Kevin Grogan, left, with Joey Behan.
By Jay Mwamba
Two of the leading Irish soccer coaches in the United States are presenting a high level summer training camp for young players whose top performer will win a VIP trip to a Manchester United game in England next season.
Dubliners Kevin Grogan, the former Manchester United and Ireland youth star, and Joey Behan, an NCAA legend with New York University, are the brains behind “The Soccer Idol” camp. It runs Aug. 14 – 18 at JTS Community, Health & Sports Center in upstate Ramapo and is for boys and girls aged nine to 14.
“We are looking at a great educational camp for the players to develop – we have great coaching staff-- especially if they want to get to the next level,” Grogan told the Echo. “This is quality camp in terms of coaching and development and anyone that comes will get a great education in the game."
Staff from Kevin Grogan Soccer will help run the camp, the first of its kind in the region.
Participants will be exposed to professional level training, based on Grogan’s experience during his time with United and Ireland. Training will touch on all aspects of the game.
The goal of the camp is to help all players improve so they can return to their respective clubs better, more rounded players, said Grogan, who is also head coach of Cosmopolitan Soccer League title contenders Shamrock.
“We will be working on the ‘five pillars of the game: tactical, technical, physical, social and mental,” he added. “All camp participants will focus on improving the following aspects of their game – performance, skills test, technical ability, team work, tactical awareness, work ethic, time keeping and sportsmanship. The player that excels above their peers in every category will be crowned the Soccer Idol!”
Their reward will be the outing to Manchester, accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Grogan and Co. have partnered with One United USA, the official supporters club of Manchester United in the United States for this dream prize. It includes: flights and three nights’ accommodation at the four-star Hilton Deansgate; tickets to a United game; and tickets to a second Premiership/Championship game or United reserve/academy match in the northwest of England.
Other perks include a “Legends Tour of Old Trafford,” United’s home ground, with a former United Player; match day hospitality at Hotel Football [co-owned by Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt] which is adjacent to Old Trafford.
Visit: www.kevingrogansoccer.com for more information on the “Soccer Idol” camp and the application process.
GROGAN, EURO WINNER
Signed by Sir Alex Ferguson at age 15, Grogan was an outstanding prospect for both United and Ireland before injury prematurely ended his playing career. The midfielder was a member of the Irish Under-16 European Championship winning side in 1998.
Grogan holds UEFA B and English FA coaching licenses and laid the foundation for amateur powerhouse Lansdowne Bhoys’ success after saving them from regulation in the CSL in 2011.
With a coaching philosophy based on the Manchester United concept, Grogan currently has Shamrock competing for a league and cup double in the CSL, both against Lansdowne.
BEHAN LEGEND
A graduate of Kevin Street College of Technology, where he won an Irish title, Behan later attended NYU. He captained the NYU and earned First Team All-Conference University Athletic Association honors.
He went on to coach the NYU men’s team from 1996 to 2016, leading them to Final Four appearances, conference titles and earning Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
Behan has also been a New York Cosmos TDP coach and Long Island Junior Select Coach.
He represented Ireland in the New York World Cup as player-coach and spent part of his early career as player-coach for the CSL’s Shamrock and for Irish Rovers of the LISFL.
He is currently developmental head coach with Inspire Soccer Training – Syosset SC and an instructor at the NSCAA / LIJSL Coaching Academy.
