FC Harlem and Umbro enter into a 3-year sponsorship retail licensing agreement.

As part of the agreement Umbro will sponsor FC Harlem’s Men’s Under 20 team in the United Soccer League and  provide discounts to the organization on uniform and equipment needs. Additionally, Umbro will help build FC Harlem's brand awareness by bringing an FC Harlem sports line to the retail market. FC Harlem will be one of the first, if not the first youth sports organization to have its brand sold to the general public.

FC Harlem hosts the winter Soccer for Success Tournament for after school partner Citizen Schools. On a chilly morning in December Citizens Schools brought three of it school sites from Harlem, Bronx and Brooklyn to FC Harlem’s private field. The 30 plus middle school participants braved the chilly morning air to get some fun exercise in before the day started.  FC Harlem Soccer Program Director, Kevin Stein got the day started. FC Harlem U13, U17 and U19 players assisted as refs and provided the participants some pointers about the game. The Urban Assembly of Arts and Letters from Brooklyn took home the trophy.

The Partnership for Healthier America’s Inaugural Conference; Building a Healthier Future, was held in Washington, DC in Novemeber 2011.  The First Lady Michelle Obama and other leaders in the private sector came together to discuss strategies for solving childhood obesity in the United States. Executive Director of FC Harlem, Irv Smalls presented as part of a panel that focused on the importance of physical activity. Shellie Pfohl Moderator and Executive Director for the President’s Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition highlighted the success of FC HARLEM's ability to leverage the public and private sector to develop fields in NYC where land is hard to come by or very expensive. Shellie hopes to visit the FC Harlem in 2012.

visit: www.ahealthieramerica.org

SOURCE: marcussamuelsson.com OCT 18, 2011 Marcus Samuelsson (link)

It was an exciting day and a huge honor to take part in the unveiling of FC Harlem’s new soccer field yesterday in Riverside Park. The event was filled with a fervent group of kids that got the opportunity to participate in a coaching session directed by the New York Red Bulls. The professional players, Thierry Henry and Rafael Márquez, demonstrated how school subjects such as math also come in handy while playing soccer.  Angles and strategies are important aspects of the game.  It’s amazing what children can learn from soccer. Lessons that I learned from soccer are ones that I have used throughout my life.

New York Red Bulls' 34-game regular season was segmented into five blocks of approximately seven games, with each block of games assigned to a specific borough. During the assigned time period, the public voted for the soccer club in that borough they want to see win $10,000 in equipment and a clinic on their home field. FC Harlem won in Manhattan.

 FC Harlem has donated the Red Bulls Clinic and a portion of the 10K to runner up Uptown Soccer Academy in Washington Heights. 

Check the results HERE

Source: MLS.com July 25, 2011, David Agrell (link)

NEW YORK — Splashed across much of Manchester United Soccer School's equipment are the words, "Learn to play the United way."

But what exactly is the "United way?" According to the famed club, it's not only about teaching kids "to play attractive attacking football" but also to "provide a fun and safe learning environment."