Posted: 29/11/2011
Jersey based Whitmill Trust Company Limited is delighted to this week announce their involvement in the VisionPro Sports Institute (VSI) following a recent press conference in Florida. During the conference VSI announced that it has entered into a number of franchise agreements with United Soccer Leagues in the USA. The agreements between VSI and USL will enable VSI to enter teams, based in Tampa, Florida, into a number of USL Leagues including the USL PRO, USL Premier Development League, USL W-League and USL Super-20 League
Commenting on the agreement USL CEO Alec Papadakis said “This is a great day for the Tampa soccer community, most notably youth players and fans. Not only will an elite academy be established so top young talent can pursue their professional dreams, but Tampa will have new professional and elite men's and women's amateur teams to support for years to come. Backed by some of the top names in world soccer, VisionPro Sports Institute will make a difference for Tampa soccer.”
Headquartered in Jersey, VSI uses the support and backing of some of football's leading professionals including current and ex English Premiership players and managers to establish and operate elite academies for young talent.
The US franchise agreement is another milestone for VSI as it continues to develop its international academy business, for the elite development coaching of young players.
Joining the VSI team at the conference was its International Ambassador Ian Wright the ex-England and Arsenal player who has an active interest in the business. Nobody knows better than Ian about the values that VSI stands for as he himself was nearly 23 years old when he was plucked from obscurity by Crystal Palace and went on to win every domestic honour in the English professional game.
Football, or Soccer as known in the US, continues to grow at a significant rate and now has the largest participation of youngsters than any other sport in the country. This growth is also reflected by the number of players from the US now competing in the Premiership and currently includes Tim Howard (Everton), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Brad Friedel (Spurs) and Stuart Holden (Bolton).
Neil Caisley (pictured, top) a Director of VSI commented “I am delighted that our VSI soccer business now extends across the Atlantic and embraces North America through our Tampa franchises. It has been a major part of our plans for growing the business and we look forward to exciting times ahead and becoming part of the USL family”.
Frederick Deacon (pictured, bottom) Director of Whitmill Trust Company and Executive Director of VSI went on to say “We are thrilled to be involved with VSI and whole heartedly support its aims and objectives. Along with the launch of the Tampa academy we are also working with VSI in relation to their first European academy based in Spain also with regard to the launch of an academy in Portugal in the near future. Longer term plans include further development into the Middle East and Asia. This is a new and unique structure which now stretches across continents, and which is exciting for us and also for Jersey to be involved with.”