体坛英语新闻：Beckham soccer school closed down due to dismal economy

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A training school named after crack English soccer player David Beckham was closed shortly before Christmas without much publicity as a victim of worsening economy, it was reported Sunday.

The announcement circulated to a handful employees of the Anschutz Entertainment Group -- owner of the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Major League Soccer club Beckham plays for -- was a terse, undated and unsigned memo from company spokesperson Michael Roth, local reports said.

"The David Beckham Academy will no longer operate its Los Angeles location," the memo said. "Planning is currently underway with David and senior coaches to develop a program and coaching model that will move beyond the limits of one location and ultimately impact more children in more cities across the United States and worldwide."

The sources said the academy was a victim of the worsening economy. A handful of full-time employees were quietly laid off.

Prior to the closing of the Carson-based academy, which is about 30 km south of downtown Los Angeles, AEG and 19 Entertainment, Beckham's London-based management company, closed their London academy attributing the closure to the loss of its lease.

A five-day camp cost more than 500 dollars, and academy participants received a complete soccer outfit that featured a curriculum designed by Beckham's former youth team coach at England's famed Manchester United team.

The Academy in Los Angeles was opened in the fall of 2005.It is based at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, which is a 150 million dollars multi-sport facility built on 125 acres of land. It is also the home of two Major League Soccer (MLS) teams, The Los Angeles Galaxy and CD Chivas USA.