Highly respected soccer coach Scott Middlemass will mastermind the NCE Soccer expansion into the North Atlantic region.

The former professional footballer will join the National Center of Excellence to lead the new region in the Fall.

Middlemass is a hugely respected junior coach and has been running the successful SLM soccer training centers in the South Jersey area for a number of years.

He will merge his existing SLM coaching program into NCE in time for the Fall – with the very best players being invited to join NCE Soccer North Atlantic region.

Top Level Training

He said: ” I’m looking forward to building NCE’s already great reputation in the US here in my region, providing top-level training, as well as opening doors for players to opportunities both domestically and internationally. All while they stay with their club team.

“I’m looking forward to teaming up with John Curtis and NCE as I know our player development philosophies are aligned.

“Realistic and genuine pathways help players achieve their goals whatever the level and I believe it ties in nicely with the amazing work that NCE do in player development.

“I truly believe the US has some very talented players at the younger age groups and if they where in any other country those top young players would be in Professional academy’s.

“Young players here in the US need to experience the challenge of training and playing against the best other countries have to offer, to really stretch and develop them.

“Avenues and pathways need to be made available for them, not taken away for them, to grow both as a player and as a person. NCE can open those doors.”

Summer Signing

Middlemass is the second big summer signing for NCE Soccer, following hot on the heels of former Premiership striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher to the team.

He was raised in England into a soccer family and followed his father into the professional game, going onto enjoy a 14-year player career with clubs in England, China, Norway and the US.

He moved to South Jersey in 2001 after retiring from playing and became the Technical Director for a local South Jersey Club where he worked for 13 years.

Middlemass went onto build a club-neutral Talent ID structure for a league with teams and players from DE, PA and South Jersey and, at its height this program had four separate training centers. They included local, district and regional level training groups.

The training centres provided players with the opportunity to travel to Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and/or England to compete against teams such as Manchester City, Vasco de Gama, Argentina Juniors, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona.

Tremendous Coach

Middlemass lives in South Jersey and has been working with players from NJ, DE and PA.

NCE Soccer Technical Director John Curtis, said: “We are delighted to welcome Scott to the NCE Soccer family. He is a tremendous coach and his knowledge, contacts and expertise will be invaluable.

“Scott has been a professional. He knows the game and insists on working to the highest possible standards, with no stone left unturned and a desire to maximize the potential of young players.

“He will be a great addition to the NCE team and I’m excited about the prospect of working with him, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher in the Fall.”

Middlemass follows Gary Taylor Fletcher as new NCE Soccer signings for the fall as the program aspires to grow and develop even better quality coaching.

Players in the North Atlantic interested in joining the NCE Soccer program will be required to attend trials in September – and only the very best will be selected.

Try-outs will be held at Total Turf on Sunday, 20th of September from 18:00-19:30 for boys and girls born between 2008-2010 followed by try outs for those born 2004-2007 at 19:30-21:00.

Try-outs will be hosted at XL Sports World in Cherry Hill on Friday September 25th between 18:00-19:30 for boys and girls born 2008-2010 and between 19:30-21:00 for those born 2004-2007.