Beestera Soccer Training began in Albany, New York, originally as Beeston Soccer Training, LLC created by James Beeston. Fresh out of Siena College and connected within the local soccer community, James saw a growing need for individual development that team settings could not always provide. His coaching experience in the UK and the US reinforced the belief that players would benefit from personalized attention, which became the driving idea behind the company.

Mike Matera joined the company and partnered with James, officially forming Beestera Soccer Training, LLC. Both shared a commitment to individual development, which shaped Beestera into a club-neutral supplemental training business built around personalized coaching. One-on-one and small group sessions quickly set Beestera apart, making it one of the first companies in the country to focus on this model. The first week-long summer camp followed soon after in Latham, New York with twelve players in attendance.

James left the company to pursue a master’s degree and serve as the assistant coach at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. He was replaced as an owner by Matt Needham, a former Siena teammate of both James and Mike, who brought his own portfolio of supplemental training clients. This addition strengthened the coaching team and supported the launch of Beestera’s club development service, with Brunswick Soccer Club becoming the first partner organization.

Beestera continued to build a growing base of committed private training clients who trained weekly through personalized one-on-one sessions. Camp programming expanded as well, featuring three week-long summer camps and the first two-day elite clinic, each averaging around twenty registrations. These early programs helped establish Beestera as a leader in individualized player development throughout the Capital Region.

Beestera continued to grow throughout the Capital Region with a steady increase in private training clients and expanded on-field operations. The coaching team strengthened its reputation for delivering individualized development, and the weekly training model became a consistent part of many players’ routines. Club development gained traction with additional youth organizations seeking support for curriculum design, coach education, and supplemental training.

Summer programming also evolved, with more week-long camps added to meet rising demand. The quality of the training environment, supported by a growing word-of-mouth presence, helped Beestera establish itself as the leading supplemental training provider in the region. Business foundations continued to solidify, and Beestera became an official partner of equipment provider SKLZ, marking another step in the company’s rising profile.

The company experienced continued growth in both supplemental training and summer camps, marked by the return of James Beeston as the first full-time employee. James took the lead on supplemental sessions and marketing, helping expand Beestera’s reach and refine its coaching approach. Rising demand for private training soon allowed Matt Needham to transition into a full-time role as well, where he oversaw finance and HR and supported day-to-day operations. This year represented a major shift toward a more structured and sustainable business model, with full-time leadership in place for the first time.

The year began with Beestera becoming an official youth partner of New York City Football Club, a milestone that elevated the company’s profile within the regional soccer community. Josh Binfield joined the staff on a part-time basis, strengthening operations and supporting growth in the club development sector. With Josh’s addition, new partnerships were formed with Averill Park SC, Rip Van Winkle SC, Rotterdam United SC, and Niskayuna SC.

Mike Matera stepped into the role of Camp Director, expanding summer camp operations to eight weeks and averaging fifty players at each location. Beestera also broadened its offerings with the creation of Beestera Goalkeeping, led by Ryan Brooks-Newton, establishing a dedicated pathway for goalkeeper development. This year marked a significant expansion across camps, club development, and specialized training.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, 2020 became a year of opportunity and innovation. When in-person operations paused in March due to the lockdown, Beestera introduced an interactive online training program to keep players engaged and progressing from home. By June, in-person training resumed, and the company went on to deliver its most successful summer to date, with more than 900 camp registrations across ten weeks and multiple locations.

This year also marked the creation of Beestera Sports, a company dedicated to individual and small group training across multiple sports, with Beestera Football becoming the second sport added. James Beeston contributed to Doug Lemov’s book “The Coaches Guide to Teaching,” and Beestera sessions were recorded as educational material for U.S. Soccer, highlighting the company’s growing influence in the coaching community.

Beestera continued its expansion across the Capital Region with the addition of Latham Saints and FC Dutchmen to its club development partnerships. Summer camps grew into four new locations and introduced multiple camps running in the same week, including the largest camp in company history with 260 players at Afrims Sports Park in Albany, New York.

The supplemental training staff expanded significantly, adding Leigh Howard (former UAlbany Women’s Head Coach), Graciano Brito (Siena College Men’s Head Coach), Allison Clark, Carlos Menjivar, Kurtis Smith, and Brendan Griffiths. The popular “Breakfast Club,” a morning training program led by Matt Needham, was also launched during the summer months and quickly became a staple offering.

The Beestera Foundation was announced in 2021 under the leadership of Josh Binfield. The new philanthropic initiative was created to improve the quality and accessibility of youth soccer throughout the Capital Region, marking an important step in Beestera’s commitment to community impact.

Beestera expanded its club development impact with Fifty FC, Albany SC, and North Star Premier joining as partner organizations. Coaching education grew as well, with Kurtis Smith leading seminars for volunteer and club coaches across the region. This year also marked the creation of Beestera Futsal, led by Coach Carlos Menjivar. Training continued through the winter months, and Coach Carlos and Coach Mike brought a team to Atlantic City to represent Beestera at the US Futsal Northeast Regional Championship.

Day camps expanded into new communities with Ballston Spa, Saratoga Springs, and Stillwater hosting camps for the first time. Beestera also launched its first Residential Camps at Golden Goal Sports Park in Fort Ann, New York and at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, introducing a new level of immersive player development.

The Beestera Foundation hosted its first annual Beestera Open golf event, raising funds to provide opportunities for underserved children in the Capital District and beyond. Coach Tucker Stern joined the staff on a part-time basis, adding depth to the coaching team and contributing to continued program growth.

The year began with the announcement of Beestera’s largest summer camp schedule to date, featuring ten weeks of day camps across fifteen Capital Region locations. New sites included Glenville, East Greenbush, and Bethlehem, reflecting the continued growth of Beestera’s presence in local communities. Residential Camps also expanded into new states, adding Connecticut at the Pomfret School, New Jersey at The Lawrenceville School, and a second Massachusetts location at Curry College, alongside Mount Holyoke and Golden Goal in New York.

Tucker Stern transitioned into a full-time role, strengthening both futsal and on-field programming. Beestera also relocated to a dedicated office on Wolf Road, creating a centralized workspace for operations, planning, and team collaboration. Layne Brougher joined the organization as a videographer, significantly enhancing Beestera’s ability to capture, produce, and share high-quality content across all platforms.

Beestera achieved several significant milestones throughout the year. The company was recognized nationally with the number one Nike Soccer Camp award in the United States, and Camp Director Mike Matera was honored as the top-voted director, reflecting the outstanding quality and leadership of Beestera’s summer programming. Josh Binfield joined the staff in a full-time capacity as Assistant Camp Director, supporting the continued growth of camp operations and player experience.

The Beestera Foundation established its first official board, consisting of Madeline Hammer, Dan Josepher, Ryan Wilkinson, Luke Nathan, Matt Needham, and James Beeston. Alongside Josh Binfield and Mike Matera, the board advanced the Foundation mission of giving back to underserved communities through expanded programming and outreach.

The futsal program continued its rapid growth, reaching ninety-five players and sending teams to national-level tournaments. Club development operations also expanded to new regions, with New Paltz Soccer Club joining as the newest partner.

Beestera reached another major milestone year. A full company rebrand introduced the new bee and hive identity, reinforcing the message of building strong individuals within a supportive collective. The rebrand captured the core values of community, hard work, and personal growth, and created a unified message across all programs.

Camps saw significant growth, serving more than 3,500 players across ten states, including several new states added for the first time. Staff also expanded with the additions of Dylan Stephens and Antoni Wroblewski, two UK interns who supported coaching and operations throughout the year. In the futsal program, Beestera hosted its first-ever futsal tournament in Clifton Park, laying the foundation for a larger competitive futsal presence in the years ahead.

Training Memberships were introduced to in-person clients, creating a new pathway for consistent, year-round development while setting the stage for the upcoming Beestera App. The Beestera YouTube channel went live and quickly gained momentum, expanding the reach of Beestera coaching and THRIVE values.

Organizational depth increased with key additions to the team, including Jarron Frangie as Brand Strategist and Michael Coupe as a consultant supporting sales, marketing, and strategic planning. Core coaching programs in private training, futsal, club development, and goalkeeping continued to strengthen in preparation for future growth.

The Beestera Foundation raised a little over ten thousand dollars through the Cornhole Tournament and Mission Mile Impossible challenge. Part of these funds supported a fully funded summer soccer program with Athletic Haven, which reached its highest participation to date, and additional support included gear donations for a Special Olympics New York team in Plattsburgh. These efforts continued to advance the Foundation mission of creating access, opportunity, and meaningful community support for young athletes.