Two long-standing North Carolina Youth Soccer Clubs Combine to Improve Player Pathways
October 28, 2024 – Atlanta, GA – Trinity Soccer Academy and Liberty Soccer Academy, two of North Carolina’s most well-established youth soccer brands in the central region of the state, announced today that they have merged to form Carolina Football Club. The new club will provide youth soccer programming across the central region of North Carolina spanning a geographic reach across the center of the state, including the Sandhills, Holly Springs, Fayetteville and Raleigh-Durham. Andrew Bradham and Sean O’Connor combine to offer 32 years of club leadership experience, player development, program design and implementation as well as college player placement. Both partnering organizations have a proven track record of team development and success within the state’s top league and tournaments.
Carolina Football Club aims to improve the overall soccer experience for youth players across North Carolina by making individual player development the key focus. Carolina Football Club will offer developmental, competitive, and elite-level programs for boys and girls ages 5 to 19, as well as college recruitment guidance and professional coaching education.
“This merger brings together two organizations and its leadership with a shared vision to help youth players reach their full potential,” said Andrew Bradham, Co-Executive Director of Carolina Football Club. “The modern game requires modern tools utilized by high-quality staff to develop our young players to perform the fundamentals consistently well and faster season by season and year by year. By leveraging our collective knowledge and resources, we will provide more opportunities for players to develop their skills, gain valuable game experience, and pursue soccer at the collegiate and professional levels all while having fun in the process!”
Carolina Football Club also announced a strategic partnership with Swarm FC, a competitive youth soccer organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, that maintains the direct support of the English Premier League Club, Brentford FC. The partnership will provide access to professional coaching education, methodology, and player pathway opportunities. The club will unveil its new name as Carolina Football Club Swarm.
“Carolina Football Club brings together two strong organizations with shared values of Faith and Excellence,” said Sean O’Connor, Co-Executive Director of Carolina Football Club. “We are so excited to have the opportunity to provide high-level programming to a regional pool of players with an emphasis on character development. This merger will create a strong pathway for our elite players to National League platforms, and then to the highest levels of professional soccer and provide exclusive access to proprietary methodology and coaching resources.”
About Carolina Football Club
Carolina Football Club is a nonprofit youth soccer organization serving developmental, competitive, elite and pre-professional players across North Carolina.
About Swarm FC
Swarm FC is an innovative soccer club committed to revolutionizing the standard of soccer training and development in the United States. In partnership with Brentford FC of the English Premier League, Swarm FC is at the forefront of developing a comprehensive soccer ecosystem. With a strong emphasis on holistic player development, Swarm FC is dedicated to fostering the next generation of soccer stars and contributing to the growth and success of the sport at all levels.