Portland Thorns to Add Academy Program in Missouri

By Johann Arnason Updated: May 13, 2015

The Portland Thorns are pleased to announce the creation of the Missouri Thorns Football (Soccer) Club. The club is headquartered in Wentzville, MO, and will be an affiliate to the Portland Thorns. This affiliation makes the Missouri Thorns the only soccer club in the Greater St Louis Area to have an affiliation with a professional women’s team. The Missouri Thorns welcome female soccer players ages five and up.

The goal of the Missouri Thorns Football Club is to produce technically gifted and intelligent soccer players who have a high level of tactical understanding of the game along with the physical ability to play with high intensity.

The Missouri Thorns are affiliated with the professional women’s team the Portland Thorns. The Portland Thorns play in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and average 13,000 fans in attendance every game. The team includes players such as USWNT striker Alex Morgan, 2013 FIFA Player of The Year Award winner Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, and Canada National team captain Christine Sinclair and defender Rhian Wilkinson.

Missouri Thorns Girls Director of Coaching Steve Jose is proud to be a part of this new project. He believes an affiliation with a professional team is a great opportunity for young soccer players as is quoted:
“With this affiliation, the female player will get the opportunity to have pathway to play professional soccer just as the male player does,” Jose said. “This is a stark contrast to what has been the norm. This affiliation now makes it possible for girls to play professional soccer through club development. And all of that is possible with the Missouri Thorns and the Portland Thorns.”
Jose is joined in this new adventure by Troy United Soccer Club President and Technical Director Greg Geiger and Daniel Olstad, respectively.

As coaches and administrators we completely believe in this project we have set out on to give young female players what has been lacking for them across the country. We have truly set a course to provide young girls the path and the ability to strive for something that the boys have been given for a long time: A route into the professional game.

The club will be divided into three different programs that include the Foundation program (U6-U11), the Youth Development program (U12-U15), and the Collegiate/Professional Development program (U16-U18).

The club will include Academy teams starting at the U10 level. Academy teams are made up of players selected based on their extraordinary talent. With the help of highly qualified coaches, our goal is to make each and every player the best they can possibly be.
While we want our players to excel, we also want them to love and enjoy every aspect of the game and continue on into the future beyond the Missouri Thorns FC, whether as players, fans, coaches, or parents.

Restricted kick-arounds will be held June 1st through 12th at Barathaven Park. Any player currently rostered on two competitive teams may not attend. Tryouts will follow on June 13-14. For more information on time and location, please check our Web site: www.missourithorns.com.

The future of soccer is at the Missouri Thorns! Please stay tuned for more exciting news!
For more information about the Missouri Thorns, please call at (314-479-0449), or contact Executive Director Greg Geiger at greg@missourithorns.com or Girls Director of Coaching Steve Jose at steve@missourithorns.com.