Cape Fear SC Partners With Philadelphia Union

The Cape Fear Soccer Club has a new partner. The club, one of the largest youth soccer organizations in North Carolina has joined the Philadelphia Union’s Development Affiliate Network.

The agreement was finalized in mid-July when John Hackworth, head coach of the Major League Soccer Union, came to Wilmington to kick off the partnership.

Hackworth, who is a former U.S. MNT assistant and U.S. U-17 MNT head coach, has ties to North Carolina. He played collegiate soccer at Wake Forest University and later served as a Demon Deacon assistant coach.

“We’re constantly looking to produce higher quality technical players in the United States,” Hackworth said in a Union press release. “By collaborating with organizations like Cape Fear Soccer Club, we can really emphasize less competitive and more technical environments, especially at the younger age groups where the technical development is so important.”

While in Wilmington, Hackworth spoke to media about the selection of Cape Fear Soccer Club as an affiliate,” saying the club was approaching player training in the right way and in keeping with the philosophy of the Philadelphia Union.

“We want to provide an affiliation between a professional club and the youth players because our young players need to have heroes in the game. The Philadelphia Union has a lot of young players who can be those heroes.”

Cape Fear Soccer has approximately 3,000 youth players involved in its programs, from recreational soccer to the more competitive club teams.

“For us as an organization, for our administrative staff and our coaching staff, just to watch and evaluate how they do things,” said Scott McGuinn, Cape Fear’s new executive director, said about the new partnership.

“How can we adapt some of that into our environment, I think is important.”

The Philadelphia Union Academy affiliate director is another former Wake Forest assistant, Chris Brewer, who is also the Union Academy Director.

“We are pleased to add Cape Fear Soccer Club as a Youth Development Affiliate,” said Brewer. “We’ve already had an outstanding relationship with the club’s leaders, so when we reviewed the club’s current development plans, it was a great fit for both entities going forward.”