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.

1974

Capital Area Soccer League, Inc. (CASL) was founded and established as a 501c3 non-profit organization in March 1974. Prior to the establishment of CASL, the league operated as the Raleigh Soccer Association, which was a sponsor of the Raleigh Soccer League. The following individuals are credited as the founders of CASL: 

· Steve Almasi

· Pat Hamilton

· Bill Holleman

· Bill Plunkett

CASL was the magnet that eventually brought in independently run competitive soccer programs in the area: Capital Area Classic Soccer Association and the Raleigh Girls and Boys Select Leagues. This brought recreation and competitive programs under the same roof. CASL added programs through the years including Challenge, Juniors, outreach programs, and an adult division, which was a predecessor to the now independent Triangle Adult Soccer League (TASL), to round out the full-service programming. Along the way, local soccer clubs and municipality programming joined CASL further expanding the club’s operations and service to the community. 

1981

After the land was purchased in December 1979, WRAL Soccer Park (formerly known as WRAL Soccer Center) opened with 14 fields in 1981. 

El complejo deportivo, que ahora cuenta con 22 canchas, no habría sido una realidad sin la visión de futuro de los primeros líderes y el apoyo del líder empresarial y cívico local, Jim Goodmon. Jim Goodmon y Capitol Broadcasting Company financiaron la compra del terreno de 118 acres en el noreste de Raleigh, lo que permitió a CASL construir un centro de operaciones de canchas y anticiparse al crecimiento del deporte y la organización de torneos. En ese momento, CASL era probablemente la única organización de fútbol independiente del país que desarrollaba su propio complejo multicancha.

WRAL Soccer Park is a destination sports complex that hosts soccer and non-soccer events including ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, flag football, archery, and more.  

1982

CASL's WRAL Soccer Park was a host venue for the Raleigh Shootout, the annual youth soccer tournament that was run by the Capital Area Classic Soccer Association (CACSA). CACSA was one of the competitive leagues in the area. In 1980, they took over the tournament operations from the Raleigh Jaycees, who started the tournament in 1976. Eventually, CASL would assume ownership and responsibility for the tournament once CACSA merged into CASL. 

El primer torneo de los Raleigh Jaycees, en 1976, albergó a 21 equipos, incluyendo dos de otros estados. Tras la toma de control de la CACSA, el torneo creció a 83 equipos de 11 estados y Canadá. El Raleigh Shootout fue el predecesor de la serie de exhibición visitRaleigh.com de NCFC Youth, que reúne constantemente a más de 1500 equipos de 35 estados y varios destinos internacionales durante 4 fines de semana de competición.

1987

La primera gran inversión en el Parque de Fútbol WRAL amplió el parque de 14 a 21 campos, añadió un estanque de riego y riego subacuático a todos los campos, pavimentó la carretera principal y embelleció el parque. Se instalaron luces por primera vez en tres campos, incluyendo un campo central que se reconvirtió en un estadio con gradas y baños permanentes cercanos como parte de las renovaciones de las instalaciones.

This expansion and renovation were a result of Mr. Goodmon challenging the leaders of CASL to “finish” the development and construction of WRAL Soccer Center, at which point he would get them out from the mortgage debt of $300,000. Billy Trott, former CASL President in 1985, is credited with persuading Mr. Goodmon that CASL was in the process of sufficiently finishing WRAL Soccer Park. Therefore, Mr. Goodmon forgave the remaining debt. This freed up a significant amount of money and gave the organization the power to finance expansion in many ways, including the 1987 facility expansion and hiring the first Executive Director, Roland Paiva, in 1988. 

These updates were possible thanks generosity of Jim Goodmon and Capitol Broadcasting Company, a $55,000 grant from the Wake County Parks and Recreation department, a $25,000 matching grant from the NC General Assembly, $100,000 previously raised by CASL, and donations from local companies like Wake Stone Corporation. 

1995

Las Spartans del 77 (femeninas) ganaron el primer Campeonato Nacional USYS para Carolina del Norte y la CASL. El equipo fue entrenado por Izzy Hernández, quien también fue el exitoso entrenador de la Preparatoria Broughton durante muchos años. Su éxito en el campo le valió su ingreso al Salón de la Fama del Fútbol de Carolina del Norte en 2009.

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). 
 
The team faced De Anza Magic (North California) in the National Championship game. The ’77 Spartans rallied in the final 10 minutes from a two-goal deficit 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. 

1999

Triangle Soccer Academy (TSA), predecesora de Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (TFCA), fue fundada por seis entrenadores de los programas masculino y femenino de Duke, UNC y NC State: John Rennie (Duke), Bill Hempen (Duke), Anson Dorrance (UNC), Elmar Bolowich (UNC), George Tarantini (NC State) y Laura Kerrigan (NC State). Además de estos seis entrenadores, la junta directiva inicial de TSA se completó con Alvin Corneal y Bill Palladino, dos entrenadores profesionales locales en ese momento. Poco después de su fundación, TSA cambió su nombre a Triangle Futbol Club. A lo largo de sus primeros 20 años, el club combinó recursos y operaciones con la Asociación Atlética Fuquay Varina y el Carolina Soccer Club, entre otros, para formar la Triangle Futbol Club Alliance, una organización más amplia. La última sede de TFCA se encontraba en Hillsborough, Carolina del Norte, en la sede de SOCCER.com.

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 region together – bringing together the best in coaches, resources, players, and field access. 

 
2002

CASL partnered with SAS Institute & Carolina Courage (former professional women’s team) to build and open SAS Soccer Park (now WakeMed Soccer Park) in Cary, NC. This 10,000-seat stadium and facility became the future home for North Carolina FC (USL) and NC Courage (NWSL), host site for ACC and NCAA soccer championships, and destination soccer complex for international exhibitions, training camps, and high school championships. 

NCFC Youth is a local host partner for ACC Men’s & Women’s Championships and NCAA Men’s & Women’s College Cups hosted at WakeMed Soccer Park. Alongside other host partners, NCFC Youth has helped host more than 50 ACC Championships and NCAA College Cups since the stadium opened in 2002. 

2003

'88 CASL Elite won the Under 14 USYS National Championship, becoming the first boys’ team from North Carolina to be crowned champion. During the 2003 season, the team (led by Head Coach Bruce Talbot) went 17-0-1. After winning that year’s NCYSA State Cup, the team travelled to Greensboro for the USYS Region III Championships where they punched their ticket to Nationals in Germantown, MD. 

The ’88 boys lost their first match to Nether Providence (PA), but they regrouped and rebounded to win their next two round robin games which advanced them to the finals and a re-match with Nether. Nether went up 1-0 with 7 minutes left, but shortly after, CASL’s Watson Williams tied it up. The game went into sudden death overtime and CASL clinched the title with a header from Brett King 5 minutes into OT.   

2011

El equipo femenino del CASL Chelsea '94 derrotó al Real So Cal por 4-1 para ganar el Campeonato Nacional Sub-16 de la ECNL en Aurora, Colorado, bajo la dirección de Damon Nahas. Tras ir perdiendo 1-0 al principio del partido, el CASL empató 1-1 tras un cabezazo de Paige Reckert tras un centro de Claire Wagner. Tras una pausa por la iluminación y el descanso, el CASL superó a su oponente y anotó tres goles más, lo que resultó en un hat-trick para Reckert.

2012

El CASL Chelsea Ladies '94 y Damon Nahas ganaron dos títulos consecutivos del Campeonato Nacional de la ECNL. El campeonato nacional sub-17 de la ECNL fue un partido muy disputado entre el CASL Chelsea Ladies y las Michigan Hawks en Waukegan, Illinois. El CASL se puso arriba 1-0 con un cabezazo de Joanna Boyles, pero las Hawks empataron rápidamente 1-1. Este empate se prolongó hasta el tiempo reglamentario y la prórroga, lo que llevó el partido a la tanda de penaltis. El CASL perdía 3-1 en penaltis, pero remontó tras un penalti decisivo de Christina Gibbons, una parada de la portera Taylor Francis y otro penalti imprescindible de Alexis Degler que igualó el marcador 3-3. Tras dos aciertos más de ambas porterías, Francis realizó otra parada, dándole al CASL la oportunidad de anotar el tiro ganador. Morgan Reid anotó el penalti decisivo que le dio el título.

2015

Comenzó un proyecto de renovación de $3.8 millones en el Parque de Fútbol WRAL. Las instalaciones de 118 acres, que antes albergaban 22 campos, se sometieron a una importante modernización que incluyó la construcción de nuevos campos de césped artificial, pavimentación, nuevos baños permanentes, embellecimiento y mucho más. Las mejoras también incluyeron la conexión de las instalaciones con la vía verde de la ciudad de Raleigh.

El proyecto de renovación se financió mediante un préstamo y una subvención de Capitol Broadcasting Company.

2016

CASL ’02 Academy Juniors and Head Coach Mark Jonas won the USYS U13 Boys National Championship in Frisco, Texas after defeating Strikers FC Chingirian (South California) 2-1. The championship match was a rematch from group play that saw CASL lose 2-0. During the championship game, CASL took an early lead when Jason Smith scored a header from a corner kick. Strikers found a goal shortly after, bringing the game to 1-1. CASL did not let the tie hold long – Adam Armour found the back of the net before halftime, which would turn into the game winning goal. Goalkeeper Trace Alphin made some crucial saves to hold the lead. 

2017

CASL’s contributions to Raleigh, its citizens, and its history were immortalized in 2017 with an induction into the Raleigh Hall of Fame. The Raleigh Hall of Fame honors individuals and non-profit organizations that have made lasting contributions to Raleigh’s proud history. As a non-profit organization, CASL was recognized for their full-service soccer programming to thousands of local players and families, outreach programs, and impact on the economy through tournaments, field investments, and development. 

2017

CASL, TFCA, and North Carolina Football Club enter an historic collaboration combining two of the largest and most successful youth soccer clubs in the state with the professional club. CASL CEO, Gary Buete, TFCA Executive Director, Marlow Campbell, and North Carolina Football Club owner, Steve Malik, were the three visionaries leading the collaboration, which created a youth-to-pro pipeline and combined resources (e.g., staff, fields, expertise, and coaches.) to enhance the player and family experience at every level of play. 

En 2017, el North Carolina Football Club fue la sede del North Carolina FC, anteriormente conocido como Carolina RailHawks, y del recién reubicado NC Courage de la Liga Nacional de Fútbol Femenino (NWSL). Gracias a esta colaboración, se creó un canal de desarrollo profesional tanto para jóvenes como para niños.

Esta colaboración dio como resultado que CASL y TFCA cambiaran colectivamente su nombre a North Carolina FC Youth (NCFC Youth), mientras continuaban operando bajo los estatutos y principios fundadores de CASL.

2019

NCFC Youth es una de las 20 empresas y organizaciones sin fines de lucro de la zona reconocidas con el Premio a la Filantropía Corporativa del Triangle Business Journal. NCFC Youth fue reconocido por ir más allá de su deber para servir a nuestra comunidad y marcar la diferencia en el Triángulo.

2021

NCFC Youth se asoció con la ciudad de Knightdale, el condado de Wake y la Corporación Wake Stone para inaugurar el Parque Atlético Wake Stone, un complejo de cinco campos con espacio y planes para ampliarlo. La Corporación Wake Stone donó el terreno (16 hectáreas) a la ciudad de Knightdale para su desarrollo. La Junta de Comisionados del Condado de Wake otorgó a la ciudad una subvención de $1 millón, apoyada por el programa de Subvenciones de Capital para Pequeños Proyectos del Impuesto a la Hostelería en 2018. NCFC Youth se asoció con las demás entidades y proporcionó los fondos adicionales y la gestión necesaria para completar el proyecto. Mediante un contrato de arrendamiento a largo plazo, NCFC Youth opera, mantiene y programa el parque.

Wake Stone Athletic Park satisface las necesidades de juego locales de los residentes de Knightdale y el área circundante para prácticas y juegos, además de ser un centro de torneos para NCFC Youth.

2023

NCFC Youth receives John B. Ross Jr. Leadership Award from the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. The award was established in 1996 to recognize an outstanding executive management-level individual or group who displays exceptional leadership skills to positively impact the Wake County hospitality industry and community. NCFC Youth’s visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series was spotlighted as part of the award recognition for being the area’s largest youth sporting event in the Triangle region and contributing more than $28 million annually in direct visitor spending – an economic impact many times multiplied since this tournament has been hosted at WRAL Soccer Park and surrounding fields since 1982.