February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
After a cancellation or two early on in the year, the Academy finally got to what it loves the most: playing, coaching and directing soccer.
Due to snow, e-mails steamed out of Storm’s headquarters to let everybody know the season would kick off the following week. It was a sign of things to come. The constant snowfalls throughout the winter and spring months had Storm Academy almost at a standstill, to the dismay of the entire soccer Storm family.
In the last two weeks things have picked up as smiling faces knock the ball around Belson Field at Saint John’s University. The ball is indeed rolling for Storm’s 2005 season. In fact, the announcement that the Under-19 Storm team will play Olympiakos at 2 p.m. on April 30 at Belson has spawned a sense of excitement among the staff and most of all the young players.
Olympiakos, the Greek giants of soccer and one of the most consistent teams in the Champions League, are on their way to New York to participate in the Freedom Cup. Their U-19 team will take on some of the brightest talent in New York in the inaugural year of the tournament. Pancyprian soccer club will host the Freedom Cup, while Latin America All-Stars will make up the foursome.
Said Storm Academy’s owner and soccer director David Price: “Playing Olympiakos is a big deal.” The fact that U-19 clubs and soccer academies can attract such a big name in football is in itself testament to how far the U.S. has come in youth soccer. Storm is the newest crop of talent that is benefiting from the rise of soccer in the country. It also helps that Storm’s U-19 team has former professional coach Tony Noto setting things up behind the scenes. Of course, the use of SJU’s superb Belson Field, an $8 million 3,000-seater, helps the cause.
Now that the news about the Freedom Cup and Olympiakos is leaked out across New York’s Long Island, the buzz within and about Storm is electrifying. Now the opening story for Storm’s U-15 boys’ team kicking off against New Jersey’s Match Fit at Belson last night gave more meaning to the game, a lot more. No small-time games are played at Belson Field and Storm Academy treat every game with the utmost of importance, and that includes training sessions as Price prowls around, the way a director should.
The initial friendly atmosphere is helping Storm football find its feet after such a long lay off during the snow. But staff and players know now that things have picked up, it’s competition time and it will begin in training very soon. There is a sense that the Liverpool native Price is ready to see his teams play against each other in practice. Another Storm is brewing and it’s going to be thunderous once the staff and players kick in under Price’s direction — who has an abundance of soccer experience coupled to add to his leadership qualities.
In 1989, Price captained Merseyside Boys and led his high school, Cardinal Heenan, to a national championship. In 1990 he was off to the U.S. to pursue his soccer dream and after two years with Bridgeport University he transferred to St. John’s. As a footballer Price played a big roll to start an era of St. John’s, dominating the Big East Championship. He also captained SJU and was MVP in 1993. After making the Big East Team it was no surprise Price went on to be a professional player for the New Jersey Imperials, Long Island Rough Riders and New York Freedom. Dreams of playing on the field were realized, but are now of the past. But all the lessons learned and teams he led as captain no matter where he played are coming to fruition. And it’s all happening at Storm Academy.
In 2004, Strom was U-19 Y-League National Finalists, U-17 Snickers National Finalists, U-16 State Cup Winners and U-18 State Cup Finalists. In 2003, U-16 Snickers National Finalists, U-18 State Cup Winners and U-17 Y-League Metro division Winners. In 2002, U-16 Y-League National Champions, U-15 State Cup Champions, U-17 State Cup finalists, Y-League Metro division Winners for U-15, U-16 and U-17. No wonder the Academy is a development program that goes a major step further. Storm was nominated as the No. 1 Y-League Franchise on the East Coast in 2004. All of the above achieved in three years.
For the 2005 season Storm Academy will see nine teams participate in the Y-League. The boys’ program has teams represented in the U-13 age bracket through to U-19. The Academy is excited and thrilled to be participating in the girls’ program for the first time with both an U-15 and U-16 team. Improving on previous successes in the Super Y-League is a challenge and a half for Price and his staff. For starters, they will try and add to the seven Metro Division titles with another National Title, their Holy Grail. Price knows his academy is challenged but he also believes his staff is somewhat special this year.
“We have put together a really nice collection of former professional players and college coaches and I think we are gong to be very strong again,” the Merseysider said. “I am very excited with the level of players who have joined us this year. Above all, the level of commitment shown by our team managers is going to make that all important difference when it come to enjoying our game and winning championships.”
Joining Price is Jim McElderry (head coach of Fordham University), Carlo Acquista (head coach of St. Francis College), Jon Urbom (former assistant coach of St. John’s University), Paul Stewart (former assistant of C.W. Post University), and Tony Noto (former head coach of New York Freedoms).
Basic services offered include year-round club or intramural training, travel team coaching, and team oriented or community camps. In addition, the Storm Academy trains a number of highly successful premier level teams. The Academy, operated by highly motivated individuals who have a passion for the sport, has placed dozens of players into College programs (Ivy League schools such as Brown and Dartmouth and great soccer schools such as Duke, Rutgers and St. John’s, to name a few). Storm coordinates European tours that offer the international experience for the committed player or team. The Academy is currently involved with no fewer than nine clubs in the New York area with ongoing intramural programs that have an average of 1,200 players in each club.
For any and all soccer interests, it’s best to check out the Web site at www.stormacademy.com for further details.