[USL] Peter Mellor, a staff coach with the United States Soccer Federation since 1992, has joined United Soccer Leagues as its first national technical director.

Mellor will be charged with managing the technical aspects of USL’s player development programs as well as assisting USL teams in scouting, development and advancement of players.  He will also establish a network of coaches throughout the USA and Canada who will work to identify top goalkeeping talent for USL teams.
 
“I’ve always had a great deal of respect for Peter and the success he’s had in coaching and developing players at all levels of the U.S. national team program,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said.&n bsp; p;ldquo;Most importantly, he will be yet another valuable resource for our clubs, especially in the USL Pro divisions, as we continue to raise the bar on the level of service USL provides."

Mellor played 17 years as a goalie in England with Burnley, Fulham, Hereford United and Portsmouth and then went into coaching. He has worked for many years with young U.S. goalkeepers and assisted in the under-17 national team program.

He was one of the original coaches for the U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., after serving as the goalkeeper coach for the nearby Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer.