Turner’s rapid rise leads to Homegrown deal
CHESTER >> When Cole Turner collected his diploma at YSC Academy in June, the midfielder was set to pursue a soccer career that led through the United States Naval Academy.
But things have changed in recent months. And while the 18-year-old’s plan had always been to follow the conventional American trajectory, his accelerating development made a jump to the pros possible.
Turner signed a pre-contract with the Philadelphia Union Wednesday, a deal effective next Jan. 1 that includes a Bethlehem Steel contract for 2019. He becomes the Union’s 11th Homegrown signing; six are on the firstteam roster, and Turner joins five other YSC Academy products on Steel’s roster.
“I made my decision off what I’ve been working for my whole life,” Turner said. “I have the utmost respect for the (service) academies and I would’ve loved to be there, but I decided to chase my dream ever since I was a little kid.”
Turner, who stands 6-1 and 175 pounds, was a player Ernst Tanner noticed last fall. A classmate of Brenden Aaronson at the Academy, Turner was not tabbed as likely to make the jump to MLS, and Tanner was content to see him follow the collegiate path. But he’s made huge strides, enticing the Union to offer him a deal and Turner to spurn Navy.
“Over the course of the season, he was doing so well that we were at least telling him we are very happy with his development and we could imagine that he could be a professional,” Tanner said. “I think he was quite surprised by that. We left it open to him to decide what is the best way to go for him because of the importance of that decision and finally he approached us and said, ‘I can imagine going pro.’”
The native of Churchville, Md. started in Union Juniors at age nine. He entered the Academy at
13 and, to alleviate the 80-minute daily drive to Wayne, entered the residency program in 10th grade. He made 65 appearances
(52 starts) for the Academy. He’s integrated into Steel, making 11 appearances (eight starts), and performed well for the Union in a friendly with developmental affiliate Reading United Tuesday. Turner is a defensive midfielder that Jim Curtin likens to club legend Brian Carroll. He also can play in central defense.
“He’s a guy that’s done really well with the Steel and has been rewarded,” Curtin said. “Really happy for him, and good starting points but still a heck of a lot of work to do.”
Turner follows a familiar pathway. Both Anthony Fontana in
2017 and Aaronson last summer signed pre-contracts to be activated on Jan. 1 of the following years. They took their time developing with Steel and hit the ground running with the Union the following preseason. It’s a selfexplanatory model for Turner.
“I know they put the work in every time they were with Steel,” Turner said. “And I plan to do the same thing and just try to make my way into the first team.”
The environment piece is important. While the Union were more than willing to defer to the Naval Academy and its off-field benefits if that was what Turner’s heart desired, Tanner is eager to immerse him in a professional environment and an intensive soccer education that college can’t offer.
“He has three, four years where boys usually are doing a big development,” Tanner said. “But they need to have the right environment, meaning they need to play competitive games and in addition, they need to have the right level in training. I’m pretty sure after finishing that this year, Cole is prepared to train with the first team.”
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The Union are in the market for another goalkeeper, with Carlos Miguel Coronel back in Austria.
The 22-year-old had been on a year-long loan from Red Bull Salzburg. But after falling behind Matt Freese on the depth chart (despite performing well for Steel), that seems set to end early.
“We are probably going to release him once we have a replacement for him,” Tanner said.
The Brazilian was 4-0-0 for the Union, allowing two goals and making nine saves.
••• Ilsinho (adductor) and Warren Creavalle (foot) both trained fully and will be in the selection picture Saturday when Chicago visits. Ilsinho has missed three games. Creavalle broke his foot on international duty with Guyana in early June, precluding his participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Jamiro Monteiro (ankle) isn’t yet back on the field, but Curtin said the midfielder is progressing as expected after being tackled from behind in the July 3 win in Orlando. “It’ll be close for the weekend,” Curtin said.
Kai Wagner missed the loss at Real Salt Lake after failing a pregame fitness test on a tweaked quad. Though the left back worked to the side, Curtin expects him back against Chicago. Olivier Mbaizo (knee) is still recuperating from meniscus surgery but is back on the field doing ball work.
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One other injury note from Tuesday’s scrimmage is a contusion for Sergio Santos. Curtin said it was just a hard kick that the forward sustained without rolling his ankle.
Also highlighting that exercise were Matt Real and Mark McKenzie, who could work into the mix for a beleaguered backline this week. Issa Rayyan impressed Curtin while playing as the No. 10.
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The Philadelphia Union Foundation Wednesday announced a partnership with the City of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association on a $3.5 million program to build 15 mini-pitches and two full-sized fields over the next five years.
A press conference at City Hall unveiled the first two projects, a mini-pitch at Capitolo Playground in the East Passyunk section of South Philadelphia and a signature field in Southwest Philadelphia. The latter is the area where Philadelphia Lone Star F.C. (formerly Junior Lone Star) operates, drawing from southeastern Delco. The mini-pitches — roughly the size of a basketball or tennis court and surfaced with turf, grass or blacktop — are designed for pickup games or organized four-v-four programs. Selection of sites will be overseen by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
“Thanks to Rebuild, made possible by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax, we are finally able to deliver a much needed investment in community soccer fields,” Mayor Jim Kenney said. “I want to thank the Philadelphia Union Foundation and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer for partnering with us to give more residents access to high quality places to play soccer.”