From the GFC web site:

Upstate Premier Soccer Clubs Form SC Largest Club
Upstate Premier Youth Soccer Clubs to Form States Largest Club April 1, 2004 --- Greenville, South Carolina --- For immediate release The Greenville Futbol Club (GFC) and St. Giles United Soccer Club (SGUSC), the Upstates premier youth soccer clubs, will merge in the FALL 2004, forming Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) the largest youth soccer club in South Carolina. The Boards of the two clubs agreed to merge following a series of extensive exploratory meetings. The merger process will involve implementing operational guidelines and financial management procedures. Officials with both clubs will also be focusing on jointly developing mission statements, staff responsibilities, tournament and event management, as well as, registration information and communications. With a program that will encompass over 2500 players ranging in ages from 4 19, the club will focus on developing an organizational structure that will be equally beneficial to players at the recreation, classic and elite levels. Player evaluation and team selection processes are being formulated for all facets of the program for teams that will take to the field in the FALL of 2004. According to Pearse Tormey, Executive Director of Coaching and Administration for SGUSC: Both clubs have experienced rapid growth and significant success over the past few years. We have both been involved in other mergers, campaigns to develop field complexes, and increased tournament commitments. It was natural that we would look beyond being competitors to becoming partners. The discussions we have had about merging have been very positive and the carefully planned steps we have agreed to will guarantee a smooth transition into one club. Andrew Hyslop, Director of Coaching for GFC, added: Greenville Futbol Club and St Giles United Soccer Club each provide a full range of services for youth soccer players. It makes sense for our clubs to come together in order to offer the best possible soccer opportunities for families in the Upstate and beyond. As with any merger involving thousands of club members, there are numerous matters to review. We want each member of both clubs to feel that they benefit from the merger, which is why we are pleased that we have taken a step by step approach to the merger. SGUSC was formed in 2001 as the result of a merger between the St. Giles Soccer Club and the Upstate Girls Soccer Association. SGUSC currently provides programs for approximately 1,500 youth players and is the largest coed youth soccer club in the Upstate. It has its own soccer complex consisting of 10 soccer fields on 42 acres of property. GFC was formed in 2000 as the result of a merger between the Downtown Soccer Association and the Golden Strip Soccer Club. GFC currently provides programs for approximately 1,200 players and is the second largest coed youth soccer club in the Upstate. It has a soccer complex consisting of 5 soccer fields on 20 acres of property. For additional information, please contact: Andrew Hyslop [email protected] Pearse Tormey [email protected]