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UPSL Announces Florida Expansion with Club Med Academies

Founded in 2018, Port St. Lucie (Fla.)-Based Pro Development Club Joins UPSL
Published Jul 10, 2019

July 10, 2019 – Los Angeles – The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is pleased to announce Club Med Academies as a member kicking off with the 2019 Fall Season.

Based in Port St. Lucie (Fla.), Club Med Academies will begin UPSL play in the Florida Conference and play its UPSL home games this season at Club Med Academy at Sandpiper Bay (4500 SE Pine Valley St., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952) in compliance with UPSL's Minimum Standards.

United Premier Soccer League Florida Conference Manager Christian Vallejos said, "We are excited to welcome Club Med Academies to UPSL Florida. Thomas Durkin is a fixture across the United States in soccer and he brings loads of experience to every team he coaches. Club Med Academies have helped train some top athletes and we can't wait to see the talent they put on the field in the UPSL. We wish Thomas Durkin and Club Med Academies the best of success as they prepare for their inaugural season."

Thomas Durkin is Director of Soccer at Club Med Academies. The former Head Coach of Boston Breakers (NWSL), Durkin previously served as an Assistant Coach for the United States Under-17 Youth National Team, Head Coach for India Under-17 Youth National Team, and as Director of Soccer at Bradenton (Fla.)'s IMG Academy. During his 14 years as IMG's Director of Soccer, Durkin developed 55 professional and 20 national team players while placing over 350 players into the college ranks. Durkin holds his USSF 'A' License and is the longest-standing current instructor within the United States Soccer Federation.

Club Med Academies Director of Soccer Thomas Durkin said, "We are excited to join the UPSL. With players attending our boarding program from across the world, this league will not only suit our academy, but will help us develop our players to be exposed to the collegiate and professional contacts we provide for them."

Eric Arbuzow is the Assistant Director of Soccer at Club Med Academies. A native of Jupiter (Fla.), Arbuzow played collegiate soccer at both the University of North Florida and Florida Atlantic University (NCAA) before playing professionally in Germany's Regionalliga. He also was on staff with the New York Red Bulls Academy and Training Program before serving as the Assistant Coach under Thomas Rongen at the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL. He holds his USSF 'A' License.

Club Med Academies operates a competitive youth club with multiple competitive teams (12U-19U), and featured some of the most talented players on Florida's Treasure Coast.

The club soon will announce its upcoming game schedule.

About Club Med Academies

Club Med Academies is an American Soccer club currently based in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and a new member of the United Premier Soccer League. Club Med Academies will begin play in the UPSL Florida Conference.

Founded in 2018, Club Med Academies can participate in the qualifying rounds for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation and membership with the UPSL, the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

Contact:
Email: info@clubmedacademies.com
Website: www.clubmedacademies.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cmasoccer
Instagram: @cmasoccer
Twitter: @cmasoccer1

United Premier Soccer League

The UPSL was formed in 2011 and currently includes more than 300 teams in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. UPSL is the fastest growing Pro Development League in the USA, with 400-plus teams targeted for 2019 Fall Season. Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining either UPSL Pro Premier Division or Championship Division minimum standards.

UPSL teams are all eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds through the leagues affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

More information about UPSL can be found at www.upslsoccer.com or by following the league on Facebook (www.facebook.com/upslsoccer) and Twitter (@upslsoccer).

Contact UPSL:
info@upslsoccer.com
Direct: 310-415-5691

Media Relations:
Dennis Pope
dennis@upslsoccer.com
upslcommunications@gmail.com
Direct: 951-675-3963
www.upslsoccer.com
www.facebook.com/unitedpremiersoccerleague
www.twitter.com/unitedpremiersoccerleague

2019 Fall I - 10 Cup - SAsoccer.org

2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup - The Cup.US

2018 UPSL Press Release