Bridges FC Newsletter – August 2015

The summer of 2015 saw over 100 players participate in Bridges FC training through our College Training Program and our 2015 European Tour team. Please take a moment to review highlights from the summer and ways that you can get involved and support Bridges FC.

100 Campaign & Player Sponsorship

We need your help! As we continue to “work with players who have a love for the game but lack networks and resources to maximize their professional development physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually”, we need the continued faithful support of our Bridges family and friends. Bridges FC cannot exist without this important support through both financial contribution and prayer for our organization, staff, and players. We humbly ask that you consider helping us in this effort. Here are ways for you to get involved.

The 100 Campaign is our request for an annual donation of $100 to Bridges FC. This group provides a strong foundation of support for our organization. Would you consider supporting Bridges FC in this way?

We also have opportunities for you to sponsor individual player(s) in the Bridges program. The average cost for a player to train year round and go on the European Tour is $5,000. While most of our players cannot afford this cost, we rely on generous supporters to help “bridge the gap”, allowing players to maximize their potential not only in the game of soccer, but in life. There are opportunities to partially sponsor players and fully sponsor players. While all donations are welcome and encouraged, partial sponsorship levels are typically:

$500
$1,000
$2,500

If you would like to support Bridges FC in this way, we will will match you with a specific player who will keep you informed of their development and journey.

To donate, you can go to our website, www.bridgesfc.com, and click on DONATE, or,

Send a check to:
Sockers Youth Foundation, Ltd.
126 W Liberty Drive
Wheaton, IL 60187

In the Memo Line, write “Bridges FC”

Thank you for considering supporting Bridges FC!

Spiritual growth

This summer we had a unique blend of players from the local Chicago area, around the USA, and beyond. We came together during training sessions, before and after, to pray for the many needs of our players. While on tour in Europe, Elliot Borge led players in a time of prayer and Bible Study each day. This was an opportunity for players to be prayed for and explore the idea that God has a plan for their lives, even beyond the game of soccer. With that, players were able to learn more what it means to give their best to the glory of God in all that they do, including the game of soccer.

There are many needs and concerns that individuals hold close to their hearts. We provide an opportunity to come alongside those who are hurting and show them the love of God that is accessible to them.

College Training Program

This year’s college summer training program provided training opportunities for over 75 current and incoming college players of all levels (NCAA Div I, II, III, NAIA), helping to “bridge the gap” between the college season and the off season. Players came and trained with intensity and a strong desire to improve over a 10 week period. We look forward to seeing these players play this Fall with their college teams.

We offer College Training both in the summer and during winter break. For more information, go to our website: www.bridgesfc.com, and click on the TRAINING tab.

2015 European Tour

This summer’s tour saw a group of 22 players travel to Sweden and Norway to compete against high level competition. It was an opportunity for all players to develop in a fast-paced competitive environment and for eligible players to be showcased in hopes of earning a contract in Europe. We were able to once again stay at Lidköpings FK while in Sweden, where 2 former Bridges players JC Aikenhead and Jeff Gal currently play, and at Hønefoss BK in Norway. During the tour we also caught up with former Bridges players Patrick Hopkins, now with IK Sirius (Superettan, Sweden), Jochen Graf, now with Carlstad United (Division 1, Sweden), and Anes Kadiric, now with Myresjö/Vetlanda FK (Division 3, Sweden). All these players are growing as players and are regular starters for their respective teams. It was good to see them and continue to monitor their progress in the Swedish leagues.

Here’s a look at our record and teams played during the tour:

Record: 2-3-1 (Win, Loss, Draw)

Opponent                                                Score       Result
Skövde AIK (Division 2, Sweden               4-0              Win
Hønefoss BK (1. Division, Norway)          0-3               Loss
Mjøndalen IF II (3. Division, Norway)    0-2               Loss
Lidköpings FK (Division 2, Sweden)        1-2               Loss
Hvetlanda GIF (Division 3, Sweden)       4-1                Win
Nyköpings BIS (Division 1, Sweden)        1-1                Draw

2015 Summer Signings

This summer we were blessed to see the majority of our eligible players (those done with college soccer) sign with clubs in both Sweden and Finland, with players initially trialing with the Eliteserien Club Mjøndalen IF in Norway, and the Superettan club Ljungskile SK in Sweden, respectively. Here are the players who signed this summer:

Joe Broekhuizen, VPS (Veikkausliiga, Finland)
Isaiah Schafer, VPS (Veikkausliiga, Finland)
Isaac Kannah, MP (Ykkönen, Finland)
Yves Dietrich, Skövde AIK (Division 2, Sweden)
Yonda Abogunrin, Vara SK (Division 3, Sweden)
Andrew Palumbo, Vara SK (Division 3, Sweden)
Brendan Finnerty, Tranås FF (Division 4 Elite, Sweden)
Jeremy Figler, Sävsjö FF (Division 4, Sweden)
Evan Greenbaum, Sävsjö FF (Division 4, Sweden)
Ray De Leon III, Sävsjö FF (Division 4, Sweden)

Thank you again for your faithful support of Bridges FC! We look forward to the rest of 2015 and beyond.