DETROIT — Detroit City FC and Huron Valley Storm FC have announced a multi-faceted youth affiliation. The Huron Valley Storm FC travel soccer program will join the DCFC youth affiliates as Detroit City FC Youth Huron Valley.
The affiliation allows Detroit City FC and Storm FC to combine resources and serve a larger geographic area, providing additional accessible soccer development and training opportunities for all skill levels across the Huron Valley region.
The partnership includes a structured player development pathway to Detroit City FC’s first teams on both the men’s and women’s sides for Huron Valley Storm FC travel players who compete across 10 premier/select and recreational teams. As DCFC Youth Huron Valley, the club will be able to provide soccer programs tiered for grassroots, select/premier, high school and college play, semi-pro and professional levels. The program will have a top-down, high-level developmental approach with a new curriculum and standards. Huron Valley Storm FC will transition to donning Le Rouge & Gold starting at the youth tryouts in June 2025.
“We believe that every youth player across Metro Detroit and beyond deserves a club that they will never outgrow,” said Detroit City FC COO Todd Kropp. “This partnership provides a very clear and defined path for even more kids in Michigan to their state’s first team. Having these great Youth Affiliates as a part of Detroit City is such an integral part of not just growth on the pitch but who we are as a Club.”
Current Detroit City FC forward Connor Rutz has been involved with Huron Valley Storm for some time now and will serve as the Director of Coaching for Detroit City FC Youth Huron Valley.
“If I could give at least just one kid the chance that I’ve had, and the joy that soccer has brought to me, then I am doing my job,” said Rutz. “I’ve grown to connect a lot with this club, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be and to now be connected with the youth side in this way is an honor and I hope we can all benefit from it.”
“Our Mission In Huron Valley has been centered around the community,” said Storm FC Club Director Shaun Finney. “Our goal has been to provide quality coaching while developing players, allowing them to grow within their community, making it accessible to all. We are excited to be partnering with DCFC, who share the same values as us. We know that this will open up opportunities for our players and give them something to be proud to be a part of.”
DCFC Huron Valley will remain an independently run community club. To enhance the experience of club players, DCFC will tap its professional approach and year-round commitment to the grassroots game.
DCFC Huron Valley will be the seventh youth affiliate to join City, Downriver, Genesee, North, South Oakland, and West in the DCFC Youth Affiliate system.
To learn more about DCFC Huron Valley, visit www.dcfchuronvalley.com.
About Detroit City FC:
Founded in 2012, Detroit City FC has established itself as one of the most talked about soccer teams in North America. The club’s motto, Passion for Our City, Passion for the Game, evokes the three ideas the grassroots organization was built upon: to satisfy the demand for soccer in Detroit, represent the city in a positive light, and build community through the beautiful game.
About Huron Valley Storm FC:
Huron Valley Storm FC has served the communities of Milford and the surrounding communities, offering recreation and travel soccer programs since its founding in 1978. . Huron Valley Storm FC sees this new affiliation with Detroit City FC as a way of maintaining its deep community roots while simultaneously embracing the future of youth soccer in Michigan. By partnering with Detroit’s preeminent soccer brand to form DCFC Youth Huron Valley, this reimagined soccer club will better serve youth soccer players across the region.
