SSA to hold parade of athletes, 40th anniversary at Sportsplex
For Starkville Daily News
Starkville Soccer Association and Impact Football Club celebrate 40 years of soccer this Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a parade of athletes at the Sportsplex on Lynn Lane followed by league games.
The parade and a brief recognition program will be followed by activities for the children including free popcorn, t-shirts, carnival games and soccer games involving the athletes.
SSA president Chris Driskill said that in addition to moms and dads, grandparents, extended family, and the public are welcome to enjoy the activities from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Team parent Trina Pollan said that SSA 40th Anniversary t-shirts will be provided to children free while supplies last.
Registrar Tina Green said parents should go to www.starkvillesoccer.com for information about TOP SOCCER registration and other updates.
SSA past president Rob Leach has reached back in the history of Starkville soccer and provided a recap. On January 28, 1977, Forrest Ponder, director, and Phil Faulkner, athletic director of the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department announced plans for a new youth sport program and that was soccer. The MSU club soccer team was slated to help instruct players. In the spring/fall of 1977, SYSO By-Laws and constitution were adopted, and associate MSU research professor Doug Minchew became the first president, serving until 1983. There were 10 teams ranging from under-8 to under-12 that began soccer began play in Starkville. On December 22, 1977, the 4-year old Mississippi Soccer Association, with president and MSU professor Frank Miller, met at MSU for the first time. Starkville Youth Soccer League officially joined the MSA youth division.
Driskill thanked all sponsors of Starkville Soccer Association and IFC, including platinum sponsors Starkville Radiology and Callaway Orthodontics. He indicated that the sponsors make it possible for the league to offer 12 weeks of recreational soccer in the fall and recreational academy in the spring and offer a limited number of scholarships.