Philadelphia Union Developing Within Bethlehem Steel
The Philadelphia Union Academy has been the starting point for many of the area’s brightest young players. Yet the large gap in the level of competitiveness between youth squads and first-team play in Major League Soccer has hindered the growth of these young stars of the future. That’s where Bethlehem Steel F.C. comes in.
Making the grade for a professional team in the United States is higher now than it’s ever been before; but the inception of Bethlehem Steel F.C. as the new “Double A” Union team allows for budding talent to develop within Philly’s organization and experience a higher level of competition while making the transition into the pros less of a leap and more of a step.
The partnership between the United Soccer League and Major League Soccer has yielded tremendous progress in expanding and validating the game of soccer as a whole here in America. The Philadelphia Union, now joined with Bethlehem Steel F.C. in their inaugural campaign, have added a crucial piece to their player development process and are already seeing first hand the benefits an affiliate team can bring to a professional organization.
The Union’s overall change in culture under new Sporting Director Earnie Stewart began with the idea of Bethlehem Steel being a direct outlet to assess and bring up talent while maintaining a consistent first team roster that can compete on a weekly basis. The Union can send players to Steel should they need to recover from injury or regain form to fight for a more consistent position within the first team.
Players such as Eric Ayuk, Leo Fernandes, and Walter Restrepo have taken strides in advancing their game while Philadelphia continues to develop their identity and maintain their position atop the Eastern Conference. Bethlehem Steel can also send players up to the Union should they be required in exhibitions, U.S. Open Cup games or CONCACAF Champions League matches that have no direct correlation with Major League Soccer’s season while giving them the experience of lacing up for a professional squad and showcasing their skills against tougher opponents.
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Philadelphia has taken strides in the assessment of young players advancing through the ranks of their academy; and with Bethlehem Steel now acting as a direct line to professional soccer, many prospects are blossoming with loads of potential.
Steel’s first official signing in club history was that of Derrick Jones, a Philly native who progressed from the ranks of the Union U-16’s. His journey like the ones of fellow academy members Auston Trusty, Lamine Conte and Joseph DeZart II all resonate to the faith Philadelphia has in their ability to find the best talent in the “215” area.
Previous Union draft picks are also taking full advantage of competing in the USL with the hopes of progressing up to top-flight American soccer. Steel Captain Ryan Richter is entering his physical prime and anchoring the back-line of Bethlehem Steel alongside Taylor Washington and Ken Tribbett, who tallied his first MLS goal and assist against Orlando City while filling in for the injured Josh Yaro.
Midfielder Cole Missimo is providing quality play through the middle while forward Fabian Herbers scored the first goal in Bethlehem Steel F.C. history and has appeared as a sub for the Union in almost all of their 2016 games.
Being a brand new team, players are also being brought in from across the world in the hopes of finding that high-level talent that will advance and strengthen the brand of both the Union and Steel F.C. as a whole. The additions of Boluwatife Akinyode and James Chambers playing alongside Derrick Jones has produced one of the stronger midfield tandems in the United Soccer League. Goal-scoring threats Seku Conneh and Cory Burke possess international experience and developed skill sets at relatively young ages that could prove to be lethal down the road for Bethlehem Steel.
It’s very early to gauge the success of a club that hasn’t been around for more than a few months, but the rich history rooted in Bethlehem Steel dates back to the 1930’s and provides a solid landscape for this team to grow in their own way while adding to the legacy of a storied franchise. Now back in the national spotlight with a seemingly different role, the men of Steel now lay the foundation for another Philadelphia team to build it’s brand from the ground up.
Next: What To Expect When Supporting The Union
The Union have grown immensely in its’ short history, but with this piece now in place to keep talent fresh, competing and hungry for success, things can only be looking up for this surging organization.