History Presentation http://eteamz.com/stcareasoccerassoc
As an outgrowth of the St. Clairsville recreation department summer program, petitions were signed by almost 300 people to start a high school program. A club program was started in the fall of 1994 with Mr. McCall and Mr. Stewart (high school teachers) who agreed to be advisors. I n the spring of 1995 St. Clairsville High School agreed to a high school boy’s team with Mr. Alcwyn Elliott and Mr. David Hahn hired as coach and assistant. A group of interested citizens met on 11/15/95 to discuss the formation of an organization to support soccer development in the area. This had followed a successful Fall Season with U-12 and U-14 teams organized by a group of citizens. Starting with the 1993 and a full year in 1994 this interested group of citizens had organized U-12 and U-14 teams to play with Wheeling and other area teams.
As a result of this first formal meeting to discuss the status of soccer in our area, it was decided to explore opportunities to develop an organization to support soccer. Impetus to form the organization increased as conflicts over use of community facilities left those interested to plead for use of empty open areas. The facilities used at that time to the current were owned by other entities whose generosity allowed the sport to grow. In short, it was realized that safe properly landscaped fields were not available within the community.
In the fall of 1996, drafts of an organization structure were circulated. At that time we had about 76 youngsters participating on organized soccer teams. At the January 29, 1997 meeting John Tomlin reviewed the draft bylaws. Initial volunteers for the trustee organization were: Rick Ferrell, Denny O’Donnell, Ned Neuenschwander, Chuck George, Dave Hahn and Matt Norman. It was agreed that John Tomlin would also be an initial trustee for organization purposes and that Alcwyn Elliott would be added. Membership was to be $1 for the person making the contribution. At this same meeting it was decided that flags, goalie uniforms and long-term alternate fields were immediate needs. At that time we also began working with the Belmont County Fair Board to use their parking and fairgrounds area for fields.
At the February 27, 1997 meeting the bylaws were again read and the bylaws approved. Trustees and officers were elected with Alcwyn Elliott added as a trustee. Officers were Dave Hahn President, Chuck George Vice President, Alcwyn Elliott Secretary, and Rick Ferrell as Treasurer. The organization decided to utilize the United States Youth Soccer Association North as its umbrella organization, which would provide guidance, liability insurance, along with other resources and training. Denny O’Donnell volunteered as our first registrar with Cathy Vaughn later becoming our first official registrar. A Steak Fry was planned for May of that year to support the equipment needs and begin a fund for field development. 2009 will mark the 13th annual Soccer Association Steak Fry.
Others who have since been elected and served as trustees are: Vickie Vensel, Tom Bonnette, Shelley Bartsch, Tim Starks, Jack Groves, Paul Ruge and Greta Prosser being added. Registrars have been, Denny O’Donnell, Cathy Hinckley Vaughn, Tom Bonnette, Greta Prosser. Jacki Kennan is the current Registrar. Trustees in 2009 are Rick Ferrell, Dave Hahn, Greg Ray, Joe Kubik, Dave Castle, Dave Lewis and Ernie Banks.
Through the years soccer equipment has been purchased by the association through the fund raisers. Three full size goals were manufactured or purchased including the one for the High School teams. Currently the organization has regulation under 10 goals, under 8/6 . Uniforms, corner flags, balls and training materials/practice materials have been added. We have assisted persons with formal referee and coaches training and have even sponsored some training on field training and soccer camps. We have assisted with the indoor program St. Clairsville Recreation Center holds which provides about 115 youth some soccer experience.. Occasionally we have been approached to help organize areas close to Belmont County and have begun recreation participation in regional tournaments for our U-12 and U-14 teams.
Two things important to the development of soccer occurred in 1999. The St. Clairsville High School agreed to a girl’s high school team and field development began to get serious. Bill Hilton was the first girl’s coach ,next Kevin Marsh with Beth Hahn as assistant and now Joe Kubik and Scott Dutton. On January 26 of 1999 a committee was established to look at potential field development. Each year the committee got more active and in November of 1999 began actively contacting and visiting sites. The subcommittee of Chuck George, Tom Bonnette and Cliff Schroeder were the active individuals on this committee. Later in the fall of 2001 Greg Ray and Rick Ferrell were added with Cliff Schroeder leaving the area. The committee initiated a public information piece in the paper that attracted some attention from several property owners. Each opportunity was explored in the spring of 2002. John Dutton with Capstone Properties began contact with the committee and board in the spring of 2002 and in the fall of 2002 Capstone Properties deeded 23.8 acres at the intersection of County Roads 80 and 82 to the Soccer Association.
On February 20, 2003 the St. Clairsville Area Soccer Association proudly announced the ground breaking of the new soccer complex. To be formally known as the Capstone Soccer Complex this facility when completed will have a lighted field, concession, covered eating areas, walking trail and in complex watering system for the fields along with bleacher seating. Initially the Capstone Properties will provide rough and fine grading of the area with over 90,000 cubic yards of dirt being moved.
Participation
In the early years of summer soccer through the City Recreation Department there were about 100 to 130 children involved. There was about another 150 involved in the Recreation Center indoor program run by Alcwyn Elliott and Senier Callis. These numbers were steady for about 10 years prior to the community development through the association. Most recently there were 248 youth and 34 coaches involved in the fall and spring with another 12 persons involved as referees. The indoor program has 115 youth involved and there is another 50 in the high school boys and girls teams. For the past 7 years there has been an adult team from St. Clairsville playing in the area adult league in Wheeling. Starting in 2007 a 4 v 4 tournament has drawn 180 youth from Zanesville , Wheeling, Steubenville, Weirton, Sistersville and Barnsville to the complex. With adults and referees the Capstone Soccer Complex has about 700 persons for the two day event which is being expanded this year.
Participation Numbers
As a break down of the actual number of players involved and the progression to the current day the following numbers are presented:
Youth Youth Youth/ High/ Youth/ Adult/ Referees/
Summer Spring Fall School Indoor Players Tournament Coaches
1993 100-130 0 0 0 120 0 0 2
1998 0 90 94 44 120 0 0 6
1999 0 150 210 65 120 0 0 12
2000 0 212 215 63 120 13 0 12
2001 0 216 228 62 120 14 0 13
2002 0 229 214 61 120 15 0 15
2003 50 220 220 59 115 19 0 19
2004 52 215 225 57 115 20 0 19
2005 44 220 222 54 115 18 0 21
2006 42 220 215 53 115 15 0 22
2007 41 210 216 52 115 14 170 24
2008 43 212 213 55 115 13 180 25
FutureWe anticipate that by 2010 we will further expand the 4 v 4 tournament to include high school youth and more select recreation teams will try to compete. We are again seeing more of our youth choosing to consider club play. We may see more adult teams playing during the summer with the additional fields and more graduates of the total program. There could also be a college program in Belmont County with at least one more high school team in the county by that time. We also anticipate that as we continue to host tournaments at our facilities we will see more interest in higher levels of soccer play.
Numbers prior to 1994 were 262 combined in each of the programs (recognizing that some players are playing both summer and indoor). In 2009 the number of youth and adults in the programs is anticipated to reach 850 (recognizing that some players play in more than one program). Conservatively with parents, grandparents and friends there will be another 3000 individuals visiting the soccer sites. Further growth in the use of the site will start as the young players are brought to the site and the shelter rental becomes steady. Field 2 should be ready for play in the Fall of 2009 and Field 3 should be ready by Spring of 2010.
Goals/ Activity
The goals of the organization have been to promote and financially support the development of soccer in the Belmont County area. The fund raising activities have been utilized to support each phase of the development. Phase I was the completion of the Field 1 , Phase II is the completion of the shelter, which includes barbecue pit, fireplace and landscaping. Phase III was begun in the Fall of 2007 with a grant from Capstone Holding to cover the rough and fine grading for Field 2 and Field 3 plus grading for a new parking area. The Soccer Assoc is responsible for finishing the drainage system, seeding of fields, and completion of the new parking area along with equipment to support the maintenance. In kind gifts in addition to the Capstone Holding Co. grant total more than $35,000 for Phase III. Funds to complete this project are still being sought. It is planned to be completed with Soccer Assoc. internal fund raising and matching funds. The final Phase IV includes the completion of a one mile walking trail, and final landscaping of the entire project and hooking into future county water and sewage The Soccer Association for its part has initiated three major fund raisers: a steak fry, a tournament and a pancake breakfast. We have had tag days and raffles to supplement the fund raising. Advertising on bang boards will be used to fund ongoing operations along with the shelter use in the future. The Soccer Association Board has worked with area organizations to establish corporate, individual and grants. We wish to thank all those who have made this project a success.
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History