2024 marks a milestone for NCFC Youth as we commemorate our 50th Anniversary
From our beginnings as Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) in 1974 to the collaboration with Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (TFCA) and
North Carolina Football Club in 2017, NCFC Youth is the epicenter of youth soccer in North Carolina with more than 16,000 youth players
each year. We’ve grown together thanks to our players, coaches, community, and supporters. Below you'll find information on our history, the announcement of our All Star Commemorative team in honor of our 50th Anniversary, and upcoming events that will support NCFC Youth's Financial Aid Fund to continue to help grow the game for the next 50 years.
50th Anniversary All Star Commemorative Team
In celebration of this milestone year, we will recognize a team of 50 players, coaches, teams, and contributors for their impact, support, and
achievements on and off the field. This special recognition extends beyond to every individual who has been a part of our journey.
NCFC Youth kicked off the recognition by announcing Starting XI, a foundational group who set and solidified the stage for youth in our community to benefit from all that the game has to offer. Afterward, NCFC Youth held an open call during Spring and Summer 2024 for nominations to ensure any player, team, coach, organization, or other individual or entity that supported the organization over the past 50 years could be considered.
From these nominations, a review committee evaluated the nominations based on the all-star team criteria to determine recognition on the All-Star Anniversary team. 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 of few of those stories. If you missed the opportunity to nominate and still would like to do so before we announce our final additions to the team, email Katharine Eberhardt.
Learn more about our Starting XI and additional All-Star Team Members and their contributions here.
Memorable Moments
In the early '70s, NCFC Youth operated under the name Raleigh Soccer League. In 1974, the volunteer-led organization changed its name to “Capital Area Soccer League, Inc.” (i.e., CASL) and shortly thereafter received its 501c3 non-profit status. Since then, the organization has continued to operate as CASL. In 2017, the organization rebranded to “North Carolina FC Youth” (i.e., NCFC Youth), when CASL, TFCA, and the North Carolina Football Club collaborated to pool resources and expertise to better serve youth in our community and grow the game to all youth who want to play.
Below you'll find some key moments over the past 50 years. Click here for an in depth writeup and expansion on each of the milestones.
2024 Events
Kick 4 a Cause 4v4
January 27, 2024
NCFC Youth's annual Kick 4 a Cause 4v4 raised more than $30,000 for financial aid and to support our collective efforts to grow the game to all in our community. Special thanks to our event sponsor, Galatians Community Health, the referees who donated their time, and the 100+ teams who participated in this single-day fun event. We're already looking forward to 2025!
Golf Tournament
April 7, 2024
Our 19th annual Golf Tournament will be held at Prestonwood Country Club. We'll take over three courses in support of NCFC Youth's Financial Aid Fund. Each golfer will receive a round of golf, a tournament gift bag, beverages & lunch, and the opportunity to participate in on-course games and a raffle.
Thanks to the support of this year's participants and sponsors, we raised more than $35,000 for our Financial Aid Fund!
Fall Gala
October 23, 2024
Save the date! In celebration of our 50th year anniversary, NCFC Youth cordially invites you to attend our inaugural Fall Gala at the Angus Barn! We'll celebrate the history of the club, highlight key moments across the years, and look forward to the future. The event will be open to alumn, past and current contributors, and supporters. Learn more here!
Can't make an event, but would still like to contribute? Consider making a tax deductible donation of NCFC Youth's Financial Aid Fund. Each year we distribute more thank $440,000 financial aid to our families to help open access to play and grow the game. Donate here.
50th Anniversary Logo Breakdown
NCFC Youth unveiled a new, complementary logo for the 50th anniversary, a familiar look that blends the past with the present. The logo embodies the current branding and star of the current logo and connects with the past through a nostalgic ball, which was a prominent fixture in the most recent Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) logo. In its detailed form, the logo also calls out CASL & TFCA (Triangle Futbol Club Alliance), the two youth soccer clubs that joined together to form NCFC Youth. The logo will roll out on all uniforms and coach gear this Fall and carry us through the 2024 celebratory year.
Celebrating 50 years of soccer fun, community, innovation, passion, and excellence in the greater Triangle area. Get an inside look into our 50th Anniversary logo which is featured on our Fall 2023 uniform kits, which will run through Spring 2025.
Calling all Alum! Share your Information & Memories with us!
We want to stay in touch with you, hear your stories and see your old pictures and videos. We are asking all current and former players, coaches, parents, board members, staff, volunteers, and community supporters to share your memories with us – old team pictures? That VHS tape that you’ve digitized? Old newspaper clippings? Player / Team successes you want to share with us? History of the club? We want to hear it all! We invite you to share your memories with us so we can celebrate all those who came before us and amplify the impact the game has had on hundreds of thousands of youth in our community over a half-century.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Article from the Youth Sporting News of Raleigh and Wake County
"The History of CASL"
Written for the September 25-October 15, 1986 issue
"They didn't set out to build one of the largest independent soccer leagues in the country.
They didn't even expect to construct the biggest youth sports organization in Wake County.
As parents of 'a bunch of kids who wanted to play soccer,' all they really wanted to do was give their youngsters that opportunity.
And so it was...that a movement began that was to have dramatic and far-reaching impact on the shape of sports in the Raleigh area - a movement that was to accomplish all of the things those parents didn't expect when they started this area's first youth soccer league".
