By JayDe Beaudry
Long Beach FC is delighted to welcome Premier Touch FC as the club’s official youth club partner.
"Our clubs stand for a lot of the same things. Community is really important to us, and we know that it's really important to them." - Willie L. Alexander III, Co-Founder of Long Beach FC
Founded in 2023 by Jesus Rodriguez and Pedro Chavez, Premier Touch FC provides competitive club soccer opportunities for underprivileged Long Beach youth.
"We started Premier Touch FC to give every kid in the inner city the opportunity to compete at the level that everyone else competes in, no matter the background, no matter where you come from, no matter what your parents could afford." said Rodriguez
In two short years, Premier Touch FC has experienced extraordinary growth. Originally made up of four teams, the club has expanded to 15 teams, serving over 150 kids across Long Beach and Los Angeles County.
"We hope to continue to grow," said Rodriguez.
"We hope to give kids a pathway to continue their soccer career and their soccer development. Not just with our program but after our program. And to connect the chain from our oldest age group right now which is middle school, all the way up to the semi-pro and professional level."
Beyond the pitch, Premier Touch FC provides Long Beach youth a pathway to higher education through mentorship and access to career paths outside football.
"At the end of the day what we want is for these kids to become student athletes," said Chavez
"I was one of the kids in the streets, and soccer saved me. I believe it saved my life. There's a lot of kids out there that need that help and I want to be that guy and help build that pathway."
As community partners, Long Football Club and Premier Touch FC will continue to foster the growth of the beautiful game in communities across Long Beach.
"Soccer in the U.S. is tough because kids can get priced out of playing with competitive travel teams," said Alexander
"So my hat's off to them for what they've built, and I hope that our partnership can help continue their growth."
To learn more about Premier Touch FC and their inspiring mission, click here.
Give your child the chance to grow on and off the field. Sign up today!
https://longbeachfootballclub.com