The Philadelphia Union have had a rough time in Major League Soccer and the idea that they can't compete with the LA Galaxy's of the world has been repeated over and over again; however, the one saving grace has been the Union's commitment to and insistence on developing local youth. However, the Union's youth structure isn't as well known as it could be. Here's a run down on the youth set up.
A brief history and overview
The Philadelphia Union Academy is based out of YSC Sports in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It's a partnership that was formed in September of 2009, and was intended to develop players between the ages of 8 and 12. The curriculum was developed by then-manager Peter Nowak and YSC Academy Director Iain Munro and later expanded to include players from the age of seven all the way to 18. Two months later, future Union manager John Hackworth would be hired as the Youth Development Coordinator and a first team coach.
Many former and current Union Academy players as well as Pennsylvania natives have also spent time with Reading United, Philadelphia's official "minor league affiliate" who play in the Premier Development League, the amateur fourth division of US Soccer which runs during the college offseason. It's a popular destination for college players seeking to maintain their fitness.
YSC is run by Union part-owner Richie Graham and features three categories of youth development, as well as several subcategories: Union Futures (U7-U9), Union Juniors (U9-U13), and Union Academy (U12-U18). The Academy separates their players into U14, U16, and U18 and is totally free of charge for players.
The Union were the pioneers, founding a combination school/academy program in September 2013 called YSC Academy that hosts students from grades 8 to 12, which will serve as a program to augment the academy. Unlike the academy, it does cost money- $28,500 per year across the board as of the 2015-16 academic year.
Prior to this, the IMG Academy in Brandenton, Florida was the only program that mixed education and sport (at least in the case of soccer, adding it to their list of sports in 1994) in the United States and has subsequently produced many of the players that have passed through the United States national team. The Union's version so to speak, an educational institution and academy affiliated with a professional team was the first of its kind, and the Los Angeles Galaxy have followed suit.
It's important to note that youth academies are not mandatory for Major League Soccer teams (as they have become recently in places such as England), and much of the youth development was previously outsourced to local clubs and organizations such as IMG, or in the case of the greater Philadelphia region, Continental FC (Philadelphia's youth affiliate formerly known as FC Delco.) Hence why the Union's program is significant and despite its relative youth has approximately 17 current college soccer players associated with the academy to boast.
Academies in general have grown in number and quality since the introduction of the Homegrown Player Rule by Major League Soccer. The league implemented the rule in 2008 in an effort to foster youth development for Major League Soccer teams and lessen the cap hit.
The rule reads as follows, "A club may sign a player to his first professional contract without subjecting him to the MLS SuperDraft if the player has been a member of a club’s youth academy for at least one year and has met the necessary training and retention requirements. Players joining MLS through this mechanism are known as Homegrown Players. There is no limit to the number of Homegrown Players a club may sign in a given year." Furthermore, players who have not been a part of the academy but are from the home territory of the team may also be eligible. Not stated in the official rules are supposedly understood (with MLS set exceptions) geographical limits that defines a team's "home territory" from which they can recruit players.
Since the Union began play in 2010, they've utilized this rule three times: signing Zach Pfeffer and Jimmy McLaughlin in 2011, and Cristian Hernandez in 2012 (more on them later), as well as having had a homegrown player claim for Georgetown defender Keegan Rosenberry rejected by MLS in November (or being rejected by the player himself depending on the source). Rosenberry's Georgetown biography states he attended high school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and played with the Philadelphia Union Reserve squad (in MLS' ill fated Reserve League) and the Union's academy team. Likely, the length of time that he played for them is the aspect preventing him from being claimed as a homegrown player. Philadelphia have also signed academy product Derrick Jones to a contract with their USL team, Bethlehem Steel, which is presumably an alternative to the HGP rule (more on the Steel later), as well as generally developing young talent from the SuperDraft such as Jack MacInerney, Amobi Okugo, and Danny Mwanga.
The academy has made great progress in the six years since the Union first initiated their partnership having been voted the East Conference’s Most Comprehensive Club by the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in July 2015. According to the Philadelphia Union press release, it's the "most prestigious team honor at the youth level" and this is the first time the Union have won it. In addition to the academy wide award, the Union's U18s made the playoffs, but were unable to make it out of group play, the U16 side finished third nationally for the 2014-15 season, and the U14 side finished 17-5-5 as there are no playoffs at the U14 level.
Who makes all the magic happen?
The men in charge
Tommy Wilson, Philadelphia Union Academy Director
The Scottish former professional player has some 20 plus years of youth coaching under his belt including a load of certifications including a UEFA Pro License Diploma which allows him to coach in the Premier League or even the Champions League. He joined the club in 2013 from Rangers FC where he was Academy Technical Director and Reserve Team Manager from 2006-2013.
Chris Brewer, Philadelphia Union Academy U18 Head Coach
Brewer has his USSF A License and has been coaching since 2009.
Jeff Cook, Philadelphia Union Academy U16 Head Coach
Cook has his UEFA Pro License, and prior to coming to the Union, coached in college soccer from 1990 to 2013.
Gary Lewis, Philadelphia Union Academy U14 Head Coach
Lewis has his UEFA A License and has been in academy coaching since 2001 with teams such as Derby County, Everton, and Liverpool (where he was head of youth development).
Other relevant figures
Brendan Burke
The former Reading United manager has also coached the Union reserves and assisted the first team. As manager of Bethlehem Steel he'll play a key role in transitioning academy players from the academy to the Union first team.
What about the players? Well the Union have a myriad of players achieving success at the youth, college, and professional level.
Current College Students who have spent time in the Union Academy
Connor Maloney
The junior forward just completed his third season with the Penn State Nittany Lions, having been named captain at the beginning of the season, Maloney lead his team in goals with seven while also tallying two assists.
Maloney is a scrappy, surprisingly strong player in the mold of the Chicago Fire's Harrison Shipp. While not MLS ready, Maloney would be a good signing for Bethlehem Steel FC and should be eligible to sign for the Union as a Homegrown Player, having spent two years in the Union Academy.
Sebastian Elney
The University of Maryland forward just completed his freshman year, tallying six goals and one assist. At 6ft 1in, the he's surprisingly quick and good on the ball and is regarded as one of the best prospects Philadelphia have produced in years.
Darius Madison
The senior forward transferred to UMBC this semester after three seasons at Virginia, where he was kicked off the team for behavioral problems. He has 18 goals in four years including six goals and three assists this past season and will graduate this year.
Will Campbell
The former Union U16 and U18 captain committed to play for the University of North Carolina as a defender back in February but didn't play a single game this season. he's joined by midfielder Sean Wilson, who started two matches for the Tar Heels this season.
Kevin Carvalho
The freshman midfielder made 15 appearances and produced two assists for Northeastern University this past season.
Cameron Keys
Goalkeeper Keys played six matches for La Salle University alongside his twin brother, defender Garrett who played 13.
Morgan Hackworth
Freshman midfielder and son of former Union manager John Hackworth played six games for Syracuse University who lost the in the Semifinal of this year's College Cup.
Brandon Levano
The freshman forward played 13 games for Loyola University of Maryland.
John Schroeder
The freshman defender started a whopping 20 games for the University of Delaware.
Zach Zandi
Freshman midfielder at Vilanova.
Current Professionals produced by the Academy
Zach Pfeffer
Philadelphia's first ever Homegrown Player and so far the only "success story" was signed in 2011 at the age of 15 and became a regular substitute this past season at the age of 20, having a career year with 21 appearances, two goals, and one assist.
Jimmy McLaughlin
The Malvern native recently had his contract option turned down but could very well sign with the Bethlehem Steel in USL or return to the Union at a lower wage. He's been with the Union since 2011, but has made just three appearances for them. The midfielder has spent considerably more time with the Harrisburg City Islanders on loan (55 games in total) including helping them to a USL title in 2014 with six goals in 26 games.
Cristian Hernandez
Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Hernandez signed in 2012 as Philadelphia's third ever Homegrown Player. The attacking midfielder had an uneventful Union career, making two appearances from 2012 to 2014 as well as two successful stints with Harrisburg City Islanders on loan. He's now with National Premier Soccer League Champions New York Cosmos B in the US' joint fourth division.
Derrick Jones
Bethlehem Steel's first ever signing, Jones has spent the last two seasons with the Union U18 squad, making 26 appearances and scoring 8 goals last season as well as three goals in eighth appearances this season. Despite his seeming eye for goal, Jones is a defensive midfielder who can also play center back, whom we're likely to hear plenty about in the coming years. The Ghanian born midfielder is just 18 years old and marks the first of many young Academy graduates who will play for Bethlehem Steel FC. The Union see that club as a place for their academy players to get regular minutes in a competitive environment, but with control over every aspect as opposed to a regular USL-affiliation like they had with the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Notable Academy Players
Austin Trusty
The 17-year-old defender is a member of the Union's U18 squad and participated in this past summer's U-17 World Cup in Chile as a member of the United States. He started and was sent off in the US's first match, a 2-0 loss against Nigeria, was suspended for their 2-2 draw with Croatia and was an unused sub in their 4-1 loss against hosts Chile as they bowed out at the group stage.
Rayshaun McGann
Was called up to the US U15s for the 12th annual Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Florida earlier this month by none other than former Union manager John Hackworth.
Jack de Vries
The U-16 forward has been a part of US U-15 camps this year along with goalkeeper Carlos Dos Santos, defenders Andrew Aprahamian, Nykolas Sessock, and Matthew Real, midfielders Brenden Aaronson and Seth Kuhn, and forward Issa Rayyan.
With all the players at the various echelons of US Soccer for the Union, it's safe to say the future looks bright.