Smithtown Kickers Announce Partnership with Walid & Ziad, Founders of Slammers to Become Smithtown Slammers 

Smithtown, New York – Smithtown Kickers, one of the largest youth soccer development programs in New York, and Walid and Ziad, the founders of Slammers, have announced a long-term partnership.

This agreement will see Smithtown Kickers align its 40-year history with the culture for personal growth that Walid and Ziad have developed with Slammers on the youth soccer stage to become Smithtown Slammers for the 2019-2020 season and beyond.

Formed in the late 1970s, Smithtown Kickers has been a focal point for the development of soccer on Long Island since its foundation. With a great deal of history that includes success on the recreational and competitive levels, Smithtown is prepared to enter a new chapter that focuses on combining its best practices with the proven models of player development that is unique to the Slammers.

Smithtown Kickers Board of Directors

“The landscape of youth soccer on Long Island and in Smithtown has been changing over the last few years. There are organizations that are trying to impact our community, which has triggered us to examine our current products. We looked for a partner that would enable us to raise the level of services for our club members, while allowing the Smithtown Kickers to maintain our rich history and commitment to our community. 

With numerous titles including state, regional, and national championships Smithtown brings a tried and true soccer culture to this relationship. With over a dozen national titles between the two clubs, we believe that we're starting this partnership on a very solid foundation.

The Slammers embodied all the core values that our club has, plus they have outstanding tools and services that will enhance our intramural and travel programs. We are excited at this groundbreaking alignment that will benefit the Smithtown families.”

The Slammers brand, one of the most recognized names for player development, was founded in 1994 by Walid and Ziad Khoury. More than 25 years later, the name has been tied to 15 national championships, three world championships, and ECNL club championships in 2012 and 2016. In addition, more than 500 of its alumni have gone on to play for NCAA Division I, II and III programs across the United States, earning multiple All-American and All-Conference honors, and NCAA Division I national championships.

This partnership marks the first official move to the east coast for the Slammers name and its culture of youth soccer development.

Walid Khoury, Co-Founder of Slammers

We are incredibly excited to bring the Slammers name, culture, technical goals and merge with the success and history of the Smithtown program. We cannot wait to get started and bring this brand new culture to the Smithtown families and Long Island community in 2019." 

While the partnership includes opportunities for coaching education, curriculum building and implementation of player development initiatives that have led to proven success under Walid and Ziad, Smithtown Slammers will signify its partnership by sporting the Slammers name on its uniform in the 2019-2020 season. 

Learn more about Walid and Ziad, Slammers and the culture that is built on character, integrity and personal growth by visiting www.slammersfc.org today.