FC Hamilton Croatia CSL and CSL Reserve Team Tryouts

FC Hamilton Croatia will be holding open tryouts on Saturday, March 27th from 2-3:30 pm. The tryout will take place at the brand new Player Paradise facility in Stoney Creek. The cost to tryout will be $20 (cash only) and registration will begin at 1:30 p.m.

IMPORTANT: All participants must register prior to attending by emailing their personal information — name, address, phone number, emergency contact, and a player bio which includes the most recent team played for.

All players registering younger than 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who has the authority to sign the waiver form prior to taking part in the tryouts.

Please contact csl@hamiltoncroatia.com if you are interested in attending the tryouts or have any other questions or concerns.

Former Red Dragon Adam Jurcic to Play Professionally in Canadian Soccer League

Defender Adam Jurcic, a two-year starter for the Cortland men’s soccer team in 2007-08, has been invited to compete with the Hamilton Croatia Soccer Club in the First Division of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) this summer. The CSL is Canada’s only professional soccer league and consists of 13 teams, each of which will play a 24-game schedule beginning in May.

Jurcic has played two seasons for Hamilton Croatia when the squad was a member of the Ontario Soccer League (OSL). Due to the success of the club, the team’s status has been elevated from the OSL to the CSL as one of three new clubs for the 2010 season. Jurcic has helped lead Hamilton Croatia to an OSL West Division title, the OSL Alf Beese Cup, the Hamilton Spectator Cup and the Ontario Cup semifinals.

As a two-year member of Cortland’s men’s soccer team, Jurcic played in 33 games with 32 starts and contributed two goals from his defender position. As a senior team captain, he was named to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) All-Tournament Team and helped guide the Red Dragons to a SUNYAC Tournament title and a tie for 17th nationally in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Prior to Cortland, Jurcic won a junior college national title at Herkimer County Community College, where he earned all-east, all-region and all-conference honors.

Source: http://www.cortlandreddragons.com

Attention all parents with boys and girls born from 2003-06

Croatia Hamilton is excited to announce a new venture for 2010 – a soccer house league for children aged 4-7. The league will be open to all boys and girls born from 2003 to 2006.  Games and practices will be held at the brand new soccer fields located at the Croatian Sports and Community Centre at 166 Green Mountain Road in Stoney Creek. It will be a total of two nights per week over the summer.

Cost is only $100 per child and includes a full uniform, ball, trophy, team picture and a year end pizza party!

Please feel free to pass the word along to the rest of the community. Limited space is available. Register now to reserve your spot!

For more information and to register, please contact Tom Saic at 905-560-3461or e-mail saic.toma4hammercro@hotmail.com.

Also view our flyer at http://www.hamiltoncroatia.com/soccer/houseleague.pdf.

After a four-year absence, semi-pro soccer returns to Hamilton beginning in May

Larry Moko, The Hamilton Spectator — Hamilton Croatia has been awarded an expansion franchise in the Canadian Soccer League. The club will field both a senior professional team and an Under-21 team for the 2010 season.

It was back in October 2005 the then-Canadian Professional Soccer League revoked Hamilton Thunder’s franchise for failure to meet financial obligations to the city and the league. That club, which had a four-year run, was locked out of Brian Timmis Stadium because of unpaid rent for its final four home games.

“We have no ties to that team whatsoever,” said Mark Vuksan, president of the Croatia Sports and Community Centre of Hamilton. “We have a long-standing relationship with the city. We’ve been well received.

“Our club is financially stable. We’re in our 53rd year. We’ve got a strong membership.”

Domenic Di Gironimo, the CSL chairman, says it costs the various clubs between $150,000 and $250,000 to operate. There is no franchise fee.

“Hamilton is an important city to have in the CSL,” he said. “We believe this is the right group.

“The club’s significant heritage, long-standing success and solid membership base were impossible to resist. Hamilton Croatia is a fine example of the future of the CSL with its strong community ties and a commitment to youth development.”

The league plans further expansion for the 2010 campaign. It includes teams based in London, St. Catharines, Brampton, Mississauga, York, Toronto and Trois Rivieres, Que.

“We expect to add six to eight teams in 2011,” Di Gironimo added. “We’re determined to become Canada’s elite development system.”

Croatia, founded as a club in 1957, was formerly a member of the National Soccer League. It went undefeated in the Ontario Soccer League South Region league in 2008 to earn promotion. And last season, moving up to Ontario’s highest amateur league, Croatia continued to be successful. It finished on top of the OSL West Division table.

Croatia also captured League Cup, Spectator Cup (the fourth time in six years) and advanced to the semi-final round of the Ontario Cup.

“We pretty much picked up all the trophies that we could,” Vuksan said.

Ron Davidson will return for his fourth season as head coach. He’ll be joined by assistant coach Jason Allen, goalkeeper coach Ante Culina and manager Mike Radencic. Allan Perin is the club’s director of soccer operations.

“We’ll be competitive,” said Davidson, last season’s OSL coach of the year. “I’m going to focus on local talent in Hamilton and the GTA.”

Depending on the possible additions of other teams to the CSL, Croatia expects to play 10-12 home games at Brian Timmis Stadium from May to October. Open tryouts will be held in March.

lmoko@thespec.com 905-526-2458

Youth Developement is as Important as Ever

Frank Perin – With the Canadian Soccer League’s announcement of expansion to Hamilton becoming official, the hard work for Croatia has begun. It has become more than just a soccer team. There is a need to become well respected in all aspects of the sport as an entire club – from our youth to adult levels.

“In addition to our CSL squad we are committed to the U21 reserves, our rep team program, and a newly formed house league. We are proud to offer our athletes the CSA/OSA’s complete Pyramid for Play. We believe that every soccer player in Hamilton now has the opportunity to excel,” said director of soccer operations, Allan Perin.

Children playing soccer now have another way of approaching their long-term goals. Croatia Hamilton’s executive board and the CSL coaching staff have realized this and have already begun preparing.

“With our extremely passionate fan base and the support of the local soccer community, we are very excited to be able to bring professional soccer to the city of Hamilton. Our club is determined to create a winning environment and provide opportunities for all soccer fans and players in Hamilton,” remarked Croatian Sports and Community Centre President Mark Vuksan.

Coach Ron Davidson added, “I am both excited and thrilled to be coaching the team as we enter our first season in the CSL, I have gotten to know the Hamilton Croatia organization over the past three years and we have the perfect ingredients to be very successful in the CSL.”

Joining Ron on the sidelines will be assistant coach Jason Allen, goalkeeper coach Ante Culina and team Manager Mike Radencic. “All three staff members will be a tremendous asset to this team as we move forward in this new direction,” said Davidson.

The Canadian Soccer League will kickoff its almost 5-month long regular season on May 7 through to the end of September, to be followed by the playoffs and the Championship final during October.