White Marsh, MD - Crystal Palace USA, the Baltimore/Annapolis area’s professional outdoor soccer team is searching for elite players to be a part of their 2008 team. Two player combines will be held in early 2008 at UMBC - the first will run January 25-27 with the second running February 22-24.

”We’re expecting some of the top free agents and amateur soccer talent in the country to join us for our combines in Baltimore,” said Pete Medd, Club President & Coach. “We’re excited about the opportunity and we take this process very seriously. We had massive success from our combine last year”

In advance of their inaugural season in 2007, Crystal Palace USA held a similar player combine and ended up signing a total of four players as a result of the weekend tryouts. All four saw action during the season and three of the four suited up against Crystal Palace’s parent club in the UK at the highly-publicized friendly played at legendary Selhurst Park in October.

Bryan Harkin started the entire year at center mid for the Eagles while previously he was coaching local women’s college soccer at Mt. St Mary’s. Bryan was a standout performer in the midfielder in London against their English “millionaire” Palace counterparts. Shintaro Harada traveled the furthest distance to tryout, coming over from Tokyo, Japan and went on to get All-League honors as a center back / center midfielder. Alex Ughiove of Washington D.C. spent his college days at Howard University and was with the Chicago Fire the previous year. Alex started most of the season in the back and ended the season with a couple of “Team of the Week” honors in the USL. Larry Mark, also of Washington DC, scored a few timely goals for the Eagles and was a valuable asset coming off the bench in ’07. Larry played college locally at American University.

“Realistically, we’re looking to fill one or two roster spots as a result of these combines,” said Jim Cherneski, Crystal Palace USA Sporting Director & Coach. “We only lost two of our last 16 games in 2007 and we feel very confident going into 2008 with the vast majority of our nucleus returning.”

Over 200 athletes from across the country and around the world are expected to converge on the campus of UMBC to battle it out for a shot at their dream of playing football professionally.

Details and Instructions for Crystal Palace USA 2008 Combines:

Space is limited so please apply by completing the application (click here) and mailing with payment and resume/CV to the address below. All applications and payments must be received by the posted deadlines. Players may attend more than one combine.

Team squads are scheduled to be finalized and commence pre-season by March 1, 2008.

Download Application

Completed forms and payment should be sent to:

Crystal Palace USA
Attention: Melissa Bryant
7939 Honeygo Blvd #215
Baltimore, MD 21236


Office phone: 410-933-8326
Fax: 443-817-0654                  

Email: mbryant@crystalpalaceusa.com

Application Deadlines:
January 25-27 tryout - application and payment must be received by January 10 (Late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Please call before submitting a late application.)

February 22-24 tryout - application and payment must be received by February 10

Combine Details & Policies:
- Players must attend the combine in order to be considered for the team.
- No walk-ups will be accepted.
- Attendees must report by 5pm on the first night of the combine for registration,

followed by a training session.

- Players will need to bring all necessary gear, for play on natural and artificial turf.
- There will be three sessions on Saturday, and two on Sunday morning.
- All tryouts will be held at UMBC.
- Crystal Palace coaches will be evaluating players throughout the weekend.

Costs:

$200 per player- no lodging included

$300 per player- includes lodging Friday and Saturday at nearby hotel

Meals and Transportation are the responsibility of the participant.

Refund policy:

Unless the tryout is cancelled by Crystal Palace, no refunds will be issued. Players that are offered and accept a contract with Crystal Palace will be reimbursed for their combine fee.