FRANKLIN, TN – Tennessee Soccer Club hosted its annual Soccer-A-Thon on Saturday at Robert Ring Arena in Franklin, TN to raise money for the Special Olympics Tennessee (SOTN). The event was a resounding success, raising over $15,000 to help the SOTN with its soccer program. The current Soccer-A-Thon fundraiser will keep accepting donations until Friday, February 28th with a mission to raise even more funds for the Special Olympics athletes and TSC. You can donate here . Nearly 50 TSC players and coaches attended to run the hour-long clinic for the Special Olympic athletes. “It always warms the heart to see the interactions between our coaches and players with the Special Olympics athletes,” said TSC Tournament Director & Events Coordinator Jimmy Drain. “Seeing the joy and the smiles on everyone’s faces makes it all worth it." TSC began working with Special Olympics Tennessee in 2016 and has helped raise almost $250,000 toward the cause. “A big part of TSC Cares and the Soccer-A-Thon is sharing our passion for soccer. We are looking forward to next year and hosting another successful event,” Drain added. Tennessee Soccer Club established the TSC Cares program in 2017 as the philanthropic mission of TSC to aid in Building the Community in the Greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee area. TSC Cares continues to partner with local organizations to positively impact our community. To learn more about TSC Cares, or to join us in caring for the community, please visit our TSC Cares page here.

By IAIN KING Electrician, skydiver, lifelong Craigmark Burntonians fan, Tennessee youth soccer legend. At the age of 69 Sandy Pollock has lived a life less ordinary. Few sum up our native land’s adventurous spirit, that refusal to stay in your comfort zone more. That’s one of the telling reasons why Sandy was voted the inaugural North American Scottish Coaches Association (NASCA) Coach of the Year. Ayrshireman Sandy was revealed as our winner at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago where he was presented with a signed jersey from Scotland skipper Andy Robertson by NASCA President Eric McAleer. It was fitting that a group of his coaching colleagues from Tennessee Soccer Club cheered loudly from the back of the room. Sandy smiled ruefully, “I was more than surprised to win this honour, you know when I first joined this group I felt so intimidated. There are so many big-time coaches and accomplished people. It has taken me a while to feel comfortable in this company.” Sandy was brought up in the Ayrshire coal-mining village of Dalmellington, the home of the wonderfully named Burntonians who now play in the West of Scotland League Second Division. His dad played for Troon Juniors and Stranraer, his grandfather moved the family to Ayrshire in the 1930s from Dalkeith after he landed the job as physio at Ayr United. Sandy grew up steeped in football. “I always had a ball tied to my foot, every minute of every day,” he recalls. “When I was going to school ADHD had not been diagnosed but I am certain I had it. I would be in class not hearing a word the teacher was saying because all I could think about was my game that night. I was an ardent Rangers fan but I’ll never forget that after Celtic won the European Cup in Lisbon in 1967 I was watching the game as an 11-year-old kid. As soon as the game was finished I ran across the street to bang on my mate Jim Douglas’ door shouting: 'Come on Peem, let’s get a game going!' I was never a great player but I always loved the game. I was working class and poor but I didn’t know because I always had football. Where I came from gave me my work ethic and my optimism, I deal with problems and get on with life.” Sandy is an electrician to trade, he left school when he was 16 and did an electrician’s apprenticeship at Ayr Tech. It was an inspired decision. He earned a chance to join General Motors in the States as a skilled tradesman. The good times were rolling, great salaries and health benefits and in time GM transferred him from Atlanta, Georgia, to the Saturn Corporation in Springhill, Tennessee. Sandy’s natural skill in working with others had seen him grow into teaching roles in his day job. When son Ian came along and his team needed a soccer coach his old man was the natural choice. Sandy said, “We had a great little team and we wanted to give the kids more so we formed a travel club called Williamson County United. It grew so quickly and we eventually became a far bigger entity called Tennessee Football Club in 1998. I was still working at GM when I ran the Chicago Marathon at the age of 47. I loved the experience but I was disappointed because I missed qualifying for Boston by three minutes. When I was training for that I would get up for my 6-8 mile run at 3:45 am. I’d get to work at 6 am for my shift through to 2:30 pm and then rush to training at Centennial High School, where I was the Head Coach for a decade, for training from 3 pm-5 pm. Then it was on to the club facility for two sessions from 5:30 pm-8:30 pm then I’d go home and get ready to go again.” At least when he was running a marathon he kept his feet on the ground. One of his other passions, saw this most humble of men living with his head in the clouds. He reveals, “I have made over 600 plus SKY DIVES in my life, I really enjoyed that as a hobby. It was thrilling but then I started coaching and I guess that took over a little.” When the global financial crisis battered the United States in 2008 Sandy came to a career crossroads. Shutdowns loomed and GM were offering him a buyout or a transfer to Detroit. He said, “At the very same time Brentwood Soccer Club, where my friend was Director of Coaching, showed interest in me. Detroit which was the last place I wanted to go after being in the south for so long. All of a sudden I was working full-time in football.” Sandy threw himself into his second career, earning his USSF A License, educating himself on internships like an unforgettable 10-day stay at Dutch giants Feyenoord that he relished. These days Sandy is the U15-U19 Boys Director at Tennessee Soccer Club and the story of the birth of that organization sums up this special Scottish football man. Sandy reflected, “I’d been at Tennessee Football Club and then I’d gone to also work at Brentwood Soccer Club. The rivalry between the clubs was massive but it was not nice, we’d have parents going crazy at games between the teams, bitter competitions for try-out players. It wasn’t right. In 2012 the coaching groups at both clubs got together and we decided to put an end to it and have a merger. We managed to get through that process and 13 years later we have 3,000 players and 28 full-time staff.” From working on fundraisers to buy Christmas presents for kids in need to his newest project, Sandy’s big heart shines through. His next coaching gig? He will be an Assistant Coach of Major League soccer franchise Nashville SC’s Unified Team. What does that mean? Sandy explains, “Every MLS club has one, they contain Special Olympics athletes and partner players and they travel with the first team and play at the MLS stadiums after the main games. It’s an incredible initiative and they have MLS players as ambassadors, it’s the coolest project.” In Joe Ehrmann’s iconic book Inside Out Coaching there are two key questions he believes seep into the soul of those in our profession. Why do I coach? Why do I coach the way I coach? Sandy answers: “I coach for moments like the one I had just last night. I’m watching a 9 v 9 game on our training field and I hear a guy shout from the field behind: “Sandy!” “There was a guy there coaching his own kid one to one and he was a player I coached when he was 16. Now he’s out there with his 12-year-old son passing on the love of the game. That’s so satisfying. The way I coach has changed so much. At the start it was all about ME, then after a few years I realized it has to be the opposite. Now I don’t say much, I watch them make their own decisions and I try to help them at half-time or whenever I can quietly influence them. I remember when I was on that internship at Feyenoord I watched the former Dutch international Gaston Taument coach a game and he said almost nothing. He told me afterwards he had done all his coaching on the training field and this was his time to let them express themselves. That has always lived me. All I tell parents at the start of the season is that their kid will have fun in a positive environment and he will come out of it a better player by the end of the season. Will we win? Who knows? I under-promise and over-deliver! I am in the youth game and the pros are completely different but my idols are Sir Alex Ferguson, Walter Smith, Jock Stein, Bill Shankly. I feel those Scottish legends displayed the best of my country and what I believe in.” Sandy, a close friend of former Bournemouth, Norwich City and Scotland striker Ted MacDougall, reached out to NASCA to attend the first gathering in 2014. The two pals made the trip to Philadelphia for the United Soccer Coaches Convention and they loved every minute. Sandy grinned, “I just love the banter of those Panels and the guests we’ve had on the Speaker Series have been unbelievable. Being a part of those Zooms is special and such an education. It was through NASCA too that I did the SFA Talent Identification course with my son Ian which I thoroughly enjoyed. NASCA ties all the Scottish coaches in North America together and I feel that’s invaluable. In a way it’s a full circle that I’ll be back in Philly next year for the 2026 Convention to see someone else get this incredible Coach of the Year honour. I’m looking forward to that already.”

Club leadership calls new site an investment in the future of the game

FRANKLIN, TN – Tennessee Soccer Club hosted its first ever TSC College Showcase tournament bringing in more than 1,250 players and over 60 college coaches for the college recruiting event. The showcase event utilized 8 turf fields, including one indoor field at the Richard Siegel Soccer Park in Murfreesboro, TN, one of the top soccer facilities in the southeast region. “Our first annual TSC College Showcase was a big success over the weekend in Murfreesboro and we have already started planning for the 2026 event,” said TSC Tournament Director & Events Coordinator Jimmy Drain. “We were excited to host so many teams in Year One and thank everyone who chose to participate. We also want to thank all the support we had from the referees, trainers, park staff, etc. It was a great atmosphere for all the players involved with over 60 college coaches attending throughout the weekend.” In total, 70 teams from 9 different states and 27 soccer organizations represented the tournament field. TSC will host the Winter Indoor Series in February, and its next outdoor tournaments, the Cookeville Rotary Soccer Classic in Cookeville, TN March 29-30, and the Tennessee Invitational in Franklin, TN and Brentwood, TN the weekend of May 2-4. For more information about TSC tournaments and events, click here.

FRANKLIN, TN - Tennessee Soccer Club has partnered with Thread Performance, a company dedicated to supporting the unique nutritional needs of young athletes like yours. This partnership is all about enhancing your athlete's performance and well-being, on and off the field. Why Thread Performance? Most supplements on the market aren’t designed with young athletes in mind. Thread Performance fills this gap by collaborating with the world’s leading formulators to create products that specifically support the developmental stages of youth athletes. This means your young stars get exactly what they need to grow stronger, play harder, and perform at their best. Exclusive Benefits for You: To kick off this exciting partnership, all TSC athletes are entitled to an exclusive 20% discount on their first order for all Thread Performance products. It’s a great way to start the new year strong and ensure your athlete has everything they need for the upcoming season. Fuel Your Future: As we look ahead, remember this—every training session, every game, and every challenge is a step towards reaching new heights. “Fuel Your Future” isn’t just our motto; it’s our promise to help your athlete achieve their dreams. More Than Just Supplements: Our partnership goes beyond just providing top-quality supplements. Through TSC's newsletter, we’ll offer you expert tips on health, nutrition, and training that are vital for young athletes. Consider Thread Performance a part of your extended team, here to support your athlete's journey every step of the way. Join the Celebration: We love celebrating your athlete's achievements. Throughout our partnership, share your moments of success and breakthrough on social media by tagging @threadperformance. Let’s make these wins known together! 

MURFREESBORO, TN – The Tennessee Soccer Club crowned two champions on Sunday, earning the Tennessee State Soccer Association Fall State Cup Championship at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro. The 2010 TSC ECNL Regional League Boys took the field first and defeated Tennessee United 1-0 for the championship. TSC’s 2009 ECNL RL Boys team matched the younger side, earning their own 1-0 victory over Nashville United to lift the State Cup trophy. “We are very proud of the boys for finishing the fall season with two championships,” said Boys ECNL Director Andy Robertson. Three other TSC teams advanced to their respective championship matches. The TSC Williamson 2009 Boys Showcase team fell 1-0 and the TSC Williamson 2013 Girls Academy Premier JG was edged in their final. Overall, TSC crowned two champions, had three finalists, five semi-finalists, and 11 quarterfinalists. “All of our TSC teams competed well throughout the tournament and represented the club with pride,” Director of Soccer Stephen Jordan said. “With the older girls starting now, we are looking forward to the winter and spring and all that still lies ahead.” State Cup Champions 2009 ECNL RL Boys 2010 ECNL RL Boys State Cup Finalists 2008 Sumner Boys Premier 2009 Williamson Boys Showcase 2013 Williamson Girls Premier JG State Cup Semifinalists 2006/07 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase 2007 Williamson Boys Showcase 2009 Nashville Boys Showcase 2013 Williamson Girls Showcase 2014 Williamson Girls Academy Premier Blue State Cup Quarterfinalists 2006 Williamson Boys Showcase 2006/07 Murfreesboro Boys Premier 2007 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase 2007 Sumner Boys Showcase 2007 Sumner Boys Premier 2007 Williamson Boys Premier 2008 Nashville Boys Showcase 2008 Sumner Boys Showcase 2008 Williamson Boys Showcase 2008 Williamson Boys Elite 2009 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase For more results from the 2024 Tennessee Fall State Cup, click here.

FRANKLIN, TN – Tennessee Soccer Club hosted the annual Music City Invitational bringing in more than 3,450 players and over 11,500 visitors to the Murfreesboro area. The annual event utilized Richard Siegel Soccer Park in Murfreesboro, TN, one of the top soccer facilities in the southeast region. The event also used Orchard Bend Park in Antioch, TN, Middle Tennessee State University, and the new Bethesda Sports Park in Thompson Station. “Once again we are proud of this year’s Music City Invitational,” said TSC Tournament Director & Events Coordinator Jimmy Drain. “We were able host a great event with teams from all over the map. Give credit to Richard Siegel Soccer Park, one of the premier soccer facilities in the region, for us being able to weather the storms on Saturday and continue playing soccer.” In total, 274 teams from 12 different states and 59 soccer organizations represented the tournament field. One club even travelled down from Canada for the Greater Nashville soccer experience. TSC will host the Winter Indoor Series in December, January and February, and its next outdoor tournament, the new TSC College Showcase in Murfreesboro January 24-26, and the Tennessee Invitational in Franklin, TN and Brentwood, TN the weekend of May 2-4. For more information about TSC tournaments and events, click here.

Katie Schoepfer Names U.S Roster for 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup USA Will Kick Off Tournament on Oct. 16 against Reigning Champions Spain in Santo Domingo; Young Americans Will Also Face Colombia and Korea Republic in Group B CHICAGO (Oct. 1, 2024) – U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team head coach Katie Schoepfer has named the 21 players who will represent the United States at the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup to be held in the Dominican Republic from Oct. 16-Nov. 3. The USA kicks off Group B action on Wednesday, Oct. 16 against reigning champions Spain (4 p.m. ET on FS2, Universo and Telemundo digital) at Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo. The USA will then face Colombia on Oct. 19 (7 p.m. ET on FS2, Universo and Telemundo digital) in Santo Domingo and wraps up first round play against the Korea Republic on Oct. 22 (4 p.m. ET on FS2 and Telemundo digital) at CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros. All of the matches of the tournament will be broadcast in English on either FS2 or Fox Soccer Plus and in Spanish on the Telemundo family of networks. For the first time ever, a U.S. roster for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup will feature professional players, those being Angel City FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller, San Diego Wave FC midfielders Melanie Barcenas and Kimmi Ascanio and Seattle Reign midfielder Ainsley McCammon. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2007, are age-eligible for this World Cup. Schoepfer chose 16 players born in 2007 and five born in 2008. Fifteen players will be 17 years old at the start of the World Cup and six will be 16. "Leading this group through their first World Cup is a true honor and I know everyone is very excited to play in a World Cup and use this unique opportunity to grow as people and players,” said Schoepfer. “This is an important stepping-stone in the development of these young, talented athletes. The team has continued to evolve since the qualifying tournament and are focused on preparing to play their best. The experience of representing the United States on the world's biggest stage for this age group will be an amazing challenge and I know it will create lifelong memories." Schoepfer named 14 players who were part of the USA’s Concacaf championship team and seven players who made late runs to earn a World Cup roster spot, including four players born in 2008 who have seen the majority of their recent WYNT action with the U.S. U-16s. 2024 U.S. Under-17 Women’s World Cup Team Roster by Position (U-17 Caps/Goals): Goalkeepers (3): Wicki Dunlap (North Carolina Courage Academy; Raleigh, N.C.; 2), Evan O’Steen (Solar SC; Grapevine, Texas; 2), Molly Vapensky (Carolina Ascent; Evanston, Ill.; 6), Defenders (6): Trinity Armstrong (UNC; Frisco, Texas; 4/0), Kiara Gilmore (FC Dallas; Allen, Texas; 8/0), Jordyn Hardeman (Solar SC; Midlothian, Texas; 9/1), Daya King (Legends FC; Moreno Valley, Calif.; 7/0), Katie Scott (Penn State; Fairview, Penn.; 9/1), Jocelyn Travers (FC Bay Area Surf; Santa Cruz, Calif.; 7/1) Midfielders (7): Scottie Antonucci (Legends FC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; 2/0), Kimmi Ascanio (San Diego Wave; Doral, Fla.; 9/4), Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave; San Diego, Calif.; 14/2), Kennedy Fuller (Angel City FC; Southlake, Texas; 8/9), Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign; Bedford, Texas; 5/1), Jaiden Rodriguez (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.; 2/0), Y-Lan Nguyen (Virginia Development Academy; Fairfax, Va.; 4/1) Forwards (5): Anna Babcock (Crossfire Premier SC; Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; 2/0), Micayla Johnson (Michigan Hawks, Troy, Mich.; 2/1), Mary Long (Duke; Mission Hills, Kan.; 2/2), Maddie Padelski (Alabama; Nolensville, Tenn.; 2/0) , Leena Powell (Tudela FC; Culver City, Calif.; 7/1) The 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup features 16 nations divided into four groups of four teams. The top two finishers in each group advance to quarterfinals of the knockout round. All 32 matches of the tournament will take place in just two stadiums: Felix Sanchez Stadium in the capital of Santo Domingo and CFC Stadium, which is about 100 miles north of Felix Sanchez, in Santiago de los Caballeros. This will be the final FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with 16 nations as next year, the tournament will start to be held annually with 24 countries and will be staged for the next five years in Morocco. Roster Notes: Of the USA’s four professional players, Kennedy Fuller has seen the most NWSL minutes, playing 966 over 18 matches with one goal. Kimmi Ascanio has played 145 minutes in six matches while Melanie Barcenas, who is in her second professional season, has played 376 minutes in nine matches and scored her first career NWSL goal on Sept. 28 against the Portland Thorns. Ainsley McCammon made her NWSL debut on Sept. 6 vs. Angel City FC, playing the very end of the match. The USA’s four college players, defender Trinity Armstrong, defender Katie Scott and forwards Maddie Padelski and Mary Long, all entered college early. Armstrong has started all 12 games for North Carolina thus far and played 993 minutes. Scott has battled some minor injuries early in her freshman season at Penn State and has played in three matches while Padelski has started 10 of 12 matches for the Crimson Tide and scored two goals with two assists. Long has played 215 minutes for Duke in seven games and has scored twice. With nine career goals at this level, in just eight caps, Fuller enters this World Cup as the USA’s leading scorer. She won the Golden Ball as the top player at the 2024 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship. At that tournament, the USA handily won its group, defeating Panama, 13-0, Puerto Rico, 3-1, and Canada, 5-0, before downing Haiti, 7-1, in the semifinal to earn its World Cup berth. In the championship game, the USA rolled past host Mexico 4-0, on goals from Maya Townes, Ascanio, Alex Pfeiffer and an own goal. Pfeiffer, who will miss the World Cup due to an ACL injury suffered with her NWSL club Kansas City Current, scored six times while Ascanio had four goals. The seven players on the World Cup roster who were not a part of the U.S. team at the 2024 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship are goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Scottie Antonucci and Jaiden Rodriguez and forwards Padelski , Micayla Johnson, Long and Anna Babcock, who can also play in the defense. Johnson scored against Brazil in July and Long scored twice against Brazil in July. Padelski was an alternate during the pre-tournament training camp in Guatemala ahead of the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship. All 21 players on the roster have been capped at the U-17 level, led by Barcenas, who has 14 U-17 caps and was also a part of the 2022 cycle. Defenders Katie Scott and Jordyn Hardeman and Ascanio all have nine caps each. The roster features four professional players, goalkeeper Molly Vapensky, who is on the books of the Carolina Ascent in the USL Super League on an amateur contract, four players currently in college and 12 players from nine different youth clubs. The 5-foot-10 Vapensky played the lion’s share of the minutes in goal for the USA during the World Cup qualifying tournament. Six players hail from California and six come from Texas, meaning more than half the roster is from those two states. While there are current pros and college players on the World Cup Team, of the 21 players on the roster, 19 represent or represented ECNL clubs, one is from the Girls’ Academy and one is from the NPL. As a player, Schoepfer was in the U.S. Youth National Team player pools from the U-17 to U-23 and started all four years for Penn State University, twice earning All-American honors while scoring 48 career goals. In her professional career, the forward made 100 appearances with the Boston Breakers in two leagues -- Women’s Professional Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League. She played the NWSL’s first four seasons, and her 100 games for the Breakers are the third-most in club history. The Connecticut native was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2019.