Crossfire Premier Soccer Club
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Crossfire Premier Soccer Club (formerly Crossfire Sounders) is a non-profit, youth soccer organization based in Redmond, WA affiliated with the Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association. Originally founded in 2000.[1] it has since grown into a nationally recognized club[2][3] with boys and girls teams competing in the Elite Clubs National League, winning several national titles. The club is also affiliated with Crossfire Redmond,[4] a semi-professional team that plays in the National Premier Soccer League.
The current Coaching Director is Bernie James who has served as director for over 20 years. Recently however, after an investigation into allegations of racial and sexual harassment, James had his license suspended by U.S. Soccer[5][6] and his status is uncertain at this time while the investigation by U.S. Soccer continues.
Notable Players
[edit]Some notable former players of the club[7] that have gone on to play NCAA Division I soccer or professionally (domestic or international) include:
- DeAndre Yedlin
- Ellis McLoughlin
- Nick Downing
- Preston Zimmerman
- Hassani Dotson
- Ethan Bartlow
- Kelyn Rowe
Solidarity Payments
[edit]Crossfire Premier gained national attention when it brought a petition before FIFA's Dispute Resolution Center arguing that the club is entitled to collect solidarity payments for its contributions to Yedlin's development.[8] Ultimately the panel ruled against Crossfire's claim though not for its merits, saying instead that the USSF claimed at the time that solidarity payments were illegal in the United States.[9]
Later, MLS announced that it would begin enforcing solidarity payments for its youth academies when players go on to sign a professional contract[10]
History
[edit]Prior to the club's founding, Alan Hinton coached the original Crossfire Sounders[11] U13 boys team in 1992 until 1997, winning four state championships and reaching the regional semifinals twice.[12] It was while coaching Crossfire that Neil Farnsworth, a top executive with Microsoft and player's parent, discussed with Hinton the idea of reviving the Seattle Sounders professional team,[13][14] which he coached for their first two years. Shortly after coaching the Crossfire Sounders boys, Crossfire Premier was founded and Hinton became their first Advanced Development Program Coaching Director.[15] He was succeeded as Coaching Director first by Jimmy Gabriel then later by Bernie James who has served as director for over 20 years.
References
[edit]- ^ "Seattle United and Crossfire Premier In-State Showdown Highlighted in Continental Tire Ecnl Derby Day". October 13, 2023.
- ^ "CROSSFIRE PREMIER JOINS ECNL BOYS AFTER DA DISSOLVES • SoccerToday". April 16, 2020.
- ^ "How do they do it? Crossfire Premier Fully Funds Their Top DA Teams". February 28, 2019.
- ^ "WELCOME ABOARD: Crossfire Redmond joins NPSL as expansion team". December 19, 2018.
- ^ "Part of the pipeline: Allegations of abusive culture at youth soccer club mirror problems at pro level". July 10, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Soccer has suspended the coaching licenses of two Seattle-area youth coaches". July 20, 2023.
- ^ "Hall of Fame - crossfire".
- ^ "Imminent FIFA ruling on Crossfire Premier's claim for Yedlin solidarity payments could drastically change U.S. Youth development".
- ^ "FIFA ruling on Crossfire's solidarity payment claim opens possibility of further action".
- ^ "MLS clubs to begin receiving solidarity payments". April 18, 2019.
- ^ "Planners of roast for former Sounders coach Alan Hinton hope to raise awareness and money for sharing state's soccer history". March 14, 2019.
- ^ "Prep Soccer -- Outstanding in Their Field". The Seattle Times.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (April 19, 2016). "Alan Hinton: The stylist in white boots who became America's Mr Soccer". The Guardian.
- ^ "Seattle Pitch - Hinton Retires".
- ^ "About Crossfire Premier". Archived from the original on June 21, 2003.