The St. Albert Soccer Association is a step closer to building its Field of Dreams.
St. Albert MLA Marie Renaud presented SASA officials with a $125,000 Community Facility Enhancement Program grant to help the association complete a detailed business case and begin the next stage of its Field of Dreams project.
SASA started the Field of Dreams initiative four years ago in response to a critical shortage of indoor turf space in the region. The issue resulted in a number of SASA programs now capped, practices cut back and teams’ U14 and older now playing home and away matches in Edmonton and other cities. This past season, SASA teams drove to Red Deer to play against other Edmonton teams as Edmonton was also short of indoor turf space. SASA believes having the proper amenities in place will not only help soccer but will benefit the entire region.
Land has been identified and SASA has been working with the City of Edmonton, City of St. Albert and many regional sport groups outside of soccer to ensure the Field of Dreams concept is regionally viable and has the support of both cities. SASA has also provided detailed plans to representatives of the provincial and federal governments.
The building will feature a regulation-sized soccer pitch, which can be divided into smaller fields for mini-soccer and other programs, two full-sized gym courts, 12 dressing rooms, food and beverage services, an office, storage space, retail rentals, including sport therapy and fitness, a community boardroom, formal press areas, spectator seating, ample parking and eventually the addition of four to six outdoor turf fields.
Alberta is also the only province without access to an indoor FIFA regulation-sized soccer field.
Will Backhouse’s first goal of the season was the winner for the St. Albert Rangers in Monday’s division 1A match.
A great play by Jon Mark along the touchline set-up Backhouse’s score in the 1-0 result against the Edmonton Warriors (1-2) at Riel Park.
Last year Backhouse scored a team-high six goals for the St. Albert Impact division 1B squad.
The last home match for the Rangers (2-1) in the Edmonton District Soccer Association fixtures is Monday against Red Hill FC (0-3) at 7 p.m.
Eight of the remaining 10 matches for the Rangers will be played at the ESA Complex.
The St. Albert Impact men’s team in the Tier 4 division fixtures is undefeated in its season debut in the Edmonton District Soccer Association.
Abdi Ismael, Gheorghe Ruicea and Scott Robson scored in Tuesday’s 3-0 decision against the Comets (0-1) at Riel Park.
The Impact were coming off a 4-1 win over ES Sporting (0-1) in St. Albert to kick-off league play. Ismael, Ruicea, Robson and Jacob Toop filled the net.
The Impact lineup consists of 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds from the St. Albert Soccer Association’s youth program.
The Virk division is one of eight in Tier 4.
The Impact’s next match is Tuesday against the Dreadnoughts (0-1) at 6:30 p.m. at Queen Elizabeth High School.
The St. Albert Impact premier women hosts Hearts United at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Riel Park.
The Impact are 2-1 and United is 0-3 in the Edmonton District Soccer Association.
The Impact’s first loss of the season was 3-1 against Northwest United, winners of three in a row. It was scoreless at halftime.
Turnovers proved costly for the Impact in their Riel Park lid-lifter. It was 3-0 before Mikaela Donnelly scored her second goal in two matches.
The St. Albert Impact division 1B women dropped a 2-1 decision to ASC United in Wednesday’s home opener in the Edmonton District Soccer Association.
Anne Perrault scored against United (1-0-2) at Riel Park.
The Impact (1-1-1) plays Wind/Heat (0-2-1) Wednesday at 7 p.m. in St. Albert.
The St. Albert Impact division 1B men lost their season opener Wednesday in the Edmonton District Soccer Association.
Jake McGlame’s penalty kick was the only Impact goal in the 5-1 setback against Futballers FC at George Luck Field.
The Impact are back on the pitch Wednesday versus AC Milan at 7 p.m. at Riel Park.
