In this post “FC Edmonton Youth Academy Trials”, you’ll get to know the entry requirement for FC Edmonton Academy, the FC Edmonton head coach, FC Edmonton Stadium, and how to join FC Edmonton academy.
FC Edmonton Academy
Making Lives better
FC Edmonton’s Academy has made sure that regional youngsters with passion and commitment may obtain premium quality training for no charge for over 5 years as the club’s principal community investment group.
The Academy gives every player, irrespective of financial or social circumstances, the chance to practice and play sports in a professional setting for gratis.
The Fath Family, who holds FC Edmonton, has completely backed the boys and girls squads as a way to give back to the youngsters in their neighbourhood.
People have to pay no dues, and all Academy participant receives exercise and match attire, top-level training, academic guidance, and a variety of other soccer-related services.
Description
The FC Edmonton Academy offers the following four different schemes:
U-16 boys
U-18 boys
U-18 Regional EXCEL Girls team (REX Program in partnership with Alberta Soccer)
U-21 Reserve Side
Upon the introduction of FC Edmonton in the NASL in 2011, the FC Edmonton Academy was founded in Jan of 2012. Some of FC Edmonton’s best indigenous players have come from the Academy, including Allan Zebie, Shamit Shome, and Amer Didic.
Loads of players have advanced from the Academy to first-team deals with FC Edmonton and other clubs across the globe. Several Academy graduates also get college and university sponsorships from all around North America, and most have been called to Canadian National Youth Team Camps.
The FC Edmonton Academy has won two EDSA Men’s Premier Division League awards and 2 provincial championship games in the Men’s Premier Division, making it one of Alberta’s most productive youth systems.
The Academy was chosen to compete in one of the globe’s best young events, the SuperCup in Northern Ireland, this previous year. The Edmonton team proved they can engage with some of the greatest institutions on earth as the game’s lone Canadian club.
Infrastructure for Development
In the summer, our Academy activities are largely held at Clarke Stadium. While in the winter, they are held at the Edmonton Soccer Dome and Commonwealth Rec Centre.
The recently founded U-21 scheme and the REX Girls will learn at the Dome for the 2018-19 winter season. Whereas the U-16 and U-18 boys will rehearse at the Commonwealth Rec Centre.
The Academy is an important part of Edmonton and surrounding athletes’ “road to pro,” allowing them to pursue their aspirations.
How to Become a Member of the FC Edmonton Football Institute
Everyone is welcome at the Club, which operates on an open-door basis. The procedure outlined here can also be used to learn how to enrol on a football institute in Europe or Canada. A large amount of the prerequisites are also available through Football Academy Scholarships in Europe and Canada.
FC Edmonton Junior Camp accepts children as young as eight years old. To learn more about the numerous training offered, go to https://fcedmonton.canpl.ca/academy.
Enrollment Details for the FC Edmonton Football Academy
FC Edmonton Academy Recruits and Public Football tryouts are used to recruit new members. Candidates, particularly foreign ones, can still enrol via the club’s website or by special drafts.
- Give detailed information about yourself, your past clubs (if any), and your contact information.
- Permission from parents, particularly if the child is under the age of 18.
- Take the opportunity to upload a video of yourself; this option is mostly for foreign candidates.
How to Become a Member of the FC Edmonton Football Academy
Visit register and learn more, go to the authorized Academy site at https://fcedmonton.canpl.ca/academy.
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About FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton is a competitive soccer team from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Following the league’s inception in 2019, the team has featured in the Canadian Premier League. The team was formerly contested in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 2011 – 2017. After which it went on sabbatical as the NASL halted competing activities ahead of the 2018 season, which was cancelled. Clarke Stadium has been FC Edmonton’s home ground since 2012.
Background Of FC Edmonton
Years of growth
FC Edmonton was founded by brothers Tom and Dave Fath in Feb 2010 as a pioneer member of the North American Soccer League.
The club’s debut year was dedicated playing exhibition games against teams like Colo Colo, the Spokane Spiders, and Vitória, with a roster made up largely of Alberta college students and amateur athletes. On Canada Day in July, the team also staged a ceremonial game versus the Canadian Armed Forces.
Dwight Lodeweges and his helper Hans Schrijver quit the team in Dec 2010 before playing in a competitive match to take a position in Japan. Soon afterwards, he was succeeded by colleague Dutchman Harry Sinkgraven.
In conjunction with the Alberta Soccer Association, FC Edmonton opened a male youth training centre in Jan 2012 and a female youth system in Sept 2013.
North American Soccer League (2011–2017)
The team had its first professional match on April 9, 2011, and won 2–1 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Shaun Saiko, a native of Alberta, netted the club’s first goal. Edmonton ranked fifth out of 8 teams in their debut season. Hence qualifying for the 2011 NASL Playoffs quarterfinals. However, were eliminated in a 5–0 loss to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
Schrijver moved back to the club as an asst head coach for the 2012 season. However, the club ended last in the league with only 5 victories from 28 matches. Sinkgraven and Schrijver were both dropped in Sept 2012 because of poor performances.
Colin Miller was appointed the club’s new head coach on Nov 27.
During Miller’s first season as coach, the team improved slightly. Ranking fifth in the spring before dropping to 7th in the fall. The club, on the other hand, made significant progress in the 2014 season. Despite finishing eighth in the spring season, Edmonton finished third in the fall season, their top ever league ranking.
The team faced an identical situation in the 2015 season. Following a 10th-place result in the spring campaign, the Eddies rebounded to end fifth in the fall season, just 4 points out of a playoff spot. Edmonton made even more progress in 2016, ranking third in both the spring and fall campaigns. The club lost out on a first place in the spring campaign standings by one point. Because both Indy Eleven and the New York Cosmos both finished with 18 points.
In the 2017 season, FC Edmonton reverted to its previous style, finishing eighth in all the spring and fall tournaments. The club halted competitive activities on Nov 24, 2017, stating the team’s long-term viability and “constant uncertainty imposed on the NASL by the United States Soccer Federation.” FC Edmonton’s academies proceeded to operate in the hopes of resurrecting the competitive squad at a future date.
Canadian Premier League (2018–present)
On June 5, 2018, the recently established Canadian Premier League revealed that the city of Edmonton has been accepted as a competitive club to participate in the league.
FC Edmonton declared their comeback to competitive soccer 3 days afterwards.
The team also unveiled a new crest and identity in addition to guaranteeing their spot in the standings for the 2019 season. Previous asst coach and academy technical director Jeff Paulus was appointed the club’s new head coach on July 3. In the debut CPL season, the club came 4th out of 7 teams.
Jeff Paulus quit as head coach and general manager after the team finished lowest in the 2020 season. Eric Newendorp was appointed club president and general manager on Nov 2, 2020.
FC Edmonton underperformed on the field in 2021 under new head coach Alan Koch, placing ninth and attracting spectators of less than 1,000 persons on a regular basis.
The league started on Dec 31, 2021, that it had picked up the club’s affairs from the Father, with the goal of finding a new management cohort.
Eric Newendorp resigned from the club on Feb 8, 2022, and was succeeded by onetime Edmonton Oilers executive Jeff Harrop.
Stadium
- Edmonton, Alberta’s Foote Field (2011)
- Edmonton, Alberta’s Commonwealth Stadium (2011–2013) 3 matches in the Canadian Championship (one for each season)
- 2 matches at SMS Equipment Stadium in Fort McMurray, Alberta (2015).
- Clarke Stadium (2012–2017, 2019– date) in Edmonton, Alberta
The squad started playing its home matches at Foote Field, a 3,500-seat stadium on the University of Alberta campus that serves as the centrepiece of a multi-purpose sports complex. It was labelled after University of Alberta’s former student Eldon Foote, who provided $2 million toward the building costs. It was originally created as a legacy building for the 2001 World Championships.
The squad relocated to Clarke Stadium in 2012, which was previously home to the Edmonton Drillers, Edmonton Brick Men, and Edmonton Aviators. With modular seat-back and bleacher seats, the club quickly increased its occupancy from 1,200 to over 5,000. And attempted to figure out a remedy to increase the occupancy to 15,000 people.
FC Edmonton contested three matches at Commonwealth Venue, a substantially bigger stadium with seating of 60,081 from 2011 – 2013. In 2015, 2 matches were held at SMS Equipment Stadium in order to boost the club’s visibility in Fort McMurray.
FC Edmonton requested assistance from the City of Edmonton to extend Clarke Field’s occupancy to 7,000 seats in order to satisfy the expectations of the Canadian Premier League. “The decision to join will bring in more fans because national team rivalry will be considerably stronger than the club experienced when it was in the North American Soccer League,” the club stated. FC Edmonton revealed in June 2018 that they would conduct their 2019 season at Clarke Stadium, which would have a spectator space of 5,100.
Clarke Stadium, situated in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is a multifunctional venue. Initially, the stadium was utilized for Canadian football. Various sports have competed at the venue over the years. It is currently the home of the Canadian Junior Football League’s Edmonton Huskies and Edmonton Wildcats. As well as the Canadian Premier League’s FC Edmonton.
The Stadium’s Background
The stadium was dubbed after then-Mayor Joseph Clarke when it was erected in 1938. It was constructed on land deeded to the city by the federal authorities with the aim of creating public sports grounds (Prime Minister Mackenzie King was a personal friend of Clarke’s). In the spartan standards of the time, the initial Clarke Stadium could hold around 20,000 supporters. 2 grandstands on opposite sidelines served as the seating space. Years afterwards, some end-zone bleachers were appended.
The stadium held the Western Interprovincial Football Union/Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) from 1949 – 1978. After which the team relocated to Commonwealth Stadium, which was erected adjacent to Clarke Stadium in preparation for the 1978 Commonwealth Games. When the football team left, it was utilized for regional and minor league athletic activities.
Renovating
On June 1, 2000, the venue was nearly totally dismantled and reconstructed as a secondary stadium for the 2001 World Championships in Athletics, which were held in Edmonton. It was refurbished with a solitary grandstand seating roughly 1,200 people.
As a portion of the infrastructure improvement, the old grass football pitch was substituted with synthetic grass to enable more utilization. University, minor, and intramural sports are presently held in the stadium. Concerts and other activities are held at Clarke Park, as the remodelled stadium is known. The stadium fields can hold over 6,000 people for performances and non-sporting activities, such as the soccer pitch.
Soccer
The Edmonton Drillers in the 1970s and the Edmonton Aviators in 2004 both tried to attract fans to the much bigger Commonwealth Stadium before deciding to relocate to Clarke Stadium after failing to fill Commonwealth or generate revenue. In both instances, the team folded shortly after the transfer to Clarke Stadium.
The Edmonton Brick Men of the 1980s and 1990s likewise featured in the stadium. However, most of their games were held at John Ducey Park, a baseball diamond.
With the 2012 season, FC Edmonton started having their home matches at Clarke Stadium in the North American Soccer League. In May 2013, modular bleachers were installed to increase the stadium’s occupancy to 5,000 people. In August 2013, NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson and FC Edmonton reps engaged with City of Edmonton authorities to consider the installation of synthetic grass as the final stage in transforming the infrastructure into a more soccer-specific stadium whilst also permitting other uses. The grass transformation was finished in time for the 2014 season. In preparation for the 2019 CPL season, the stadium was refurbished again, with capacity expanded to 5,148 and a block of portable bleachers from 2013 discarded in exchange for permanent seats, with bleachers now installed at the back of both goals and pitch-side booths beside both sides’ dugouts.
Colours and crest
With a black and white football ball in the centre, the club’s first shield was quartered black and blue, fimbriated silver, and bordered white and silver. A stylized red maple leaf was inserted in the crest spot, along with a blue ribbon carrying the club’s identity. The club employed the same shade of blue as the City of Edmonton. And the shield’s design was based on the municipal coat of arms.
To play in the Canadian Premier League, the team re-branded with a new logo.
The outline of the shield remains the same, however, the appearance has changed dramatically. The field is dark blue, with a scary bend in the centre. The main charge is a stylized FCE with a picture of the North Saskatchewan River and letters that stand in for the club’s name and main ideals, family, courage, and energy.
The FCE is inscribed with the wording FC Edmonton and the year the club started, with a sole rabbit’s footprint between the numbers 20 and 10.
The club’s primary colours are blue, navy, and white (dubbed “prairie blue sky,” “River City navy,” and “white rabbit” by the club). The sky of the Canadian Prairies, the North Saskatchewan River, and the Rally Rabbit are all represented by these colours.
Club ethos
Backers
Five participants of The Voyageurs, a Canadian national team supporters group, created the FC Edmonton Supporters Group in early 2010 in light of the declaration that an Edmonton team would contest in the North American Soccer League in 2011. The organization, like the Red Patch Boys in Toronto and the Vancouver Southsiders, intended to create a ‘European-style’ ambience at games.
With the formation of the River Valley Vanguard in Sept 2018, the group came to an end.
YEG for CPL was founded in Dec 2017 by a band of ardent supporters who hoped to urge the club to enter the Canadian Premier League. Founders Tom and Dave Fath, as well as general manager Jay Ball, credited the party for helping the team come back to competitive soccer. “I’m grateful to the YEG for CPL members and all those who worked to save our club,” Jeff Paulus said in his formal introduction as head coach.
The River Valley Vanguard was founded in Sept 2018 following the victory of the YEG for the CPL event. The new followers association is based in the 1st Round in Edmonton’s downtown district.
Mascot
Since its introduction in 2011, the Rally Rabbit has been an integral component of the club’s lifestyle. Before leaving the North American Soccer League for Major League Soccer, the club played the Montreal Impact at Foote Field on June 26. Kyle Porter scored in the 5th min, however, FC Edmonton appeared to be tiring under the Impact’s assault. A rabbit found its place on the field late in the match and perched in front of the Montreal goal. The rabbit was hailed by the home crowd, and the Edmonton teammates appeared unconcerned, however, the opposing squad could not stop chasing the bunny off the field.
The team was unable to maintain their composure, and FC Edmonton went on to win. Since then, the rabbit has made numerous spontaneous outings and is always greeted with shouts from the audience, which fans regard as a sign of good fortune. Eddie Bunny or Eddie Jackalope were other names for the Rally Rabbit.
Competitions
FC Edmonton’s biggest competition throughout their stint in the North American Soccer League was with the Ottawa Fury, the league’s only other Canadian team when they entered in 2014. The “Battle of Canada” was a series of games between the two teams that took place in all the leagues and the Canadian Championship.
Every year in the qualifying round, the two teams faced over 2 rounds, with the first encounter finishing in a scoreless tie on April 23, 2014. FC Edmonton claimed the home match 3–1 a week afterwards, with 2 goals from Daryl Fordyce and one from Hanson Boakai.
On May 31, the inaugural league derby featuring the two teams occurred, with Ottawa Fury winning 1–0 thanks to a 90th-minute goal. The 2nd encounter on July 13 ended in a 0 – 0 tie as the Ottawa Fury were reduced to 10 men for over thirty min, before FC Edmonton won 2–0 on Oct 18 to earn their first league victory over the Fury.
In 2011, FC Edmonton and the NSC Minnesota Stars developed a cordial competition over the span of the season. A Minnesota fans organization gathered money for households devastated by the 2011 Slave Lake wildfire in Alberta.
Following a succession of tornadoes hit Minnesota, an Edmonton supporters organization returned the favour by donating to the American Red Cross. The Flyover Cup was born out of the competition between the teams fostered by these tournaments.
Because Edmonton and Minnesota are on the flight routes of transcontinental flights, yet are frequently overlooked by tourists, the identity was created. The loon is the cup’s emblem, as it is both Canada’s unrecognized national bird and Minnesota’s state bird.
In 2018, the FC Edmonton Academy played 2 friendlies against their provincial opponents, the Calgary Foothills FC, to assist them to train for the next season. Edmonton’s willingness in returning to the Canadian Premier League was also gauged through the fixtures. The series, nicknamed “Al Classico” after the El Clásico contest between Real Madrid and Barcelona was proposed by fan groups from both clubs.
When the Canadian Premier League debuted in April 2019, the contest between FC Edmonton and Cavalry FC was reignited.
Head Coach of FC Edmonton
Alan Koch (born 30 April 1975) is the head coach of FC Edmonton in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Koch is a previous member of the South African national youth team. As well as a full-time player and coach. He is a Simon Fraser University alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In 2005, he graduated with a master’s degree from Midwestern State University. He was formerly the Head Coach of Major League Soccer’s FC Cincinnati.
Early years
Koch went to Westville Boys’ High School in his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa.
In 1992, he was chosen as the captain of the South African Schoolboys squad. In 1993, he featured for Reservoir Hills United in the OK League. Which is now acknowledged as the Mvela League, and was coached by Professor Ngubane. In 1995, he moved to Germany to join KTSV Preussen Krefeld in the German Oberliga. He as well spent time at the 2. Bundesliga’s Wattenscheid 09 and Bayer Uerdingen. In the year 2000, he joined Limerick of the League of Ireland. Koch resigned from football in 2001 after receiving medical advice owing to a cardiac issue.
Coaching profession
Midwestern State
Koch started his coaching career at Midwestern State University as an assistant coach. Koch led the Mustangs to a 17–5 record and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in his debut season in 2003. He also helped them attain a 12–6 record in 2004. The Mustangs completed 13–3–2 in his final year at Midwestern State University in 2005. While he was pursuing his master’s degree. Koch then went on to Baker University, where he was assigned the role of head coach.
Baker University
Koch accepted his maiden head coaching appointment at Baker University, where he had a 9–9 record in his first season.
The following season, Koch led the Wildcats to a 13–7 mark and a spot in the NCAA National Tournament regional semi-finals.
Koch was then provided with the option to carry on the head coaching role at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC W-League
In 2009, Koch was also the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps W-League squad. He led the Women’s team to a 5th-place result, just missing out on making the playoffs.
Simon Fraser University
Koch was the head coach of the men’s soccer team at Simon Fraser University for 7 years. He earned the AII coach of the year in 2009 and 2010. As well as the GNAC Coach of the year in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
The Men’s Soccer Team made history in 2011 by being the first non-American school to be rated in the NCAA top 25. Also, the Men’s Soccer Team topped the NCAA Division 2 national ratings on Oct 18, 2011. The Men’s Soccer Team maintained the No. 1 team in the NCAA at the end of the regular season. Simon Fraser University becomes the first Canadian team to meet the criteria for the NCAA Division 2 National Tournament in Nov 2012. The team made history by qualifying for the Final Four, which was held in Evans, Georgia. The Men’s Soccer team finished the NCAA season as the No. 3 rated team in the country. Koch was voted NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year on Dec 5, 2012.
Koch and the Simon Fraser University Men’s Soccer team were highlighted in the New York Times in the 2012 season.
Also, Koch guided Simon Fraser to another leading 4 finish in the NCAA Division 2 National Tournament in 2013.
Maccabiah Games — Team Canada
Koch contributed to Team Canada’s bronze medal performance at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, Israel, following a hard-fought 4–1 victory over Mexico. Koch’s Team Canada finished second in the group. Defeating Chile 3–0 and Venezuela 4–1, before falling 4–1 to reigning winners Argentina in the last group stage game. They were subsequently drawn against Brazil in the quarter-finals when they stunned the audience with a 1–0 victory before moving on to the semi-finals to face the United States. Team Canada was headed to the finished third game against Mexico. But the United States appeared to be too powerful for them.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Koch joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the team’s main college scout before to the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The Whitecaps picked prospective U.S. Men’s National Team defender Tim Parker with the No. 13 pick in the draft, and he has since established himself as one of MLS’ top centre-backs. On Jan 30, 2015, he became the organization’s first-ever head coach of Whitecaps FC 2, Vancouver’s USL affiliate. Koch guided Whitecaps FC 2 to its finest season in its 3 years of operation, posting a 12–9–9 record after losing out on the USL Cup Playoffs in year 1. Vancouver progressed to the Western Conference Finals of the USL Cup Playoffs as the Number. Six seed.
On April 2, 2016, at the age of 15, the head coach granted midfielder Alphonso Davies his first mins as a competitive soccer player with Portland Timbers 2. At the completion of the 2018 MLS season, Davies signed with Bayern Munich.
FC Cincinnati
In Dec 2016, he entered FC Cincinnati as Director of Scouting and Analytics and Assistant Coach in the United Soccer League. On Feb 17, 2017, he was appointed the club’s 2nd head coach in club annals, roughly 2 months afterwards.
Koch led FC Cincinnati to the semifinal stage of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in his debut season with the club. The Orange and Blue defeated the Columbus Crew SC and the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, and also the NASL Fall Champions, Miami FC. Koch guided FC Cincinnati to a 12–10–10 result in the USL regular campaign. Hence putting the club in the USL Cup Playoffs for the 2nd year in a row.
FC Cincinnati experienced an incredible run in 2018, with Koch at the lead, as the Orange and Blue achieved club milestones in overall victories (23), overall points (77), home victories (12), home points (30), away victories (11), and away points (12). (38). FC Cincinnati won the USL Regular Season Championship with a record of 23–3–8, securing the top spot in the Eastern Conference for the USL Cup Playoffs. In an Eastern Conference quarterfinal-round encounter, Koch guided FC Cincinnati to its first-ever postseason victory, as the team overcame Nashville SC 1–1 (6–5 on penalty kicks). Koch was selected as the USL Coach of the Year for Cincinnati’s record-breaking performance after the season ended.
Koch stayed with FC Cincinnati when the team was promoted to Major League Soccer. However, Koch was dismissed by the team on 7 May 2019 following 11 MLS matches with a 2–7–2 result.
The dismissal, according to general manager Jeff Berding, was the consequence of a deteriorating club culture instead of the team’s performance on the field.
Switchbacks in Colorado Springs
Koch was appointed head coach of the USL Championship team Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Sept 23, 2019.
Koch boosted the team’s prospects from 18th place in the 2019 league rankings to 13th place in the 2020 USL Western Conference rankings during the corona virus-affected season.
FC Edmonton
Koch was appointed head coach and director of football affairs of FC Edmonton of the Canadian Premier League on Nov 24, 2020.
Apply here; https://fcedmonton.canpl.ca/fc-edmonton-academy/