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Energy FC announce partnership with three youth clubs

By Energy FC Communications, 04/04/17, 5:15PM CDT

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Blitz United, Canadian Valley Football Club, and Oklahoma Football Club are pleased to announce a ground-breaking new partnership between the three clubs and Energy FC.  All three clubs have signed on as initial members in the formation of Oklahoma Energy FC.

The concept was created around four basic premises: 1) having a fully integrated soccer club for the state, 2) continuing to unify and grow soccer in the state, 3) striving to always leave the game and the communities better than we found them, 4) creating an environment that allows players in the state to consistently compete at the highest level, not just regionally, but nationally.  The 2017/2018 season marks the inaugural season under which the combined opportunities become available.

“I truly see this as another historic step in our journey at Energy FC,” said Energy FC owner Bob Funk, Jr.  “We put great value in partnerships like this and we look forward to bringing our full resources to bear and fostering an environment where organizations can work together for the greater good of the game.  The collaboration shows the unifying and forward thinking that soccer is bringing to the state and helps with our stated goal of helping to deliver a development academy to the market.”

Collectively, the staff of the club includes 56 nationally licensed coaches including 14 coaches with the U.S. Soccer A license.  The club will also have 16 collegiate coaches and four professional coaches from the state combined.   All of that combined experience in soccer management, coaching, and on-field success between the initial partners, will help drive towards the goal of ensuring the best opportunities are available to the youth players of Oklahoma. 

“All of the groups involved share similar values and vision for the game and its future in Oklahoma and our country,” said Robbie Mitchell, Blitz United Director of Coaching.  “We have been committed to growing the game in the Tulsa area for the last 23 years and see this as the next step in continuing that growth both for the youth players of Tulsa as well as the state.”

The club is collaboration on and off the field.  On the field, the partnership will assist in the clubs’ goal of not only accessing but striving to be consistently competitive at the highest levels of youth soccer available in the country, whether that is the US Youth Regional and National Leagues, the Super Y League, ECNL, or the Development Academy.  The partnership will also allow for coaches and players to train and play together on a regular basis.  The size, success, and additional resources of Oklahoma Energy FC will provide better marketing, enhanced sponsorship opportunities, as well as potential economies of scale when handling field and facility management.  The clubs relationship and buying power with their new kit provider Under Armour is a great example of this.

“OFC is excited to partner with Blitz and Canadian Valley along with Energy FC to create an aspirational model for our players,” said OFC Co-Coaching Director Stephen Phillips. “We are always looking to be innovative and take the game in Oklahoma to higher levels and so this partnership with other youth clubs looking to do the same and the Energy makes perfect sense.  We look forward to working with clubs on growing Oklahoma’s footprint in the region and country.”

“Being a club that is in one of the largest growing areas of the city, this opportunity positions us to provide the best for our players not only today, but to keep up with that rapid growth as well,” said Rich Hudson, Director of Coaching for Canadian Valley.  “We are extremely excited to take this next growth step in our club and believe it will help us be part of a movement of the massive growth of the game here for our youth.”

All three look forward to Energy FC’s home opener on Saturday, April 8 at Taft Stadium.