MAPLE Politics

[Unregistered]

US Club Soccer’s nine-member Board of Directors consists of a chairman and two representatives from each of the four regions:
•East Region
•Midwest Region
•South Region
•West Region

Board Directors are elected by a popular vote of competitive member clubs in good standing in each region. Each member club has one vote for each Board of Directors seat vacancy in its region.

US Club Soccer’s current Board of Directors is as follows:

CHAIRMAN: Phil Wright*
•pwright@usclubsoccer.org
•Former President and Director of Coaching, San Juan Soccer Club (Sacramento, Calif.)
•National Youth Coach of the Year in 1997
•Practicing attorney in Sacramento, Calif.
•Holder of U.S. Soccer Federation National “A” License

EAST REGION: Leighton Walters
•Girls’ Director of Coaching at FC Delco
•U.S. Soccer Federation National ‘B’ License
•Played college soccer at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad

EAST REGION: Jason Dewhurst
•Coaching Director of FC Stars of Massachusetts
•U.S. Soccer Federation National ‘A’ License
•English FA Coaching Certificate
•Board member of the Elite Clubs National League

MIDWEST REGION: Tim Lesiak
•Managing Director of Coaching for the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy
•Head coach of the U-16 Ohio Elite SA girls’ team that captured the 2002 National Cup I championship
•Before starting Ohio Elite SA, Lesiak spent eight years as the Director of Coaching for the Cardinal Soccer Club
•All-Mid East Region twice at University of Cincinnati
•Played professionally with the Cincinnati Cheetahs in the USISL
•U.S. Soccer Federation National “A” License

MIDWEST REGION: Mike Sweeney*
•President and Director of Cleveland Whitecaps SC, founding the club in 1996
•Professional playing career from 1979-1994
•Has over 100 caps for the Canadian National Team, including appearances in the 1984 Olympics and 1986 World Cup Finals
•FIFA-licensed coach

SOUTH REGION: John Rennie*
•Co-founded the Triangle Soccer Academy in 1998, which merged a year later into the Triangle Futbol Club
•Legendary 29-year head men’s soccer coach at Duke University, where he led the Blue Devils to five College Cups and the 1986 NCAA Division I national championship.
•Former member of the U.S. Soccer Federation national coaching staff
•Organized and was the first chairman of the NCAA Division I Soccer Coaches Committee

SOUTH REGION: Mark Mackain
•U.S. Soccer Federation National “A” License
•Former pro player in NASL, MISL and ASL

WEST REGION: Tom Atencio
•Based in Portland, Ore.
•Director of Coaching and Player Development at Tualatin Hills United Soccer Club (Ore.)
•Former member of U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team staff and U.S. Soccer scouting staff
•U.S. Soccer Federation National “A” License

WEST REGION: Shawn Blakeman
•Residing Technical Director of Sacramento United (Calif.) since 2003.
•Former IMG Academy Staff Coach
•Former Director of Coaching of the El Dorado United Soccer Club (Shingle Springs, Calif.)
•Began an 11-year professional soccer career at 17 with the San Jose Earthquakes, followed by a four-year stint in the German Oberliga. Continued to play professionally in the U.S. until 1999.
•One of the founding and current Executive Board Members of the NorCal Premier Soccer League
•U.S. Soccer Federation National “A” License

* = member of Executive Committee

[Unregistered]

No, again, for the umpteenth time, didn't "point a finger" at NEFC in my initial post; and for the umpteenth time, even if it was taken that way, I've clarified umpteen times that I wasn't criticizing them, didn't exclude any other club from the observation being made. I don't consider numerous posts offering this explanation to be a throw away line. This part of the conflict is delusion and defiance on your part. Stop acting like a child.

Please don't say "the fact is" when you're stating an opinion. I hate that.

Try not to use the word "erroneously" when you characterize someone else's words or actions...erroneously.

Happy to answer those questions, but you want to take this to a different place. That's been your agenda all along. It makes me wish I never said NEFC in my initial post, makes me wish I said MPS instead, makes me wish I named JH individually, makes me wish I offered no "throw away lines" encompassing all of club soccer, all leagues other than NEP, etc., etc., etc. I'd be arguing with a different **** for brains right now.

There, happy?

Think what they are saying is you don't understand who is really behind what is going on right now.

[Unregistered]

NEP Board of Directors and Staff


Non Voting Members: Sean Carey NEP League Director

NEP Board Members all have 1 vote at any scheduled League meeting:

MPS - (1 vote) – Joe Bradley
Aztec Soccer - (1 vote) - Mike Kersker
Bruno United - (1 vote) – John Tomlinson
Seacoast United – (1 vote) – Paul Willis
Seacoast Maine – (1 vote) – Paul Cameron
FC Greater Boston - (1 Vote) - Brian Ainscough
Lightning SC - (1 Vote) - Kris Graham
N.E.F.C. - (1 Vote) - Brian Mazar
FC Massachusetts - (1 Vote) - Ed Matz
FC Stars of Massachusetts - (1 Vote) - Jason Dewhurst
Scorpions SC - (1 Vote) - Fred Marks

The NEP Staff are as follows:

NEP President – James Hamblin
NEP Vice President – Paul Cameron
NEP Referee Coordinator – Paul Athanasiadis
NEP Director of Education – Peter Bradley
External Evaluator – Tony Lepore (US Soccer)

[Unregistered]

Think what they are saying is you don't understand who is really behind what is going on right now.

Oh I got that the first time around.

Do you always refer to yourself in the 3rd person? Either that or I'm supposed to believe that the majority of replies to me in this "dialogue" is by a different person? LOL yeah that's it, that's the TS way...

[Unregistered]

See a familiar pattern emerging

http://www.usclubsoccer.org/2014/08/...jefferson-cup/

[Unregistered]

Oh I got that the first time around.

Do you always refer to yourself in the 3rd person? Either that or I'm supposed to believe that the majority of replies to me in this "dialogue" is by a different person? LOL yeah that's it, that's the TS way...

Interesting how you seem to think you're above the fray and that everyone is supposed to just accept your little barbs as meaningless.

If you are going to take shots at clubs at least be bright enough to understand what is going on and who is pushing what.

Look for the next move to be a relationship between the Needham tournament and US Club Soccer

[Unregistered]

Think what they are saying is you don't understand who is really behind what is going on right now.

Believing or thinking that I don't understand this or that or "who is really behind" anything is ONLY relevant if you accept the premise that I was slamming NEFC, associating them with NEP as some sort of influential force, or slamming NEP in any way, or characterizing NEP as some sort of influential force over NPL, and giving anyone else a pass, including or especially MPS...and ignoring what I actually wrote about club soccer and pay to play generically, using words like "all clubs" and "blame parents" and so on.

But I don't accept any of that, but you can, so carry on with your bull****...

[Unregistered]

Believing or thinking that I don't understand this or that or "who is really behind" anything is ONLY relevant if you accept the premise that I was slamming NEFC, associating them with NEP as some sort of influential force, or slamming NEP in any way, or characterizing NEP as some sort of influential force over NPL, and giving anyone else a pass, including or especially MPS...and ignoring what I actually wrote about club soccer and pay to play generically, using words like "all clubs" and "blame parents" and so on.

But I don't accept any of that, but you can, so carry on with your bull****...

You are a dumbass. It really isn't about NEFC you are just clouding the issue by invoking them. The big benefactor in what is going on right now is GPS. A lot of this all cycles back to them and giving them a league to put teams in so they can keep adding them. Not just in Mass mind you. Another thing to be wary of is the USCS penchant for linking showcases into this equation. What they are doing is using captive audiences to funnel money to the sponsoring clubs.

[Unregistered]

Interesting how you seem to think you're above the fray and that everyone is supposed to just accept your little barbs as meaningless.

If you are going to take shots at clubs at least be bright enough to understand what is going on and who is pushing what.

Look for the next move to be a relationship between the Needham tournament and US Club Soccer

You can say "take shots at clubs" all you want -- and you actually mean take shots at NEFC when you say that, right? Because that's the charge against me.

I'm above THIS fray, because it's an invention. I've already stated that there's no disagreement in substance on the broad points made. You want to pivot to MPS or Stars, go for it. But if you carry on with this insistence that a disagreement in substance exists based on the words I've typed, that's just delusional and defiant on your part for its own sake. Framing my observations as something that they aren't, as an argument that was never made, but one that you want to argue against, is a common logical fallacy, certainly for TS, certainly for the exchanges between Perspective and BTDT. All of which is tired.

[Unregistered]

You are a dumbass. It really isn't about NEFC you are just clouding the issue by invoking them. The big benefactor in what is going on right now is GPS

Now you're just being difficult. I wasn't being sarcastic when I said I wish I wrote MPS instead of NEFC. You're seriously one of the biggest *********s I've ever seen posting here.

Are you BM himself? I have more friends and players at NEFC than I can count. Love them all. But you might single-handedly make me question that...you're THAT much of a *********. Be honest, you have not one but two NEFC stickers on your car, right? Or a tattoo? LOL

[Unregistered]

The big benefactor in what is going on right now is GPS.

A lot of this all cycles back to them and giving them a league to put teams in so they can keep adding them. Not just in Mass mind you.

Another thing to be wary of is the USCS penchant for linking showcases into this equation.

What they are doing is using captive audiences to funnel money to the sponsoring clubs.

Oh by the way *********, I AGREE...with ALL OF THAT. You're right...still a ********* though.

[Unregistered]

You can say "take shots at clubs" all you want -- and you actually mean take shots at NEFC when you say that, right? Because that's the charge against me.

I'm above THIS fray, because it's an invention. I've already stated that there's no disagreement in substance on the broad points made. You want to pivot to MPS or Stars, go for it. But if you carry on with this insistence that a disagreement in substance exists based on the words I've typed, that's just delusional and defiant on your part for its own sake. Framing my observations as something that they aren't, as an argument that was never made, but one that you want to argue against, is a common logical fallacy, certainly for TS, certainly for the exchanges between Perspective and BTDT. All of which is tired.

This is not what you think. I still don't think that you get it, why did you stop and not take your argument to the next logical conclusion? You are just focusing on the NEP element when that is just the tip of the iceberg. What is happening is US Club is playing king maker. Not only are they shutting out the little mom and pop "Maple" clubs from being relevant, they are really trying to direct who are going to be controlling clubs in the region. The politics behind what is going on right now are immense and both NEFC and the Stars are really just a side show in it. Everyone seems to see them locked in a holy war for control of the state when the true power broker to be watching is GPS. With them it is always about profit motive. What you have now in NEP and the NPL allows them to just keep adding teams. Then if they are successful in getting US Club to recognize their part of the Needham tournament, money will pour into their coffers and neither the Stars or NEFC will really be big enough to hold them back. You are squawking about the NEP being watered down when the reality goes so far beyond that it is almost mind boggling.

[Unregistered]

Now you're just being difficult. I wasn't being sarcastic when I said I wish I wrote MPS instead of NEFC. You're seriously one of the biggest *********s I've ever seen posting here.

Are you BM himself? I have more friends and players at NEFC than I can count. Love them all. But you might single-handedly make me question that...you're THAT much of a *********. Be honest, you have not one but two NEFC stickers on your car, right? Or a tattoo? LOL

Oh by the way *********, I AGREE...with ALL OF THAT. You're right...still a ********* though.

Talking-Soccer at its best.

[Unregistered]

You are just focusing on the NEP element when that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Focus on NEP? My first comment dismissed them as relevant in this discussion, just as several comments have since.

You can't read. Sad for you.

[Unregistered]

What is happening is US Club is playing king maker. Not only are they shutting out the little mom and pop "Maple" clubs from being relevant, they are really trying to direct who are going to be controlling clubs in the region. The politics behind what is going on right now are immense and both NEFC and the Stars are really just a side show in it. Everyone seems to see them locked in a holy war for control of the state when the true power broker to be watching is GPS.

Me again. That's fair, absolutely agree on the narrative relative to the battle between stars and nefc, while others, mps especially, have hands as dirty as anyone or more...except... the approach by usys and the likes of mysa and maple created the void and opportunity that existed for uscs to emerge king maker.

And this is facilitated by the getaway drivers... parents as consumers.