NCFC Youth All-Star 50th Anniversary Team

Starting XI

As part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations, NCFC Youth will be naming an All-Star Commemorative Team made up of 50 players, coaches, teams, and contributors who positively impacted the sport or organization in such a way that deserves this recognition.


NCFC Youth will announce a Starting XI for the 50th Anniversary All-Star Commemorative Team. These Starting XI are pulled from a variety of archives, stories from those who came before, and key moments in our history. These “starters” will be the base of the All-Star team and exemplify those that have been instrumental in shaping NCFC Youth over the past half century.


The remaining 39 positions will be filled through the first half of 2024. NCFC Youth is having an open call for nominations to ensure any player, team, coach, organization, or other individual or entity that supported the organization over the past 50 years can be considered. We recognize that every player, coach, community partner, and supporter has played some role in shaping our past, present, and future. This All-Star Commemorative Team of 50 allows us the opportunity to reflect and share just a few of those stories.


How it works?

Nominations for the All-Star Team will be submitted through four categories: Players, Teams, Coaches, and Contributors. After the starting XI are announced, a committee will support the selection of future All-Star team members. This committee will be responsible for collecting any nominations from the public, reviewing the nominations, and making the final selections. Names of nominees as well as any discussion around selection onto the team will be kept confidential and not shared with the public.


Nomination Form: If you would like to submit a player, team, coach, or contributor for consideration, complete this form.


All-Star Commemorative Team Criteria: Players, Coaches, Teams, and Contributors

Players
Hundreds of thousands of players have come through NCFC Youth’s programs over the past 50 years. Each player across every level of play is important to us. For this particular recognition, players named to the commemorative all-star team will have the following:


  • Played at least 4 years with Capital Area Soccer League, Triangle Futbol Club Alliance, and/or NCFC Youth
  • Recognized at higher levels of competition for their on-field playing abilities through youth or full national teams, college, and/or professional ranks
  • Other considerations include a player’s:
  • continued support of growing the game (at any level) – as a coach, administrator, advocate, or other role
  • commitment to the community
  • passion for the sport and the club
  • history of sportsmanship, strong character, respect, and other traits needed to be a leader and team player


Coaches
Coaches across all levels of play are on the frontlines of developing players on and off the field, creating a positive and safe environment, instilling a love of the game, and creating an overall positive experience for players, teams, and families. While all coaches deserve appreciation, nominees for the All-Star team should demonstrate most of the following:


  • on-field player and/or team success in their division / program of play
  • commitment to player’s development off the field
  • held in high regard among coaching peers

 

Teams
Soccer is a team sport, and we want to recognize teams (and the individuals who made up those teams) whose accomplishments warrant the recognition. Teams can be recognized for their collective performance and success at the state, regional, and/or national level.


Contributors
Contributors includes any individual, supporter, corporate entity, or otherwise who have given their time, careers, services, products, or financial support to furthering and supporting NCFC Youth’s mission. Contributors may include but are not limited to players (who do not fit the player category described above), referees, volunteers, staff, board members, corporate entities, and community businesses/organizations.

 


’77 Spartans

 ’77 Spartans (girls) win first USYS National Championship for North Carolina and CASL. The team was coached by Izzy Hernandez, who was also the long-time coach at Broughton High School. His success on the field earned him an induction into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009. This team’s success put CASL on the national radar and solidified the club’s early respect across the nation.   


The ’77 Spartans had a track record of success. The roster featured Lindsay Stoecker, a member of the U17 & U20 U.S. National Teams and a 1995 Parade All American. She went on to play at UNC (1996 – 1999) and professionally for the Washington Freedom in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA). Full roster: Elizabeth Silverstein, Liz Burnette, Allison Netzer, Srah Currie, Jessica Celi, Meredith Cage, Megan Jeidy, Allison Wahl, Shannon Blair, Jennifer Plante, Laura Ferguson, Allison Osborne, Melissa Sutton, Leah Rutledge, Lena Viken, Kara Marschalk, Lindsay Stoecker, Amy Horton. Coached by Israel “Izzy” Hernandez and Asst. Coach Matthias Berrang.


The team faced De Anza Magic (North California) in the National Championship game. After being down 2-0, the ’77 Spartans rallied in the final 10 minutes to tie the game. The tie continued through overtime before the Spartans won in Penalty Kicks 4-1. The team’s National Champion status was immortalized when they were inducted into the NC Soccer National Champions Hall of Fame in 2013.

William “Billy” Trott

Trott was Board President of CASL in 1985, but his involvement and volunteer contributions spanned for much of the 1980s. Like most others at the time, his involvement began because his kids wanted to play and were playing CASL soccer. At the time, CASL had one clerical employee and was entirely volunteer driven and led. 


Trott admitted at the time he knew very little about soccer, but he was able to serve as a facilitator for some great decisions by others and gave credit to so many other volunteers and parents. During the early 80s, there were three problems the organization faced according to Trott: 1) no fields 2) no money and 3) no expertise in soccer. Trott found a way during his involvement to address all three of these and pave the way for growth. 


While others who came before helped with the purchase and initial development of WRAL Soccer Park with support from Jim Goodmon and Capitol Broadcasting Company, there was room and need to develop more fields there. Trott led the effort and conversations that led to convincing Mr. Goodmon to forgive the remaining mortgage on WRAL Soccer Park ($300,000) because CASL was in the process of sufficiently finishing WRAL Soccer Center.  For a club that had no money and no fields, this gesture freed up a huge amount of money the club had to pay every year and gave CASL the power to finance expansion in many ways. 


Trott and others fundraised through matching grants from Wake County Parks and Recreation and NC Legislature along with cash grants or in-kind donations from companies like Wake Stone Corporation, Data General, Burroughs Wellcome, Golden Corral, and others. They borrowed money from Wachovia (now Wells Fargo), and through all these efforts, they had enough funds to complete the second phase (expansion and upgrades) to WRAL Soccer Park and hire the first paid executive director, Roland Paiva, in 1988. This began a movement that opened the door for soccer experts with business acumen to lead and guide the future of CASL. 


During Trott’s time, they brought the girls select league (competitive soccer) and boys select league (competitive) under the CASL operations. In addition, they started the Challenge league, which has continued to thrive as an intermediate experience for kids and parents, and developed an Adult League, which eventually spun off into what is now the independently run Triangle Adult Soccer League. 


By “finishing” WRAL Soccer Park to the 21 fields it is today, the complex became a destination for not only league play but also tournaments including what is now the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, which consistently welcomes 1500 teams each year and generates more than $28 Million in economic impact each year. The tournament is a prime ground for college scouting and elite national competition. 


By 1990, when Trott hung up his boots as a volunteer, the organization had reached 9,000 youth participants, and became the largest youth sports organization in the area.  When he was not devoting his time to CASL, Trott was actively serving the greater community in other ways including the following roles: Board of Directors for the NC Sports Hall of Fame,  Past Chairman of the Wake County Parks & Recreation Commission, Past President North Caroline Tennis Association (where he is also in the Hall of Fame), President of the North Carolina Tennis Foundation, among many others and in addition to be an attorney with Young Moore and Henderson, P.A. 

Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC)

Capital Broadcasting Company has had and continues to have a significant role in shaping the foundation and trajectory of NCFC Youth. CBC, under the leadership of Jim Goodmon, was the reason that CASL was able to purchase and develop 118-acres in Raleigh into WRAL Soccer Park – a now 22-field destination sports complex. Jim Goodmon and CBC played a key role in the late 70s and early 80s, collaborating with the early founders and leaders of CASL, to finance the purchase of the land. The facility opened in 1981 with 14 fields, expanded to 21 fields in 1987, and continues to be a hub of operation for practices, league play, and tournaments. 


Eventually, Mr. Goodmon and CBC would generously forgive the remaining $300,000 mortgage debt CASL owed on the original land purchase, which was a turning point in the club’s history allowing them to hire their first executive director. In 2015, CBC once again stepped up to help finance a $3.8 million renovation at WRAL Soccer Park through a loan and grant. The generosity and support of Jim Goodmon and CBC over the years allowed CASL to continue developing, maintaining, and updating WRAL Soccer Park. It’s because of WRAL Soccer Park and the preserved green space there that CASL had the capacity to serve more youth in our community and continue to do so today. 

Wake Stone Corporation

Wake Stone Corporation’s contributions to NCFC Youth date back to the earliest years of CASL. When WRAL Soccer Park was first developed, Wake Stone Corporation and the Bratton family donated the rocks to create the first gravel roadway through the park and parking lots. In addition, they supported a fundraising campaign to help “finish” the initial development plans for WRAL Soccer Park in the 1980s. 


After many years of discussion, Wake Stone Corporation played another critical role in the club’s history. In 2021 Wake Stone Athletic Park opened. Wake Stone Athletic Park is the product of Wake Stone Corporation donating 40 acres of undeveloped land to the Town of Knightdale. Wake County also supported the development financially as did NCFC Youth. The result of the community partnership is a 5-field complex (with room to add more) available for NCFC Youth local programming and tournaments. This facility expanded NCFC Youth’s presence in a growing part of our community and provides additional field space for tournaments. Wake Stone Athletic Park gives the club room to grow and relieve some field field constraints. 

CASL Founders

Bill Plunkett was a co-founder of the Raleigh Soccer League in 1971, the predecessor to CASL. He along with many other volunteers organized opportunities for kids in the local community to play organized soccer. In 1974, the organization had grown beyond the service area of Raleigh and would officially be incorporated as Capital Area Soccer League, a non-profit organization. Plunkett was the league’s first president and remained on the Board of Directors until 1979. Plunkett was part of the original group that was always asking and answering, “where are we going to play this week?”. With limited field space and growing numbers of participants, Plunkett and others led the discussion with local leaders on the development of WRAL Soccer Park.


Bill Holleman was a co-founder of the Raleigh Soccer League and one of the four founders of CASL. In addition to his contributions to CASL in its earliest years, Holleman was a tenured and successful coach at Ravenscroft and was the founder and four-time president of the North Carolina Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association. He moved away from Raleigh in 1979, but his impact to the local area and game on a larger scale were lasting and recognized with inductions into the NC Soccer Hall of Fame, Campbell University Sports Hall of Fame, Ravenscroft School Hall of Fame, Georgia State Soccer Hall of Fame, and the United Soccer Coaches (fka National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Hall of Fame along with soccer leadership roles within the 1994 World Cup and 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. 


Steve Almasi, a native of Hungary, was one of the league’s few organizers who had a soccer background. His teams were always so good and well organized (with uniforms), that it motivated those around him to be better and step up. With his international experience and being a part of soccer programs that had earlier starts in other parts of the world, Almasi helped develop the “club concept” with CASL – which allowed teams composed of players born in the same year to stay together year after year, leading to continuity of coaches and players. Almasi was a key part of the conversations that helped set the rules for CASL, which helped them avoid some of the problems that plagued other youth sport organizations (e.g., where parents can watch the games from on the field, emphasis on participation, no team standings published, etc.). 


Pat Hamilton saw a call in the local newspaper to join the NC State soccer coach for a soccer skills demonstration. He took his son to the demonstration and was committed to the league ever since. He served as Vice President and Treasurer of the league, which was a driving force behind the acquisition of land for WRAL Soccer Park field development. His contributions to the game including being a co-founded of NCYSA (where he also served as the Vice President and President and helped organize the first interstate tournament sanctioned by NCYSA), helped launch the NC ODP program, served on to USYSA National Committees, and much more. These accomplishments were recognized when he was inducted into the NC Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000.

Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (TFCA) Founders

Triangle Soccer Academy, the predecessor to Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (TFCA), was founded by the university soccer program leaders of the Triangle area. Six former coaches across the men’s and women’s programs at Duke, UNC, and NC State are all credited with forming TSA: John Rennie (Duke), Bill Hempen (Duke), Anson Dorrance (UNC), Elmar Bolowich (UNC), George Tarantini (NC State), and Laura Kerrigan (NC State).  In addition to these six coaches, the initial TSA Board was rounded out by Alvin Corneal and Bill Palladino, two local professional coaches at the time. John Rennie, the head men’s soccer coach at Duke University from 1979 – 2007, served as TFCA’s Board President for nearly 8 years.   


TFCA was last headquartered out of Hillsborough, NC and saw changes over the years as they continued to evolve and adapt. Shortly after being founded, the Triangle Soccer Academy changed its name to Triangle Futbol Club. Throughout its first 20 years, the club would combine resources and operations with the Fuquay Varina Athletic Association and Carolina Soccer Club to form the larger Triangle Futbol Club Alliance. 


In 2017, under the leadership of Marlow Campbell, the club’s Executive Director, TFCA joined with CASL to form NCFC Youth. This brought two of the largest and most successful youth soccer organizations in the area together – bringing together the best in coaches, resources, players, and field access. 

North Carolina Football Club


The North Carolina Football Club was founded in 2016, under the vision and support of local businessman, Steve Malik. The rebrand of the Carolina RailHawks was accompanied by a new brand, logo, and vision for North Carolina FC, the men’s professional team. Shortly after making this change on the men’s side, Malik acquired the Western New York Flash of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and relocated them to North Carolina under the name NC Courage. This brought a men’s and women’s professional team under the North Carolina Football Club umbrella, paving the way to connect with youth players in the area. 


This opportunity brought CASL (under the leadership of CEO Gary Buete) and TFCA (under the leadership of Marlow Campbell) to the table to discuss player development, youth-to-professional opportunities, and the benefits that could come from coming together. Consequently, in 2017, an historic collaboration occurred between CASL, TFCA, and North Carolina Football Club which resulted in combined resources (staff, fields, coaches, etc.) to enhance the player and family experience at every level of play and a youth-to-pro pipeline for girls and boys. 


This collaboration resulted in CASL and TFCA rebranding to North Carolina FC Youth (NCFC Youth), while still operating under the bylaws and founding principles of CASL. Since the collaboration, many youth-to-pro connections have transpired including many NCFC Academy boys youth players signing Academy contracts, NCFC Academy youth players signing professional contracts, NC Courage and NCFC Academy players training up with the professional teams, the development of U23 USL (men’s and women’s) teams, and many youth coaches advancing from coaching at the youth game to the pros with NC Courage or North Carolina FC. 

SOCCER.com

SOCCER.com dates to 1984 when Durham native Mike Moylan had a real-life problem – he was on his way to Georgetown University to play soccer in the Fall but did not have access to cleats and equipment to keep up with his high-level play. He turned this problem as the launching point for a high school business project. The project theoretically solved this problem – providing a pathway for those in the US to easily and affordably attain proper soccer gear for their level of play. His teacher at the time challenged him to turn this into a profession. With the help of his family, especially his brother Brendan (now COO of Sports Endeavors) this business became a reality when a 24-page Eurosport soccer specialty catalog was distributed to a mailing list of 6,000.  The company grew and in 1991 found a new home in Hillsborough (which also happened to provide office space to TFCA) where it continues to ensure that not only NCFC Youth players but also players and fans across the world have access to uniforms, equipment, and apparel. 


NCFC Youth and SOCCER.com’s histories and successes overlap during the past 40 years.  In its earliest years, many area soccer families received the Eurosport (former name for SOCCER.com) catalogs and could access the equipment they needed for on-field participation through mail order. As NCFC Youth and SOCCER.com grew, this relationship became more of a partnership and SOCCER.com became the official uniform supplier for many of the competitive programs. This uniform support would eventually grow to cover NCFC Youth’s entire programming in 2013. As NCFC Youth’s footprint and living choices in the greater Triangle area began to sprawl, SOCCER.com was able to help alleviate the geographical constraints of growth and provide uniforms and equipment at families’ doorsteps. 


Back in the earliest days of CASL, uniforms and outfitting teams fell on parents and volunteers to coordinate. SOCCER.com’s services allowed volunteers and staff over the years to focus on the operations and on-field support needed to run the league.  This gave back time and space as the club no longer had to inventory and stock uniforms or lose money on wasted products.  In the past 40 years, SOCCER.com has stepped up to be the provider and facilitator of all uniforms and coaching gear, which has allowed NCFC Youth to be more efficient, focus on soccer and supporting our players, coaches, and families, and be more fiscally responsible over the years. SOCCER.com’s role in helping to service the club has undoubtedly played a role in our ability to do what we do best: provide positive soccer opportunities at all levels of play.


Mike and Brendan Moylan were inducted into the NC Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009 for the contributions to the sport. The Moylans continue to be at the forefront of the business as the COO (Brendan) and President & Founder (Mike). 

Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance

The Great Raleigh Sports Alliance, a division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (GRCVB) was formed in 1998 as the GRCVB’s sports marketing division. They have been a driving force in transforming Raleigh and Wake County into a premier destination for sporting events, under the 25-year leadership of Executive Director, Scott Dupree. Scott and his team of sports event professionals have supported many local events, teams, and events over a quarter century not only driving the local economy but helping to create a world class experience for athletes and visitors. 


The GRSA has played a key support role in the growth of soccer in our area across all levels of play including youth, college, and professional.  The GRSA has been a local host partner (along with NCFC Youth) and driving force behind the bids and recruitment of soccer events including ACC Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships and NCAA Men’s and Women’s College Cups. In partnership with NCFC Youth and then CEO, Charlie Slagle, the GRSA helped bring the 2003 NCAA Women’s College Cup to Cary, NC and WakeMed Soccer Park. Since then, the GRSA and NCFC Youth have helped co-host more than 50 ACC Championships and NCAA College Cups. 


Since 2008, the GRSA and the GRCVB have formally supported NCFC Youth’s fall tournament series. The tournament series, which has been hosted in the area since 1976 has grown over the past 45+ years. When the GRSA stepped up in 2008 to formally partner with NCFC Youth and the tournament series, the tournament was renamed to the visitRaleigh.com National Soccer Series and eventually to the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series. 


This partnership elevated the club and the tournaments on a national scale. The GRSA helped promote our event through their local channels and national networks. For 16 years, the GRSA has provided cash sponsorship, marketing support, and event services assistance while also being a liaison with our local hospitality community to ensure that the more than 1500+ teams that travel to the area each year have a red-carpet experience. They feel welcomed when they are here, in hotels, and at our restaurants and they know where to go when they get here through tailored visitor resources. They help provide a comprehensive customer experience to our teams, helping to ensure that teams come back year after year. 


GRSA’s significant support over the years has supported NCFC Youth’s overall operations and efforts to grow the game to all youth in our community, in addition to helping elevate the brand recognition of our events on a national scale.

TowneBank

TowneBank (and prior to that Paragon Bank) played a significant, more recent role in the financial support and financing for NCFC Youth. TowneBank is our current banking partner, and the Triangle President, Brian Reid, has represented TowneBank on NCFC Youth’s Board of Directors since 2008. While many other institutions have supported NCFC Youth over the years through loan financing, checking accounts, and otherwise, TowneBank’s level of support rises to the top. 


Brian started in his Board role as Secretary and took on the role of Finance Committee Chair in 2019. In this capacity, he helps NCFC Youth navigate through strategic financial planning, annual audits, and long-term financial planning to ensure the viability, longevity and fiscal responsibility of NCFC Youth. TowneBank and Brian Reid have provided NCFC Youth trusted advisement on financial trends and resources available to plan properly for growth, capital investments, and future spending needs. They were a key partner in NCFC Youth navigating through the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, including supporting our submission for government financial assistance during this turbulent time. 


TowneBank and NCFC Youth’s relationship began in 2013 with the establishment of a money market account. In 2018, NCFC Youth made TowneBank their primary bank for all day-to-day banking. They have provided exceptional service and care for NCFC Youth’s banking needs, in addition to assigning knowledgeable and top tier bankers to our account, who help navigate us to the best solutions to run the financial aspects of the club as effectively and efficiently as possible. For example, they helped consolidate and pay off older loans used to enhance WRAL Soccer Park. 


In 2014, TowneBank helped NCFC Youth finance the purchase of our former building, 5017 Memory Road, which was a huge move for the club. This purchase brought the staff under one roof. At that time, NCFC Youth staff were operating out of two locations – WRAL Soccer Park and a former leased office location across town. This home provided nearly a decade of collaboration and productivity among staff and gave us free cash flow once the mortgage was paid off to reinvest into programming. This purchase also gave us the real estate capital to be able to sell and move to our current office space in 2023 and financially prepare for field development and enhanced programming support. 


TowneBank recently made a $25,000 gift to NCFC Youth with their North Raleigh branch opening and has been a long-time sponsor and supporter of NCFC Youth’s Golf Tournament fundraiser, which supports financial aid available to qualifying players and families. TowneBank's community support and banking expertise has played a critical role in financial management and strong financial foundation for the future. 

WakeMed Health & Hospitals

WakeMed Health & Hospitals is one of NCFC Youth’s longest tenured community supporters – the relationship is more than 25 years old. They, like NCFC Youth, have been woven into the fabric of Raleigh and Wake County for decades. Since 1961, they have been committed to improving the health and well-being of this community, and they are committed to providing outstanding and compassionate care. Through their long-term support of NCFC Youth, they’ve done just that. Their service area overlaps NCFC Youth’s playing area, providing easy access for our families to primary, urgent, orthopaedic, and emergency care. 


Since 1998, WakeMed has provided sponsorship support and provided materials, resources, and equipment for NCFC Youth players and families to live healthy and active lifestyles. In early years, they helped outfit WRAL Soccer Park with AEDs, which they continue to help us source and maintain, they provided first aid kits to teams, and provided a catalog of digital resources for players and families related to hydration, stretching, nutrition, and everything else. 

 

WakeMed’s more recent support has grown to include Wake Orthopaedics, a WakeMed Physicians practice, whose support has elevated NCFC Youth’s focus on player safety. While it’s always been a priority, WakeMed and Wake Orthopaedics provide significant investment of people, resources, and funds to ensure that our players and visitors have a place to go at no additional cost for injury prevention and treatment at the fields, along with expedited access for more serious injuries. Wake Orthopaedics has been working with NCFC Youth’s Athletic Trainer for the past 15 years and became the official Sports Medicine provider in 2017. Through the partnership, Wake Orthopaedics provides 4 full-time athletic trainers each year who are completely devoted to players and support NCFC Youth’s medical response team. This allows trained medical professionals to cover more of our fields and offer services when needed. All players at NCFC Youth have access to Athletic Training pre- and post-injury services. In addition, Wake Orhtopaedics provides medically based injury prevention programs to coaches, baseline concussion testing for athletes, and rehabilitation services on-site at WRAL Soccer Park. 


This level of athlete care and safety propelled NCFC Youth to new heights when it comes to putting players first, creating partnerships that benefit our players, and investing in areas that matter. 


Dr. Mark Wood, with Wake Orthopaedics, has also been serving as the Medical Director on NCFC Youth’s Board of Directors since 2020. He and the resources and knowledge available through WakeMed were instrumental during NCFC Youth’s navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the club’s return to the fields, and protocols during the pandemic.




Share by: