Holy crap - out for a few days at a wedding and this thing blows up in all sorts of directions. Seeing our name above and certainly party to the new (MPRD) field negotiations I have to hopefully help settle a few things.
I'll respond with my thoughts on MPRD and its 'developmental' offering in the other thread (really don't see a conflict here), but right now I will address field situation and where we stand. We (CASC) are working together with USA/MP, MPRD and several other parties to gain some access to some of MPRD fields that we have requested for several years without movement. Some of you will recall the legal action we filed (and lost) in this regard (circa 2015-16), and at this point in time, we are working very closely with MPRD and council to seek growth opportunity for our club in support of our mission to provide quality, affordable soccer to any that want it.
But this is not a net zero gain in as much as we are working with MPRD to leverage otherwise idle land and provide more opportunities for soccer in East Cooper (rather than just take or grab USA/MP sites). As a participant in some of these council meetings and subsequent dialog with MPRD (and USA/MP) I feel confident that the outcome here in short and long term will not hurt soccer and confident USA/MP and Cainhoy Atheltic will continue serving their markets utilizing public and private land (and any land classified any other way we can get our hands on).
I believe the USA/MP site is in Awendaw just past the Sewee Outpost on the left off highway 17N about 5 or 6 minutes past Carolina Park. Our own Awendaw site at Seweebay (we share with Oceanside) is about 4 minutes farther so we know this area well. Not bad for north MP residents but a long haul for anyone living anywhere else. I think I mentioned somewhere earlier, my assesment on a site in Awendaw would fall directly in line with my thoughts on the SSC complex, "not bad for weekend games but less desirable for weekday training in traffic over bridges, and poor option for youngest kids who prefer local community sites.'
Back to local leadership comment (not sure if it was me that started that banter) for CPL and as way of clarifying my feelings on that and support for it. Sean is league director and will manage schedules, etc. as a paid contractor and I have no objection if he lived in Timbuktoo as long as he knows his stuff, can offer exprienced guidance, leverage relationships with other leagues for growth, has a computer, internet, and (picks up) a cell phone. What I was referring to was the ability of clubs to self manage and work between ourselves directly to enter teams, adjust divisions and establish blackout dates (or rather lack of them) to offer local influence and member direction to a full and healthy schedule that will offer input and edits by member club leadership (to Sean) and an open dialog between all the participating clubs at any point through the coming year. I can only offer my observations but already I have been party to 3 or 4 (CPL) meetings ahead of schedules which represents 3 or 4 more than I have seen in the last 6 or 7 years so optimistic this league will work well.
