In furtherance of our Club’s mission to make quality youth soccer available at all levels and our vision to make the Columbia United FC brand a highly recognizable one, we announce today that Columbia United FC has entered into separate consulting agreements and trademark licensing agreements with two other youth soccer clubs – one of which you may have never heard of and the other of which you probably have!
First, Columbia United FC is now providing consulting services to a new non-profit entity known as “South Carolina United FC”. On the boys’ side, commencing with the 2009-2010 season, South Carolina United FC will house a U16 and U18 team which will participate in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy operated by the United States Soccer Federation. On the girls’ side, South Carolina United FC will house an Elite Girls Showcase program for U15, U16 and U17 girls. Neither program is operated by South Carolina Youth Soccer. Coming soon will be a new website where you can learn more at
www.SouthCarolinaUnitedFC.com. Consistent with Columbia United’s practice of giving back to the youth soccer community, all royalties paid to Columbia United FC by South Carolina United FC for use of its trademarks, service marks and brand will be donated by Columbia United FC back i nto recreational youth soccer programs to predominantly fund scholarships for players who could not otherwise afford to play recreational youth soccer and to otherwise help reduce operating costs associated with recreational soccer.
Next, please know that Columbia United FC has entered into a similar consulting and licensing agreement with Bridge Futbol Alliance, Inc. (Bridge FA) of Charleston, South Carolina. Columbia United FC will provide consulting service to the board of directors of Bridge FA in coming months as Bridge FA works to restructure its youth soccer operations so as to provide expanded youth soccer opportunities within its club by eventually offering special needs, recreational, junior academy and an expanded multi-tiered select soccer system. During the remainder of this season and during all of next season, Bridge FA teams will continue to use the name Bridge FA and continue to use their current uniforms. Commencing with the 2010-2011 participation year, Bridge FA will commence doing business under the trade name “Coastal United FC”. Here too, Columbia United FC is donating all royalties received f rom the use of Columbia United FC’s trademarks, service marks and brand back into the recreational youth soccer program of Columbia United FC and that of Coastal United FC. All consulting services to the board of directors of Bridge FA are being provided on a pro bono basis by the leadership of Columbia United FC.
Columbia United FC is proud of the fact that we have a proven track record of exposing more and more children to the benefits afforded them through the various quality youth soccer programs we have created for Columbia area families. We look forward to extending a helping hand to the board of directors of Bridge FA to help them unite the coastal region of South Carolina and thus help get more and more children enjoying the beautiful game of youth soccer at a level commensurate with their individual abilities and desires - just as you and your family have enjoyed here!
Yours in youth soccer,
Ron Tryon, President
Columbia United FC
