CONTACT: Karen Chan, Director of Operations and Communications
EMAIL: nyeafc.director@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.nyelitealleycatsfc.com

New York Elite Alleycats FC Joins the Northeast Academy League

Albany, NY – New York Elite Alleycats FC (NYEAFC) is excited to announce that it is the only soccer club in the Capital District selected into the inaugural season of the Northeast Academy League. The Northeast Academy League is part of a strategic cooperation agreement to provide players with a stepping stone into the MLS NEXT program. NYEAFC Executive Director and current MLS Portland Timbers Assistant coach Miles Joseph stated: “Being invited into the Northeast Academy League is an important moment in New York Elite Alleycats FC’s growth and development as a club, placing us among some of the nation’s best clubs with rich soccer histories. NYEAFC continues down the path of excellence thanks to the incredible hard work, commitment and dedication of our coaching staff and players.  I’m looking forward to seeing our players and staff continue their development in this new platform.”  

On August 13, 2021, MLS NEXT announced a strategic relationship with the Northeast Academy League to provide players with increased identification opportunities, individual assessments, and enhanced scouting and coaching education for team technical staff beginning with the 2021-2022 season. The Northeast Academy League is sanctioned and operated under United States Youth Soccer (USYS) through local state associations including New Jersey, Eastern NY, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. 

The clubs competing within this league include:

• Metropolitan Oval
• Cedar Stars Bergen
• TSF
• Cedar Star Monmouth
• New York Soccer Club
• FC Westchester
• Beachside
• BW Gottschee
• FA Euro
• LI Slammers
• New York Elite Alleycats FC
• Oakwood
• Boston Bolts
• Valeo
• NEFC
• Bayside
• Seacoast

NYEAFC Director of Coaching Jon Bain stated: “It’s an honor to be invited into the inaugural season of the Northeast Academy League. Playing against some of the top clubs in the country will only further develop Capital Region soccer players. We continually strive to provide an elite soccer experience for our players and this platform will only enhance that as we move forward as a club.“

About New York Elite Alleycats FC

New York Elite Alleycats FC was established in June 2021 as an alliance between two well-established premier boys soccer clubs in New York’s Capital District, with more than 325 players ranging from U8 through U19 making up two teams at each age group, and a staff of 25 coaches who have decades of combined and diverse experience. Our state-of-the-art facilities and application of a professionally-based coaching methodology provide unprecedented opportunities for generations to come of youth soccer players in the Albany area.

Executive Director Miles Joseph is currently an Assistant Coach of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Portland Timbers, former MLS professional player (Metrostars, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas), former US Men’s Olympic and US Men’s National Team player. President of Boys Soccer, Afrim Nezaj, is also a former professional player (Pennsylvania Stoners, Rochester Flash, New York Nationals, Albany Capitals) and owner of Afrim Sports.

Director of Coaching Jon Bain leads the club and is also head coach of the nationally ranked Shenendehowa High School Boys Varsity Soccer program and a four-time Section II Coach of the Year who took his team to New York State Championship Semi-Finals four times.

The coaching staff of New York Elite Alleycats FC have developed US Men’s National Team players, professional players at all levels, Major League Soccer Development Academy players and hundreds of collegiate athletes.

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