Timbers announce six local clubs for 2011 Adopt-a-Club program

PORTLAND, Ore. — At a luncheon today at JELD-WEN Field, the Portland Timbers introduced six local clubs as part of the team’s 2011 Adopt-a-Club program.

Through the program, clubs are assigned a Timbers player who will help mentor and coach the youth players at the club.

Timbers general manager/technical director Gavin Wilkinson spoke to representatives from the six selected clubs in the D.R. Horton Community Room at JELD-WEN Field this afternoon, introducing them to their Timbers players.

The participating clubs will also receive exclusive benefits throughout the season, including a private clinic from their Timbers mentor, fitness tips from Timbers strength & conditioning coach Karim Derqaoui, a private coaching session with Timbers community ambassador Scot Thompson, as well as on-field recognition for one youth player at a Timbers home game later this season.

Clubs were selected from a large number of applicants.

The following clubs were selected for this year’s Adopt-a-Club program:

Hillsboro Futsal (Jorge Perlaza/Diego Chara)
Location: Hillsboro, Ore.

Eastside United FC (Kalif Alhassan)
Location: Gresham, Ore.

Milltown United Soccer Club (Futty Danso)
Location: Northwest Portland

Prairie Soccer Club (Jeremy Hall)
Location: Brush Prairie, Wash.

Hillside Soccer Club (Jake Gleeson)
Location: Northwest Portland

Mount Tabor Soccer Club (Sal Zizzo)
Location: Southeast Portland

Together, the six clubs serve over 5,000 youth players, 600 of whom are scholarship players.