Heading to DePaul University in 2006, Patrick Hopkins didn't have a scholarship, but that didn't stop him from walking onto his college team and earning playing time.

Photo: Earl Gardner

The Philadelphia Union announced on Tuesday that 21-year-old English defender Joe Tait has been signed.

Tait has featured in two reserve team matches, registering an assist in the 2–0 win over New England reserves. Tait also scored in the friendly against Harrisburg City Islanders on August 24 and joins the team from USL PRO club Dayton Dutch Lions.

Racing Portuense's academy manager John Gontier has revealed that the club's quartet of English signings Tom Corner, Josh Dale, Conor Grogan, and Lewis Parker are quickly getting accustomed to their surroundings in Spain.

Gontier exclusively told Premiership Talk that coach David Galisteo was very impressed with the performances of all four players in a friendly last Wednesday, particularly praising forward Corner and defender Dale.

As soccer fans, we often assume that players have it all. However when I asked Sam Craven what motivated him and business partner Lance Stimpson to set up ‘Sports Academy USA,' he told me "I just wanted more from life." Up until recently Craven had been plying his trade with FC New York, but now back in England along with Lance, they aim to give the same opportunity they had to talented British players wanting more.

Connor Senn was an Ohio State soccer player who collapsed and died on the field in 2001. For 9 years, the Crew participated in a memorial match with OSU to raise funds for a scholarship in Senn's name, but they didn't play this year. The reason comes down to a clause in the collective bargaining agreement:

Provisions in the latest Major League Soccer collective bargaining agreement allow teams to play only one extra "gated" event without having to provide its players additional compensation.

Lucy Zelic, Peter Funnell and myself Eamonn Flanagan talk finals football.
We've got all the news and what does Lucy think of the PFA Media Scholarship for Ross Aloisi?
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Ross Aloisi received the PFA Craig Foster Football Media Scholarship, in recognition of his work as a football analyst for Fox Sports and a regular columnist for Soccer International. Aloisi played in the old NSL and was a part of Adelaide City's championship in 1992. A Socceroo who spent 6 years in Europe, he was a key player in the establishment of both Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.

College Coaches at 1st Showcase

It's the final semester of the school year and there were 65 players out yesterday at the Indoor College Showcase event put on by Springfield Sports Club. An annual event open to any junior and senior in the region, players came from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri in order to showcase their skills to the assembled college coaches.