ALBION SC has announced the expansion within the ALBION SC National Affiliate program, welcoming ALBION SC Southern Minnesota, formerly Southern Minnesota Select Soccer, a highly competitive club in Rocester, Minnesota. The new relationship will expand the ALBION SC platform, and National soccer club's network, throughout the Southern Minnesota. This comes after a great strategic alliance to really help develop Southern Minnesota soccer. ALBION SC with over 12,000 players and clubs all over the US are quickly becoming the vehicle to advance soccer in this country as well as specific markets and become market leaders. The incredible success of ALBION SC Las Vegas in 2017, who quickly received acceptance to the prestigious US Development Academy and now part of the MLS Next/EA and GA/DPL platform. In addition, ALBION SC Hawaii and ALBION SC Central Cal have launched to strengthen our presence in the Western United States.

ALBION SC Southern Minnesota, formerly known as Southern Minnesota Select Soccer, establishes a valuable alliance with the most elite club in the nation, fostering immediate national recognition and receiving substantial operational and strategic backing from a successful and prestigious organization. Moreover, it facilitates ALBION SC Southern Minnesota's integration into the college placement program and ALBION SC’s robust recruitment and scouting system, as well as its network of professional clubs.

ALBION SC is forging ahead with its expansion efforts, fueled by the growing demand from programs seeking innovation and a departure from the conventional. In the pursuit of building a model club, ALBION SC has gained invaluable insight and a solid framework, propelling it towards unprecedented success. Leveraging the achievements of its existing program, ALBION SC harnesses its distinctive branding, robust structure, esteemed reputation, cutting-edge programming, and the wealth of resources it has cultivated. These elements combine synergistically, opening up new horizons and boundless opportunities for players, teams, and staff associated with the club.

“There are decades of success and equity built into ALBION SC and for us to share that with other programs and allow other programs to gain from this is a reward not only to the clubs receiving, but to our own club as a testament of the hard work paying off in doing the right things year after year.” Noah Gins, ALBION SC, CEO

“Over the last 5 years, we have tirelessly worked to build Southern Minnesota Select Soccer into a well respected club, responsible for helping female athletes grow and achieve their dreams through soccer," Rick Rhone, Director of Operations for ALBION SC Southern Minnesota, said. "I am proud of the work that we have done and excited that all that work has brought us to this point. Joining ALBION will continue to build on those strong foundations, while providing advanced opportunities for our players and families that we could only dream of before. ALBION is player development-centric and that aligns perfectly with our philosophy. That ALBION chose our club to partner with in Minnesota is a testament to the hard work and passion that we have done to this point. ALBION is the only organization that we would be willing to become part of says everything about them, their program, their staff and the standing that they have in the national soccer community.”- RICK RHONE, ALBION SC SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

ALBION SC Southern Minnesota will be based in Rochester, serving families throughout Southern

Minnesota. They will expand their services and opportunities throughout the area. Moving forward, ALBION SC Southern Minnesota will send player pools into the National Elite Platform within ALBION SC and be part of the action with the Elite Pathway during the regular season, and throughout the year, as some players will participate as MLS Next/EA and GA/DPL players.

Additionally, teams will gain opportunities to compete in the ALBION CUP National Showcase, and other ALBION SC Affiliate Showcases, as well as be a part of the ALBION SC NATIONAL Elite Showcase Teams comprised of top players from all ALBION SC Affiliate clubs. Teams will compete under the ALBION SC SOUTHERN MINNESOTA name effective for the 2023-2024 season.

"We are delighted to welcome Rick and his exceptional team as they join the ALBION family. Rick's sincere dedication to the development of players, coupled with his unwavering commitment to cultivating a positive environment, exemplifies the very essence of extraordinary leadership. His coaching team's extraordinary capacity to inspire, guide, and empower players at an elevated level, consistently generating college placement opportunities year after year, stands as a testament to his unwavering support for players within the community. We eagerly anticipate leveraging our resources to create a profound impact on the lives of players and families within the club, as well as the wider Rochester community and its surrounding areas." Mark Santistevan, COO ALBION SC

Rick Rhone, leading the way with the new ALBION SC Southern Minnesota is incredibly excited about the opportunity to represent ALBION SC and continue the tradition of excellence. Rick has produced top talent out of Southern Minnesota. This move will allow him, and the staff to truly push forward showcasing themselves and the standards of ALBION SC

“We are delighted to announce our affiliation with ALBION, a nationally renowned club, which will enable us to further support the holistic development of our young athletes. This partnership is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our coaches and the remarkable commitment of our talented players, as we strive to nurture their academic and soccer aspirations alike.

With ALBION's resources and expertise, we are excited to create an environment that fosters not only athletic excellence but also academic success. Our goal is to empower our young athletes to become well-rounded individuals who can pursue their soccer dreams while achieving their academic goals, paving the way for a promising future.

This affiliation opens up a world of incredible opportunities, providing our players with specialized training, mentorship, and support to excel both on the field and in their educational pursuits. We are committed to guiding and empowering our athletes, ensuring they grow into not only exceptional soccer players but also well-rounded adults who can thrive in all aspects of life.

Together, we embrace the potential this partnership holds, empowering our young athletes to reach new heights in their soccer journey while simultaneously realizing their academic aspirations. We are grateful for the dedication of our coaches and the unwavering commitment of our young athletes, and we look forward to witnessing their incredible growth as they flourish as both scholars and soccer stars." - NATE BIRKHOLTZ BOD - ALBION SC SOUTHERN MINNESOTA PRESIDENT

“Joining ALBION SC is an exciting opportunity for us. The national recognition of ALBION SC will further transition our club from what we are today, to bringing everything to reality that our small club has always wanted to do. Our opportunities are now endless, those that want to play can and will, our youth will have an even better foundation, our other age groups will be ready to move on to play to get recruited and will have college coaches focusing even more on our players.” - SCOT FIELD- ALBION SC SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BOD - VICE PRESIDENT

ABOUT ALBION SC

ALBION SC is headquartered in San Diego and is expanding the National Affiliate Program to select clubs across the US. ALBION SC has proven to be a model club in the US building its prestigious profile and outstanding success. ALBION SC has been ranked top 30 clubs by Soccer America, # 1 in the Nation by Top Drawer Soccer, and is a leader in the developing players on the boys and girls side. ALBION SC is proud to have produced 20+ National Team players , helped create over 52 million in college scholarships, and have many players playing professionally within the MLS and Internationally.

If your club has a strong commitment to Development, Advancement & Placement of players and would like ongoing support to develop coaches and players, with turn-key marketing, operations, tournament management, and utilize a proven model to develop elite players, now is the time to meet with ALBION SC.

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