Please welcome to the Scranton area, it’s very own semi professional soccer organization, the Electric City Shock! The Shock will eventually be part of what is known as the “National Premeier Soccer League,” or NPSL for short, which is on the fourth tier of professional soccer here in the United States. The name was chosen because of its host city, Scranton, being nicknamed the Electric City. Due to the legalities and league deadlines, the Shock will be participating in the NPSL starting the Summer of 2014. The Shock will give the surrounding areas youth players something to look up to, something to try to achieve to be, the next level. Something this area greatly needs considering the biggest youth sport in the area is soccer.
The Shock was founded by James Bell of Pittston, with the help of some sponsors who wish to remain anonymous at this time. James, grew up playing for the Pittston Stoners organization, played for various clubs throughout his youth, for his school teams at Pittston, at PSU Worthington and Keystone College, and eventually training with professional teams in Canada, Pittsburg, and Harrisburg. Finishing his playing career with an NPSL affiliate, the Pocono Snow during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons, while coaching intramural soccer, and various youth club teams like Black Thunder Soccer Club, and most recently being named the Head Coach of Penn States satellite campus in Wilkes Barre.
The Shock will be coached by James, assisted by Rob Havard of the Upper 90 Soccer club and Coughlin High School, and also assisted by Chris Goetter (get-er) of Psu Worthington, and tenured goalie trainer. The Upper 90 Soccer Club is also going to be the youth affiliate of the Shock, and after a few years will be able to feed its youth players into its senior team, the Electric City Shock.