Bridges FC Newsletter – Spring 2012

The past few months have been full of activity for Bridges FC.  Bridges Staff (Head Coach & Partner Bret Hall, GM & Asst. Coach Jeff Roy, and Partner Rob Keith) have worked to put together a solid team of players with a lot of potential as they continue to prepare for this year’s summer tour.  Here’s a closer look at what has been going on.

Spring Training

Often the month of April is a time when Bridges takes time off of training after the grueling winter training season.  This year, training continued through the month of April as many of the players selected for this year’s European Tour were already in the Chicago area and hungry to begin preparation.  Over the past two months, Bret and Jeff have worked diligently to prepare the team technically, tactical, physically, and most importantly mentally.  Most weeks have been filled with training sessions six days per week and at times twice per day.  The players have been working extremely hard to develop and improve.  The work has already begun paying off.

Pre-Season Games

We have had the privilege of playing very good pre-season friendlies against very good competition.  Here’s a snapshot of how we have done:

5/10 Bridges FC @ Detroit City FC (NPSL) Tie 0 – 0

5/12 Bridges FC @ Michigan Bucks (PDL) Win 3 – 1

5/22 Bridges FC vs. Madison 56ers (NPSL) Win 2 – 1

5/29 Bridges FC vs. Chicago Eagles (Amateur) Win 5 – 1

6/3 Bridges FC @ Dayton Dutch Lions (DDL) U20 (Super 20) Win 5 – 0

6/4 Bridges FC @ DDL U20/Reserves (Super 20/USL PRO) Win 3 – 0

6/19 Bridges FC @ NSC Minnesota Stars Reserves (NASL) Win 1 – 0

6/22 Bridges FC @ Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) 2 -2 (Win 6 – 5 PKs)

6/24 Bridges FC @ DDL Reserves (USL PRO) 2 – 0

In these games, we were able to prepare for the difficult games we will have in Europe.  These matches provided the team with a metric of where we were at and what we needed to focus on as a team.  It was very positive from a preparatory standpoint.

Spiritual Formation

Throughout the Spring, we have continued to open up Bible Study times for players.  The discussions have been full of excellent questions and discussion regarding faith and the Gospel.  Players have also continued going to Willow Creek Church on Saturday evenings to come together for a worship service and a meal together afterwards.  In addition, we have had opportunities for the team to hear from guest speakers, such as an athletic trainer who is going to India as a missionary through sports.  These times have widened worldviews and allowed many very good questions and discussion to come about.  The staff has also greatly benefited from prayer before training sessions led by one of our players.  It has been a time of encouragement and intercessory prayer for players and their families.

European Tour 2012

It is hard to believe, but Bridges FC leaves for the Netherlands on Monday, July 9^th.  Although the trip has come up quickly, the team is prepared to face difficult matches and travel schedules while in Europe.  This year, we will be playing nine (9) matches in three weeks.  Some of the teams we will play against are sc Heerenveen (Eredivisie, Netherlands), Vitesse Arnhem (Eredivisie, Netherlands), FC Utrecht (Eredivisie, Netherlands), HB Køge (1^st Division, Denmark), and Brøndby FC (Superliga, Denmark).  Our competition will be excellent and will require our team to continue to work hard and improve throughout the trip.  We have players with a lot of potential who have been putting in the work towards their goal of playing professionally.  The trip is the next step in helping players move toward this goal.

Website and Social Media

We will continue to update our website while in Europe this summer, along with our Facebook page and Twitter Account (@BridgesFC).  Be sure to check out our website regularly at www.bridgesfc.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Donations

Many players who train with Bridges FC do not have the means to provide for all or a portion of their expenses.  Through our partnership with Sockers Youth Foundation, Ltd., a tax exempt Illinois 501(c)(3) Corporation, Bridges FC is able to provide scholarships to players in need.

If you would like to donate, please mail your contribution to:

Sockers Youth Foundation, Ltd.

126 W Liberty Drive

Wheaton, IL 60187

In the Memo Line, write “Adult European Tour”.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of Bridges FC.