FC Stars of Massachusetts
Overview
FC Stars of Massachusetts is a founding member of both ECNL Girls (2009) and ECNL Boys (2017-18), establishing it as one of the premier ECNL clubs nationally and the top girls soccer brand in New England. HQ in Lancaster, MA, with satellite programs across Central and Eastern MA and into NH.
Legal entity: F C Stars Inc, 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Founded: before 2009 (pre-ECNL). 23 state cup titles over its peak decade.
Financials
- Revenue: ~$9.9M (MEDIUM — extracted from GuideStar/master list, EIN 20-2870646; direct 990 download needed to confirm)
- Expenses: ~$7.1M
- Net margin: ~$2.8M positive
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit — same structural considerations as NEFC for any ownership transition
Confidence: MEDIUM. Revenue order of magnitude validated but year-specific figure requires direct 990 verification.
Teams & Players
200+ teams (stated 2023-24). Programs span U9–U19, boys and girls. Regional expansion: Western MA (2010), NH / Southern MA (2013).
League Affiliations
- ECNL Girls — Founding member (2009); one of the longest-tenured ECNL clubs nationally
- ECNL Boys — Founding member (2017-18)
- ECNL Regional League — Girls and boys developmental tiers
- NECSL, RAL, NSL, NEP, New England Premiership
Facilities
- FC Stars Complex — Lancaster, MA (Lunenburg Rd); primary ECNL training/game facility. FC Stars-owned.
- Progin Park — Lancaster area; secondary venue.
Owned facility is a key asset — rare among MA youth clubs and creates acquisition value.
Leadership
| Name | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Dewhurst | Director of Coaching | ECNL Board of Directors member; former U.S. Soccer girls youth national team assistant coach and scout |
College Placement
Consistently strong D1 placement. FC Stars College Showcase is a major annual recruiting event. Dewhurst’s national coaching background and ECNL Board seat ensure direct relationships with college programs.
Competitive Position
FC Stars is the preeminent girls ECNL brand in New England. As an ECNL founding member with dual (Boys + Girls) franchise, it holds geographic protections for the ECNL pathway in MA. National competitive record includes 23 state cups and the 2005 U19 Girls USYSA National Championship.
Revenue ($9.9M) makes it the #2 MA club by size behind NEFC ($13.7M) but well ahead of Boston Bolts and the rest.
Industry Context
FC Stars holds two of the scarcest assets in New England youth soccer: founding ECNL franchise rights for both genders (supply-constrained; cannot be replicated) and an owned field complex in Lancaster. The combination of Boys and Girls ECNL franchise, $9.9M revenue, and Jason Dewhurst’s seat on the ECNL Board of Directors makes FC Stars structurally significant beyond its individual club scale.
FC Stars and NEFC together hold the ECNL pathway for Massachusetts’ elite girls soccer — two founding member clubs covering overlapping but distinct geographic sub-markets. This dual-club dynamic shapes how the MA girls pathway is contested at the national tier.
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure means any ownership transition involves asset-transfer rules rather than a conventional equity transaction. Dewhurst’s long tenure (15+ years as Director of Coaching) represents both institutional knowledge and succession risk.
Open Questions
- Direct 990 download needed to confirm revenue year and detailed financials (EIN 20-2870646)
- Is Jason Dewhurst also a Board member of the nonprofit entity?
- ECNL Board seat: does it transfer with leadership or with organizational membership?
- Any ownership or governance structure that would simplify acquisition (e.g., if a management company exists)?
- Boys ECNL standing: still founding member tier or have they been reclassified?