In front of a packed house at the Corner Kick Pub and Restaurant at the Amesbury Sports Park, Aztecs and New England Soccer School announced March 5 the merger of a new club — The New England Aztec.

First and foremost, the move was made to provide North Shore soccer players at all ages and skill levels with the best possible soccer education possible. According to technical director Jeff Winterton, the merger also offers each club new aspects to better both sides of the merger.

"We think the potential this merger has for everyone is huge because we're bringing two organizations together that will symbiotically make each piece better," he said. "From NESS's perspective, they inherit a great talent base that is larger than what they had and as far as the Aztecs go, we now get to share with NESS what is the best soccer facility on the North Shore in the Amesbury Sports Park."

The most unique and cutting-edge aspect of the new club is the formation of a partnership with Everton of the Barclay's English Premier league — joining a select group of 15 teams across the U.S. to be aligned with the British club.

What that means for New England Aztec and its players is direct access to the Everton Youth Academy curriculum, a world-renown youth program that has developed the likes of England's Wayne Rooney of Manchester United and brought a total of 22 players to the English premiership in the last 16 years.

"We will be working hand in hand with the coaches from Everton," said Aztec President Mike Kersker. "Their coaches will come over to the US to train our players and coaches three times a year, and our seven senior staff members will go over to England for a week each summer to shadow their coaches.

"Being able to have direct access to these guys is also a huge asset," Kersker continued. "Tosh Farrell, who was over here for the announcement ceremony, is one of Rooney's former coaches. If I have a problem or am looking for an idea, I can give Tosh or one of the other coaches a call to ask them how they might approach that situation."

In Winterton's words, the Everton coaches are experts that have been perfecting their craft since the late 1800s.

"Everton has been around since 1878, and all they talk about in Liverpool is soccer," Winterton said. "We think we have some good ideas at New England Aztec, but now we have the opportunity to use world renown ideas, methods, and techniques."

Additionally, Aztec players will have the chance to get exposure in front of some of the world's top coaches (NEA has already sent one player over to train with Everton). What that means for some of the club's top talent is a step closer to realizing the dream of playing professionally somewhere in the world.

"It is very difficult to have players actually train with the Everton side, but if we can send one or two players over there a year to get a look that would be outstanding," Kersker stated. "As far as our youth teams go, hopefully in the not-too-distant future we will begin sending our U-10 sides over to play against the Everton U-10 sides, which should be really exciting for all involved."

Building one of the top-notch clubs on the North Shore, Kersker believes his organization has been able to attract more of the top coaches in Massachusetts.

"From the players to the coaches, we are all life-long learners trying to pick up new tidbits of information everyday," Kersker said. "Now we are learning from some of the best in the world — if not the best — and we feel like we have an advantage over other teams, not just in New England but the entire country."