Congratulations to Sporting St. Croix and El Padrino, who were named Sporting Club Network Academy Affiliate of the Year and Sporting Club Network Club of the year, respectively. Guests from both clubs will attend Sporting Kansas City’s annual team awards ceremony, Pitch Black, on Saturday at Sporting Park.
In their first year as an Academy Affiliate, Sporting St. Croix fully embraced the Academy Affiliate program and rebranding process. Despite being the furthest Academy Affiliate, located in the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, St. Croix consistently had some of the best participation in Academy events. Whether it was sending players and teams to compete during Academy Affiliate Weekend and MLS/MRL league play, or welcoming new Academy Affiliate Technical Director Desmond Armstrong on a visit, St. Croix was always well represented. The club even helped Sporting Kansas City’s Academy teams open up their seasons by playing in their first friendlies.
Sporting Club Network Club of the Year, El Padrino, has enjoyed a tremendously successful year in a variety of ventures. In just their second year as a member, El Padrino secured an agreement with Kansas City Power and Light through the Sporting Club Network and has seen their relationship flourish. Always looking for new ways to grow the game and foster the development of youth players throughout the Kansas City area, El Padrino teamed up with Soccer Nation and unveiled a new, two-field indoor complex, while also helping to support the planned construction of new futsal courts throughout Wyandotte County. El Padrino has hosted three different Sporting Club Network events this year, benefitting both their players and coaches, and has been instrumental in helping the Network and The Victory Project launch the community-focused Recycle Your Game program.
Sporting St. Croix and El Padrino will be formally recognized during Saturday’s Pitch Black awards ceremony in conjunction with Sporting Kansas City’s annual team awards. Fans are invited to vote for the various team awards online here through Thursday, October 9th. To stay up-to-date on the latest Sporting Club Network news, follow the Network on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
