New York Elite FC (NYEFC), a new premier soccer club in the Capital District of New York, has entered into a partnership with FC Westchester's U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

FC Westchester (FCW) is based in Westchester County, N.Y., but has historically had players from all over New York State. FCW has the prestigious designation as a U.S. Soccer Development Academy by the United States Soccer Federation, one of only a few soccer clubs in New York State that have earned this designation.

NYEFC, through its partnership with FCW, will now offer soccer players in the Capital District (Albany, N.Y. area) an opportunity to play in the US Soccer Development Academy.

"This opportunity is huge for local soccer players" states Miles Joseph, Executive Director of NYEFC. Joseph is a former star at Clemson University who played for the U.S. National Team, played for the U.S. in the 1996 Olympics and played for six years in the MLS for the MetroStars, Columbus Crew and Dallas Burn.

"I want soccer players in the Capital District to have the same opportunities that I had….an honest chance at taking their soccer careers to the collegiate, pro and National Team level.” Joseph said of the FC Westchester partnership.

Lonny Unger, FC Westchester’s president, said the union between the two clubs “is an attempt to broaden the geographical area from which FCW can scout talented soccer players that will benefit from playing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy."

“We believe this partnership will benefit both clubs and their players immeasurably,” Unger said, adding ”the fact that this club is being driven by Miles Joseph, one of the top players to come out of New York State in the past 25 years, is a huge benefit to us, as is the terrific coaching staff he has put together at NYEFC."

The U.S. Soccer Development Academy program provides the optimum developmental environment for the nation’s top youth soccer players. The Academy teams and players receive direct feedback and evaluation from the U.S. National Team Staff. U.S. Soccer National Team Scouts regularly attend Academy games so players are evaluated over the course of the season. In its second year, the Academy program has already dramatically impacted the player development process in the United States. In 2008, more than 100 players from Academy clubs were included in U.S. Youth National Teams and almost 800 graduates from the inaugural Academy class participated in college soccer the following fall. Virtually all c ollege programs use the Academy program as a scouting vehicle and the program has received increased attention from professional scouts representing domestic and international clu bs.

FCW has chosen to affiliate its Club with NYEFC exclusively within the Capital District, thus no other soccer clubs within the Capital District will have access to FCW’s Academy program services..

Joseph and NYEFC Boys Coach David MacVane will act as talent scouts for the FCW Academy program and work with David MCCullum, FCW Director of Coaching and the FCW coaching staff.

Identified NYEFC talent will have the opportunity to travel to FCW to train and those selected to play for FCW’s Academy program will train and play in games as part of their Academy teams. Additionally, FCW will attempt to play a few of its home games at the Clifton Commons in Clifton Park, New York.

NYEFC and FCW will also sponsor US Soccer Academy weekends in the Capitol District to showcase players to the community and the US National Team coaching staff.

To kick off the partnership, this coming Fall FCW will be visiting NYEFC to play friendly matches at Clifton Commons, please check out www.nyelitefc.com for the game schedules.