UK Elite Soccer, home to more than 300 coaches and 60,000 players, and The Football Club USA (FCUSA) have acquired John Smith Soccer in Milford, Massachusetts outside of Boston.

John Smith Soccer produces club teams, camps, tournaments, soccer schools and other programs for boys and girls of all skill levels in Massachusetts and the Northeast region. The owner, John Smith, has been running his John Smith Soccer Schools for 45 years.

FCUSA is one of the nation’s largest growing soccer clubs with operations in seven states: Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Maryland and Rhode Island. The club currently fields over 150 teams and 2,500 players with Massachusetts and its 80 clubs currently the largest. Bringing John Smith Soccer Academy’s 250 players and 18 club teams on board will push FCUSA Massachusetts to nearly 100 teams from ages U8-U18.

“For the past 45 years, John Smith has been instrumental in the growth of youth soccer and development of young athletes in the New England area,” UK Elite CEO and FCUSA Board Member Mick Smoothey said. “We both strive to forge champions on and off the field, and together we’ll provide youth soccer players in New England even more paths to success.”

John Smith came to the United States from England in the 1970s and developed soccer programs in western Massachusetts along with becoming an NFL kicker for the New England Patriots. Felicity Day, Smith’s eldest daughter, joined the family business after a successful career as a college All-American and professional player on the Arsenal women’s team in England.

“UK Elite Soccer has similar core values to John Smith Soccer, with a strong emphasis on excellence on a national scale, and they have an impressive 25-year history providing soccer opportunities across the United States,” owner John Smith said. “While we have been instrumental in starting youth soccer programs in numerous towns as well as teaching thousands of coaches and parents the joy of working with young soccer players of all abilities, I have no doubt the UK Elite methodology and resources will provide an experience that cannot be matched.”

Owned by Steel Sports Inc., UK Elite Soccer features FCUSA teams, camps, clinics, tournaments, international tours and other events.

“At Steel Sports we are striving to create the very best youth sports experience and help athletes reach their potential on and off the field. The John Smith management team and coaches fit well within the Steel Sports culture, and the integration of our Coaching System will improve the FCUSA experience,” said Steel Sports CEO David Shapiro.

To learn more about UK Elite Soccer and FCUSA visit UKElite.com and TheFootballClubUSA.com.