CARSON, CA (Thursday, February 9, 2006) - The David Beckham Academy opens online registration today for the nation's exclusive youth soccer academy at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.  Soccer players ages eight to 15 have the opportunity to be a part of soccer history in the academy's inaugural camps that begin this Spring and will continue through Summer 2006. 

Beckham, the world's most recognizable soccer icon, worked with organizers to develop the academy in both London and Los Angeles.  The academy is modeled after his experiences at Bobby Charlton's soccer school in London that helped mold him into the player he is today.

\"Our goal is to provide kids with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to make them a better player and person, on and off the field,\" said Bill Peterson, AEG Sports senior vice president and Beckham Academy organizer.  \"We've created a place that lives and breathes Beckham at The Home Depot Center - on the field, in the locker rooms and in the media room.\"

The academy features coaches hand-picked by Beckham to work with kids in the three- and five-day soccer camps.  Beckham's legendary Manchester United FC Youth Coach Eric Harrison developed the soccer curriculum, which includes both individual and team training, speed and agility assessments, healthy living education and important life lessons that put the focus on having fun on the field. 

\"The David Beckham Academy works with the same pride, passion and quality that David shows on the field when he plays,\" said Mo Boreham, director of coaching for the Los Angeles Academy.  \"We strive to achieve a fun environment for every child, at every skill level, while improving their technical and tactical awareness in soccer.\"

Online registration at www.thedavidbeckhamacademy.com opens today for three- and five-day commuter and residential camps.  Youth ages eight to 11 may register now for the three-day academy that begins on March 31, and youth ages 12 to 15 may register for the five-day academy that begins on April 3. 

In addition to the three- and five-day camps, the Beckham Academy offers a two-hour \"Specialized Performance Program\" designed to challenge individuals technically and improve speed, agility and strength.  The academy also offers a special \"Coaches Education Program\" for soccer coaches at all levels, from grassroots to club coaches.  Registration for both special programs is available online now.

About the David Beckham Academy Coaches - Los Angeles Academy

Mo Boreham, Director of Coaching
Mo Boreham, a native of London, England, comes to the David Beckham Academy with a playing and coaching career spanning five decades at various levels in England and the United States. Most recently, Boreham was the Director of Coaching and Education for the Frontier Country Soccer Association in Norman, Oklahoma, where he worked since coming to the United States in 1997. Boreham has a long professional career in England, playing from 1960 to 83 for the Hayes, Uxbridge and Harrow Football Clubs. After retiring as a player, Boreham quickly switched gears and began to coach and scout for such famous English teams as Watford Football Club and Sheffield United Football Club. He holds a U.S. Soccer \"A\" Coaching License, as well as an English Full Badge.

Stephen Myles, Assistant Director of Coaching
Originally a native of Sheffield, England, Myles brings an extensive playing and coaching career to the David Beckham Academy that began in the 1970s as a young boy with the Sheffield City Club. As his skills progressed, he played for various teams during his professional career from 1978 to 1994. In 1991, Myles became the director for the Center of Excellence at Sheffield United responsible for the development of players ages 9 through 16. He progressed to the position of head coach for the Under-18s, followed by a stint as the reserve team coach, and a spell as head coach. In 2001, Myles came to the United States to help open and operate a $3 million soccer academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2003, he was then recruited to California where he was appointed as an assistant coach for the Women's United Soccer Association's (WUSA) San Jose Cyberrays for the 2003 season. After the league ceased operations, he took over the director of coaching position for the Santa Anita Soccer Club in Pasadena. Myles also has been involved with Region III Olympic Development Program and scouted for U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams since 1994. Myles currently holds his English Full Badge and has also completed his UEFA \"A\" European Coaching License.

Michael Quigley, Full-Time Academy Coach
Quigley is originally from Dublin, Ireland, and has been playing semi-pro and coaching in Arcadia, California since 2002. He brings a great deal of experience in youth soccer to the program, having coached at various levels in club soccer, high school boys and girls and A.Y.S.O. For the last several years, he has started to focus on the speed, agility and quickness for players. Quigley will work to implement activities that focus on those key aspects of the game.

Mandy Clemens, Full-Time Academy Coach
Clemens, a native of San Diego, California, attended Santa Clara University from 1996 to 1999 where she led the Broncos to four consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances. She is one of just five college players to score more than 60 goals and have more than 60 assists in a four-year career. Clemens won the Hermann Trophy as college soccer's top player in 1999. Clemens played five times for the U.S. Women's National Team from 1999 to 2002, and was a three-year player in the WUSA, playing for both the Philadelphia Charge and the San Jose CyberRays. Since the league ceased operations, Clemens has been pursuing her master's degree at Loyola Marymount University, where she is also the graduate assistant coach for the women's soccer program. Clemens coached the boy's varsity soccer team at La Jolla High School in San Diego for one season in 2003.

The academy is based at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills.

To register or for more information on the David Beckham Academy, including Academy schedules, coaches bios and facility information, please visit www.thedavidbeckhamacademy.com.

About The Home Depot Center

The Home Depot Center is southern California's new home of world-class competition and training facilities for amateur, Olympic, collegiate and professional athletes.  The $150 million privately financed facility was developed and is operated by AEG on a 125-acre site on the campus of California State University, Dominguez (CSUDH) Hills in Carson, California.  The Home Depot Center features an 8,000-seat tennis stadium, a 27,000-seat stadium for soccer, rugby, lacrosse & other athletic competitions and outdoor concerts, an 8,000-seat facility for track & field, the ADT Event Center (a 2,450-seat indoor velodrome for cycling) and other facilities for softball, baseball, beach volleyball, basketball and other sports. The Home Depot Center is home to MLS' 2005MLS and Open Cup Champion Los Angeles Galaxy and Club Deportivo (CD) Chivas USA.  Named an Official U.S. Olympic Training Site, The Home Depot Center is also home of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) USA Tennis High Performance Training Center as well as the national team training headquarters for the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF).  The complex is also the home of The David Beckham Academy for youth soccer, Andre Agassi's Safe Passage All-Stars at-risk youth tennis program and the nationally recognized Athletes' Performance training center for elite and professional athletes.  The Home Depot Center has additionally been designated official training sites for USA Cycling, USA Track & Field and the USTA.

____________________________________

Contact 
Alison Groendal, The Home Depot Center
(310) 630-2032