On May 15, 2010, the City FC Tigers (U11 coed) attended DC United’s Kicks for Kids program to see the DC United v Colorado Rapids match. The kids had a great time and bonded off the field over a DC United game. This unique experience also provided the players with a venue to learn from watching soccer pros and observe teamwork at play on the field. The players on the City FC Tigers team attend schools across the District, including E.L. Haynes, Shepherd, St. Anne’s, Janney, Blessed Sacrament and West Elementary. Without the generosity of Tom Schings and everyone at Sherwin Williams Co., the City FC Tigers would not have been able to attend. Powered solely by volunteers and funded by generous donations, experiences like this offer City FC youth another perspective that motivate them to excel both on and off the field.
NATIONAL MALL, WASHINGTON, DC – Despite the cold, gloomy forecast that was set for the last weekend in March, nothing could cast out the shining radiance of the City FC 1 squad at the 2010 Cherry Blossom Tournament. City FC 1 won the championship title in this year’s tournament. The Cherry Blossom Tournament is an annual two-day adult coed football tournament, and this year, it was held on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 on the National Mall, adjacent to the Reflecting Pool at the base of the Lincoln Memorial. There were 32 teams participating in the tournament from across the DC Metropolitan Area. The tournament was sponsored by District Sports, a local nonprofit organization. In the words of 2010 Cherry Blossom Tournament Director Josh Harris from District Sports, “City FC 1 defeated Charlie Davies War in a nail-biting final that went all the way through the 10-minute sudden death period still tied, 0-0. The penalty kick shootout was just as exciting as the previous 50 minutes of soccer and eventually concluded with a 4-2 penalty kick shootout victory for City FC 1 . . . Charlie Davies War managed to survive eight consecutive games without conceding a goal (until the penalty kick shootout), but City FC 1′s penalty kick talents proved to be too much.” The City FC 1 roster included 11 solid players (eight men and three women) who currently live in the DC area. City FC 1′s championship victory was even more so notorious as the team advanced with an undefeated record throughout the entire tournament despite not having any subs for the three women on the team (tournament rules dictated that at least three members of each sex are required on the field of play at all times). The squad included the following talented players (in alphabetical order):
As part of the championship prize pack, City FC 1 was awarded an autographed ball signed by the DC United squad and four DC United season tickets. The autographed ball will be auctioned off, and all proceeds will go towards City FC. District Sports also kindly offered all footballs that were used in the tournament to City FC for to use in its football programs. On April 17, the champions were honored during halftime at the DC United-New England Revolution match at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, sporting jazzy City FC jerseys. The squad looks forward to next year’s tournament.