Premier Soccer Experiences was formed in March of 2003 with the ambition of providing first-class soccer programs for British Columbia’s soccer players and soccer enthusiasts.

The partnership consists of former B.C. Soccer Association Technical Director, Alan Churchard, former B.C. Soccer Association Executive Director and Pitt Meadows Soccer Club head coach, Keith Liddiard, and Shaun Campbell, head coach of the Mission Soccer Club.

The company’s first major project was the introduction of a series of weeklong soccer schools for school-aged children from 5 to 14 years, which was held in July and August of 2003 in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Mission. That summer, over to 200 players registered for the seven camps, which were endorsed by both the Pitt Meadows and Mission Soccer Clubs.

Between Christmas, 2003 and New Year’s 2004, the company hosted it’s second event—a six-day indoor Mini-Soccer Festival at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. More than 3,000 boys and girls aged from 5 to 14 took part. One-hundred-seventy teams from as far away as Campbell River entered this popular, 6-a-side tournament.

In 2004, the company offered both the Soccer School program and the Mini-Soccer Festival. In addition, PSE organized the re-introduction of the Pitt Meadows Labour Day Soccer Tournament in September.

In addition to the aforementioned events and programs, Premier Soccer Experiences offers coaching instruction for individual teams and clubs on an ongoing basis. During the 2004/05 season, PSE was hired to run coaching sessions for teams in the Metro Women’s Soccer League. This initiative has been continued intermittently over the following seasons, and will continue in 2007. Since the introduction of the MWSL program, PSE has worked with more than 30 women's teams.

Future initiatives include the re-introduction of an International Soccer School Program, first organized by Alan and Keith while they were employed at BC Soccer Association, that takes players to the heart of the soccer capitals of Europe and the possible introduction of residential soccer schools to the Greater Vancouver area and other parts of the province.

The three partners—all experienced soccer clinicians and administrators — see numerous opportunities in the sport for well-run, cost-effective and personal development programs that will enhance the ability of the province’s youth to play and enjoy the great game of soccer.

About the partners…

ALAN CHURCHARD

Alan served as the technical director of the B.C. Soccer Association from 1982–2000. He is a licensed Level IV coach in the National Coaching Certification Program and Master Instructor in the Canadian Soccer Association. A graduate of the teacher-training program at Leicester University in England, Alan has taught at Upper Canada College in Ontario and at a number of secondary schools in British Columbia. He is a former Coach of the Canadian National Youth Team and a co-founder and past director of the BCSA’s Soccer Academy at Shawnigan Lake. Alan now serves as the Senior Course Conductor for the BC Soccer Association, running NCCP coaching courses throughout British Columbia, and is one of the featured staff members.

KEITH LIDDIARD

Keith has just concluded a 5-year stint as head coach of the Pitt Meadows Soccer Club, a position he has chosen to relinquish in 2008. He was Executive Director of the B.C. Youth Soccer Association for 20 years, from 1978-1996, and served as the Marketing and Communications Director for the BC Soccer Association from 1996-1998. He has played and coached soccer at the highest levels for more than 35 years. He is a co-founder and former Administrator of the BCSA’s Soccer Academy and was the creator and organizer of the Canada Safeway-sponsored Mini-Soccer Festivals held at BC Place between 1987 and 1998. In his position with the BCSA, Keith organized hundreds of provincial, national and international competitions.

SHAUN CAMPBELL

Shaun is heading into his 6th year as Mission Soccer Club’s Head Coach. He is a B License-certified coach in the National Coaching Certification Program. He has coaches for 20+ years in the British Columbia soccer system. He has coached teams at Metro and Gold levels and in the BC Summer Games. He spent two years as a staff coach at the North Shore Training Centre in North Vancouver. He has played for over twenty-five years in youth, senior and over-30’s soccer, which has included an appearance in a provincial championship. Shaun has been involved in the organization of a number of Canadian Soccer Association events in a supervisory capacity, including a key role in the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championships held in Vancouver.