exists to thumb its nose at whatever happens at Providence Park, and has a swoosh rather than stripes on its kit? Is it trying to market superior coaching and development, or is it depending on affiliations with "elite" leagues (Boys DA, ECNL) to recruit talent that was formed elsewhere, but looking for more exposure? What is the club's value proposition--why should a boy go there rather than Westside, Crossfire, ADF, PCU, or United PDX? Why should a girl prefer FC to THUSC or Crossifre (or Westside TS, for that matter)?
The club is at a crossroads. As one of the longest-existing youth clubs in town, it has long enjoyed a good reputation, and an association with one of the region's great soccer minds. But about half of it's players were born after Clive Charles passed away, and the rest were small children when he passed on; he's but a face in a history book. Unlike Seattle, where state association policies ensure the blue-chip clubs a place atop the local soccer pyramid, it's dog-eat-dog in the local club scene; and the competition smells blood in the water.
If FC is not careful, the club might join its founder in the great beyond.
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