The South Jersey Barons Youth Organization and the Ocean City Baron’s Club (USL Premier Development League) are pleased to announce a relationship with the historic English Women’s Club, The Doncaster Rovers Belles. The agreement will help the two Clubs forge a relationship through coaching exchanges, sharing coaching resources and practice methods, and providing opportunities for players from both Clubs to train at each other’s facilities.

The Doncaster Rovers Belles were formed in 1969 by a group of young women selling tickets on the terraces of the then home of Doncaster Rovers (Belle Vue) and were originally named the Belle Vue Belles.

Today, the Doncaster Rovers Belles are the oldest ladies football team in the FA Women’s Premier League, and boast a great tradition of success. Little did the founding members know that the Belle Vue Belles would be transformed into the Doncaster Rovers Belles of today, one of the world’s most famous women’s professional football teams.

As the popularity of women’s football continues to grow at an exponential rate in the United Kingdom, the Doncaster Rovers Belles maintain pace with increasing competition on the pitch and financial pressures off the pitch.

The Doncaster Rovers Belles relationship, along with the existing Reading Football Club agreement and the Club’s ties with Inter Milan give its members exposure to the world’s game. South Jersey Youth Academy Technical Director Scott Middlemass who has played professional soccer on three continents and in six different leagues knows that the experiences gathered from different soccer cultures will greatly benefit the players. “These are exciting times for the game of soccer in this area of the world. Within the last four to five years the South Jersey Barons have grown immensely and offer so much to the players in the South Jersey area. Our link with Doncaster Rovers Belles only enhances our Club as a whole and compliments our relationship with Reading FC and Inter Milan. These relationships offer life changing experiences for both boys and girls in our Club that no other club in our area can offer.”

About the Barons
The Barons Youth Academy was established with one team in 1999 and has grown to 21 Boys and Girls teams in 2009. The year round program offers players a top quality curriculum in a competitive setting. The Youth Academy is a member of New Jersey Youth Soccer and the United Soccer Leagues Super Y-League. The club fields teams at every age group. The youth Academy has an extensive website which can be found at www.sjbarons.com here you can find more detailed information about the Club including contact information.

The Ocean City Barons are a minor league soccer franchise based in Ocean City, New Jersey that competes in the Premier Development League (PDL) -- the top men’s amateur league in North America. The PDL is considered the 4th level of soccer in the United States below Major League Soccer, and the United Soccer League’s First and Second Divisions. Players have the ability to compete in the PDL throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is the proving ground for players that aspire to reach the highest levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment to the Ocean City community.

Founded in 1997, the Barons are entering their 13th year of existence in 2009 and have one of the highest winning percentages of the PDL clubs in North America. Since joining the league in 2003, they are 52-16-16, the 5th best record among the more than 60 teams in the league. Since joining the PDL, 16 former Barons have moved on to play professional soccer, including Jeremiah White (AGF Aarhus in Denmark) who recently became the first Baron to earn a cap with the senior U.S. National Team.