3 weeks ago
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In a groundbreaking move, Peter Gould, owner of Mount Pleasant Football Academy, and Charlie Methven, the club’s managing director, have announced their acquisition of majority stake in RAEC Mons, a Belgian third-tier club.
In a press release yesterday, Mount Pleasant announced the acquisition ahead of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) and the Belgian Division 1 seasons.
Gould believes their acquisitions marks a major turning point in their project to become of the leading hubs for talents in the Caribbean.
He is confident this move will not only heighten the profile of Mount Pleasant, but the profile of RAEC Mons and their standing in the Belgian football pyramid.
“Becoming an owner of a historic European club is a proud day and the next step in our project to create a football powerhouse in the Caribbean,” Gould said of the acquisition.
“There is a lot of hard work ahead for our management team, but between what we have in Jamaica and what we now have in Europe I feel that the building blocks are in place to take us to the next level and beyond.”
The move reflects Gould’s efforts in developing the sport of football over the past few years, which began with his founding of Mount Pleasant, then known as ‘Stush in the Bush’ in 2016.
A beacon for football in St Ann, the club now stands as third-highest ranked Caribbean team in the Concacaf rankings, and a perennial favourite in the JPL.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Methven said the acquisition will also open the door for players in the Caribbean who are searching for a move into the European markets.
With their stake in Belgian football, Mount Pleasant will now be able to provide stable opportunities for these players to make the transition.
“This is a huge moment for Caribbean football. Until now, young players from our region have had to rely significantly on chance as to whether they get their big move to Europe,” Methven said.
“But now, when they come to Mount Pleasant, they will know that if their talent and hard work merits a contract in Europe, then that will definitely happen for them.”
The acquisition follows Mount Pleasant’s recent trend in cultivation connections in the European markets.
Last year, the club signed a partnership with English Football League (EFL) Championship club Charlton Athletic.
Their ‘Mountain to Valley Partnership’ is aimed at creating a pathway for Caribbean players to professional football in London, while Mount Pleasant would benefit from the expertise of Charlton’s academy.
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