Learning from the best is key for any athlete striving for excellence in their chosen sport. Marystown United Soccer Club's partnership with Celtic FC, one of the United Kingdom’s premier soccer clubs, is a sensible move and an inspiring opportunity for all.
Marystown United Soccer Club's mandate is not just about soccer. It's about creating a positive learning experience for athletes in the local soccer community, emphasizing player development, teamwork, and sportsmanship. It is why its partnership with Celtic FC is seen as a unique opportunity for soccer athletes and coaches.
Anyone who has followed professor soccer knows about the history and legacy of the Celtic FC football(soccer) club. The professional football club competes in the Scottish Premiership and has a rich history of success in domestic and European competitions. The legendary team has won 118 championship trophies, with their most recent league title in the 2023-2024 season.
Andrew Walsh, President of Marystown United Soccer Club, said he learned about how the Celtic FC soccer club partners with community-based soccer clubs from a friend from Glasgow, Scotland when they both played soccer in Ontario a couple of years ago. When he moved back home to Marystown and became president of Marystown FC, he recalled the conversation.
“One Saturday, I remembered those conversations with my buddy Alan while watching a game. It sparked me to do some research, which led me to the Celtic FC page. I explored different sections of the site and found a contact email. About three weeks later, I received an email from Ray Hewitt of the Celtic Soccer Academy. We arranged our first meeting, and the process continued from there.”
The Celtic Soccer Academy, central to this partnership, focuses on developing players, coaches, and clubs to reach their full potential. The programs include coaching camps, holiday programs, and club development initiatives.
They cater to different age groups and run training sessions for players and coaches throughout the year.
Ray Hewitt, Celtic’s International Soccer Academy Manager, stated on its website that soccer's growth in Canada continues to grow. Celtic FC is delighted to partner with its fourth Canadian partner.
“These partnerships highlight our global reach, particularly our further growth within. Our Marystown United partnership allows us to work with like-minded people who want the best for the young players in the Newfoundland, Canada, region. This partnership provides Celtic FC with access to its expertise and resources, enhancing the quality of its programs. It also represents an opportunity for Celtic FC to impact the Canadian soccer community positively. We are looking forward to visiting the club this summer and working with their players and coaches, and we are very excited about continuing to do so over the next few years.”
Walsh said the process for organizing the partnership was organized through various Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings. The first meeting was with Ray, and then our club executive had several meetings with him to work through the proposal and discuss what we wanted for our club.
"This year, 13 of our coaches from U7 to U17 will complete the coaching modules provided by the Celtic Academy, designed by their academy coaches and club affiliates. They will all go through modules to learn about their approach, tactics, and style of play.”
In addition, Marystown United will send two coaches to the coach's convention in Glasgow this year. Over the next three years, the plan is to send six to eight coaches to this convention. Additionally, Celtic Academy coaches will travel to Marystown to hold sessions for players. They will be here each summer for a week, at minimum, for the next three years.
Walsh said the cultural experience for soccer athletes will be unique.
"This partnership is a rare and unique opportunity, and the children in the club recognize its significance. It's a fantastic chance for the club and has sparked a renewed passion for the game in our community. The children understand this is something special, and we are committed to creating a new culture and excitement for soccer here."
Marystown players will also be able to train for a week at the Celtics Soccer Academy in Glasgow. This includes experiencing Celtic Park, touring Glasgow and its soccer heritage, and playing against local clubs for their age group. The goal is to send several teams over in the next three years, starting with a U15 or U16 girls team this year.
Ultimately, the goal of this partnership is not only to hopefully continue this partnership after its initial three-year term. The true measure of success is whether it helps re-establish Marystown soccer.
Walsh said the goal is to reconnect the community with the club and revive interest in soccer. He said the new executive has worked on this for the past few years. Soccer was once very popular in Marystown, but over time, its popularity waned. It's not that they lacked athletes; other sports emerged, and times changed.
“Children don't play outside as much as they used to. However, we've re-engaged the community and tripled our numbers in the past two years. Now, we have over 300 children involved with the club. Our continuous growth is due to our innovative approach and thinking outside the box. My experience on the mainland showed me how clubs operate, and I've tried to bring some of those ideas back to Marystown."
Walsh also said a good measure of this program's success is if the club continues to grow, the skill level of its teams increases, and if they keep sending teams to provincial tournaments.
“This past summer, we sent several teams, three going through provincial tournaments—the most we've had in five or six years. Our goal is to maintain or exceed these numbers each year.”
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