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Canfield Soccer Club continues to grow
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Canfield Soccer Club’s U10 girls Yosay Photography team went undefeated (10-0) during the club’s summer Recreational League in 2011. The club is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Members of the team included, front row, left to right, Bridget Fekety, Gianna Socciarelli, Sophia Forystek, Holly Eberly, Lindsay Wills and Brooke Brocker. Back row, left to right, coach Maria Householder, Alyssa Householder, Ally Stein, Lane Taylor, Nicole Joseph, Lauren Slanker, Hannah Stein, coach Gia Taylor, Kendall Bartels, Nicole Strock and coach Terry Taylor. Missing from the photo is coach Denise Joseph.
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Members of the Canfield Soccer Club Recreational League picked up some skill training from Canfield High School soccer players during the club’s annual Players Clinic held at the new Herbert Road Fields June 18, 2011. The club is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield Soccer Club celebrated 35 years of recreational soccer when registration for its summer league started March 1.
Since 1978, the Canfield Soccer Club has introduced soccer to thousands of children 5 to 15 and this year is expected to be a record-setting year.
As soccer has grown in popularity in America, so it has in Canfield.
“When the club formed, there was very limited space to practice around Canfield. The players practiced wherever they could, including backyards,” said Canfield Soccer Club President Brian Governor.
According to Governor, the club now has a variety of options for players to grow with soccer.
“We now have a full circle of recreational and competitive indoor and outdoor options,” said Governor.
The Canfield Soccer Club recreational league is the starting point for players to develop the skills necessary to move on to competitive play.
Governor came into the league in 2002 and has also served as vice president.
“Financially, the club was ‘OK’ and we were fortunate that those who came before us had a nice ‘nest egg’ put away that helped us negotiate and create the fields that are now at Herbert Road. We seem to have hit our peak in about 2004 with close to 600 players registered and playing games at the Canfield Fairgrounds. The Canfield Fair Board was very helpful to us but, unfortunately, the fields at the fairgrounds were rough at best,” Governor said.
Last season was the inaugural year of the club’s soccer fields at township park on Herbert Road and, according to Governor, they were met with great success.
“When you see 500 kids having fun and playing soccer, it makes all the hard work worth it,” said Governor.
Registration for this year’s summer league opened March 1 at the club’s web site, www.canfieldsoccerclub.org, and will continue through April 15.
A community information and optional sign-up day at will be held today at Old North Church in Canfield for those that would like meet coaches and have questions answered.