David Sykes grew up in England, where he played football at an amateur level throughout his childhood and young adulthood. In 2003 David spent six months playing and coaching in a number of African countries and developing his understanding of the game from a global perspective. After moving to New York in 2005, David began coaching with New York Scores, an inner city club working with underprivileged children from Harlem and Washington Heights. Over three years with NY Scores, David established the team as a competitive force in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League and inspired a number of players to go on to play at higher levels. In 2009 he created the Uptown Soccer Academy, an organization that teaches soccer in the Washington Heights and Inwood neighborhoods. David is licensed by the English FA, the NSCAA and the USSF.  He joined MSC in summer 2008 as the coach of the boys team Sunderland.