SI ‘Kid Reporter' highlights Fire's blossoming youth movement

Share

It's no secret that the Fire haven't exactly had the rub of the green in MLS this year.

But as one young reporter reminds us, there is something to be said for the cultivation of youth talent within the club.

Last month, Sports Illustrated 'Kid Reporter' Will Foster paid a visit to suburban Chicago and took in his first match from the press box at Toyota Park, the Fire's narrow 1-0 defeat to Western Conference foe Colorado Rapids.

Inside the dressing room post-match, Foster confidently approached Homegrown midfielder Harry Shipp - a Fire Juniors North youth product and former Academy standout - and asked the Lake Forest native about his upbringing and journey toward becoming a first-team regular.

[NBC SHOP: Buy a Fire jersey here]

“Being signed by the team I grew up watching, it worked out pretty perfectly,” Shipp said. “It was always a dream of mine.”

The dream is one of a few that Foster highlighted in his latest article for SI Kids, which singled out the Fire - among other MLS clubs - for establishing a burgeoning youth system between Fire Juniors and the Fire Academy, the latter being a beneficial platform for players to fine-tune their game in a competitive environment and eventually get reps with the senior team.

It's a crucial template that has been the staple of success for teams across Europe.

Foster also spoke with members of the front office, current and ex-Academy products to get a sense of the club's outlook on the youth front. For more on his story, click here.   

Contact Us