Phila. Mayor Nutter to Proclaim "Youth Soccer Month" Today 4 p.m. in South Philly at FDR Park


Philadelphia, PA -- September 21, 2010 -- Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter will officially proclaim September as Youth Soccer Month on Tuesday at 4 p.m. as part of an event at FDR Park (1500 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145).

A free soccer clinic, open to the public, will be run by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. The event will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the soccer field.

Mayor Nutter and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Chief Executive Officer Chris Branscome will also address Philadelphia’s recent climb to third place among 18 U.S. cities fighting for the chance to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018/2022.

Branscome initiated Youth Soccer Month while he was an executive with U.S. Youth Soccer eight years ago, to highlight various programs available to children interested in participating in soccer, including inner-city, special needs, recreational and elite soccer programs.
“We want to use the platform to continue to draw attention to youth soccer,” Branscome said.

This year’s event in Philadelphia is serving double duty as a way to highlight the U.S. Bid for the 2018/2022 World Cup and the city’s hope to be one of the cities hosting the games if the U.S. is selected.

Branscome said Philadelphia has gone from being ranked sixth to third in the online petition at goUSABid.com.

Philadelphia is one of 18 cities that are part of the US bid. The final number if the U.S. is selected will probably be pared down to between 9 and 12 stadiums.