The LAFC Chelsea Boys U16 team, led by coach Carlos Olivares, won the US Club Soccer Southern California Regional Championship (Premier) and have advanced to the National Finals, which will be held in late July in Virginia Beach, VA. The hallmark of the team was a suffocating defense, giving up only 1 goal in 4 games in the Regional Tournament, and winning on a breathtaking goal by Kian Chachi in the 66th minute of the championship game for a 1-0 win over B92 Corona. LAFC is one of 4 California regional teams that made it to the finals, along with two from New York, two from Florida and one from Colorado.

June 17, 2009. As the Southern California State Cup Champion, LAFC Chelsea GU13 team participated in the President’s Cup in Washington State. Led by Coach Teddy Chronopoulos and Assistant Coach Makenzie Pedrotti, the girls shut out four teams before facing the Simi Valley Eclipse in the finals. As in the State Cup Championship, LAFC Chelsea beat Eclipse (2-1). This win created a first for LAFC Chelsea Girls: winning both the State Cup and the Regional President’s Cup.

Yes it is true, the great French National team and Barcelona forward was impressed with the level of training and players at LAFC Chelsea. He has taken a special interest in Milano Sanchez-Johnson’s soccer ability, and was there to watch Milano’s Boys U12 team train. During practice Mr. Henry was sharing French youth training ideas with LAFC Chelsea president Don Sheppard.

He was way taller than the kids expected and it was great to have one of the best players in the world on our home turf. He was extremely impressed with the technical ability of the overall squad and took a shine to many of the players. Many an “Ooh La La” was muttered under his breath as the boys were out through their paces in a shooting and finishing session by coach Barry Ritson, maybe Thierry picked up some tips to take back to the Champions of Europe, courtesy of LAFC Chelsea.

After practice Thierry Henry joined in with the boys juggling and taking 100’s of pictures with all the LAFC Chelsea players at La Canada High School. The LAFC Chelsea family wants to extend a special thanks to the Sanchez-Johnson family for inviting Thierry Henry into the LAFC Chelsea family, if only for a few hours.

Connie Becker and Monica Bagramyan hosted Brian Vasquez and Martin Castillo in their homes, feeding them, providing comfortable beds and driving them around to where they needed to go. Brian and Martin are from Houston, Texas and playing on the Academy U16 team. They have been here since February and have hopped from house to house, but have been warmly welcomed by their soccer family here at LAFC. Sal Lopez, an LAFC coach, picks up the boys every morning to take them to school at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles. Teammates pick up the slack and take them to the movies, the beach or just to hang out. Currently, Brian and Martin are staying at the home of Catherine Dier where they will remain until the end of the Academy season.

On Sunday June 7th, 2009 both of the two LAFC Chelsea Academy Development teams secured spots this in the Academy Development playoffs in North Carolina with wins against the Surf in La Jolla, CA. This will be the second time in two years that both the U18 and U16 teams from LAFC Chelsea have made it to the playoffs, distinguishing the club from most of the other 72 clubs from across the country that participate in US Soccer’s Academy Development Program. Don Sheppard, LAFC Chelsea Club President says “Sending both teams to the playoffs in North Carolina from first and second place in the So Cal Division of the Academy, the toughest division in the country, is one more demonstration of LAFC Chelsea’s dominance in youth soccer.”