Rams team up with Wolves-Hawks
- by Soccer America , Oct 17, 2008
English club Derby County is teaming up with the Michigan Wolves-Hawks -- one of the Detroit area's top youth programs -- to provide financial and technical support.
The agreement will see Derby County sponsor the under-16 and under-18 Wolves teams playing in the U.S. Development Academy.
In return, the Academy teams will adopt the name Derby County Wolves and wear a new uniform representative of the partnership.
Last winter, Detroit-based sports management firm General Sports Entertainment purchased the Rams in a deal reported to be in the range of $100 million.
Roger Faulkner, vice president of soccer for GSE, was the chief architect of the agreement .
"With seven national championships to their name, the Michigan Wolves-Hawks club is already recognized as one of the top clubs in the nation," said Faulkner, who is a former owner of the NASL's Detroit Express and has been active in Michigan soccer for decades. "Accordingly, Derby's coaching staff will be coming over to evaluate their top prospects, and with the Wolves' assistance, host broader regional trials where the top players will be invited to train at Derby's Academy facility in England."
