2006 (19U) State Premiership I – Week 1

The first Premiership Game of the Week for the Spring 2025 season will feature a thrilling match-up between neighboring towns: the newly promoted Palatine Celtic SC, champions of the Spring 2024 18U Premiership II division, and Arlington Aces, the reigning Spring 2024 Premiership I champions. Palatine Celtic ended their season with an impressive record of five wins, three draws, and no losses to claim the title. Arlington Aces, won five games and lost three in their route to the top. While their season wasn’t undefeated, they delivered an impressive performance, scoring 21 goals while conceding only nine in their eight games.

Palatine will host, carrying great momentum after an astonishing 8-0 win against FC United Pre-Academy. A statement win that displayed why they were Premiership II champions and were deserving of the promotion. Magdiel Magdaleno, who netted a hat trick in that match, will be a player to watch. A commanding victory like that, especially against a strong opponent, is sure to give Palatine Celtic the confidence they need heading into a game against the Premiership I champions.

The Arlington Aces will enter the match with confidence of their own. They kept a clean sheet in four out of their eight games last season and will surely feel their defense can matchup well against Palatine’s high-flying attack. Defeating the Arlington Aces won’t be an easy task, and there’s no doubt they’ll be eager to start the Spring 2025 season as they ended the last—on top.

A Conversation with the Coaches

The 2006 (19U) Boys State Premiership I division is a competitive one, and this game will feature familiar faces. Coaches Gabe Garcia of Arlington Aces and Andy McDermott of Palatine Celtic know each other well from their work together at Intentional Sports, where they help provide athletic opportunities for kids on the West Side of Chicago who might otherwise not have access to sports. Both coaches spoke highly of each other, and their mutual respect adds an extra layer to this already thrilling match-up between the Premiership I and II champions.

“Coach Gabe is a good friend and a great coach,” said Andy, praising his upcoming rival. “What he and his group of boys have accomplished is fantastic and a great success story for community clubs like Aces and Celtic. I love seeing long-term development at the community level. When players reach older age groups like these two teams, it’s rewarding to see them succeed against big clubs in Chicagoland and at tournaments around the country. This is a great match-up between two teams that have worked really hard.”

Gabe returned the compliment, stating, “Palatine is a great team…I know Andy has a wealth of experience, and Palatine plays proper football. It’s important for us to compete and win against a team that is on the rise.”

Both coaches were asked about their excitement for the upcoming season and what a successful start would look like. Coach Gabe explained, “The boys get to showcase all the work they’ve put in throughout the year…starting off with a win is important, especially against a tough side like Palatine Celtic. For these boys, this is the last ride—the core of this group has been together since 2013. They want to win trophies, and we know every game is difficult. With a good performance, we can take home three points and build confidence and momentum for what promises to be a demanding spring season.” He concluded stating, “What excites me about this group is their ability to overcome adversity. With school, family, work, and life always getting in the way, I’m proud of how far these boys have come. They’ve reached a great level of tactical maturity. They can play multiple positions, adapt, and work for each other. Now, we just need to defend our league title and aim for a cup title as well.”

Coach Andy echoed similar sentiments: “It’s been a lot of fun working with this group already. They started in November and really grinded this winter in the turf, futsal, and speed/strength work at the gym. I’m proud of the way they have bought in…the talent and the desire is there. If they stay after it, the ceiling is high with this group – it will be a fun ride.”

When

The Spring 2025 Premiership Game of the Week is shaping up to be a thrilling contest. The action takes place on Friday, April 4th, at 5:30 p.m., when Arlington Aces visit Palatine Celtic SC for what promises to be an unforgettable clash.