NoCo soccer reunion: Thanksgiving day
Shannon Howard | Nov 17, 2009 | Comments 9
In the years before most of North County’s Catholic parishes were either closed or consolidated, NoCo was quite the hotbed of soccer talent. Rivalries in the CYC leagues were always fierce, and many local players (both male and female) went on to play for top clubs and college teams.
We’re all older now, but for those still brave enough to pull out their cleats, Thanksgiving day offers the perfect opportunity to battle former rivals. At 9am on November 26, players from all past and present North County parishes are invited to compete in an outdoor match pitting east versus west.
The east team, wearing red, will include players from Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Loretto, St. Aloysius, St. Angela Merici, St. Casimir, St. Catherine, St. Christopher, St. Jerome, St. Pius X, St. Sebastian, and my alma mater, Transfiguration.
The west team, wearing blue, will include players from Good Shepherd, North American Martyrs, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Mercy, Sacred Heart, St. Bartholomew, St. Dismas, St. Ferdinand, Sts. John and James, St. Martin De Porres, St. Norbert, St. Sabina, and St Thomas the Apostle. (No word on where St. Ann and St. Thomas More fit in.)
The cost to play is $10, and that includes a t-shirt and beer. The game will be held at Omni Sportsplex, 4160 Industrial Drive, in (where else) St. Peters.
Filed Under: Outdoor Fun • Time Capsule
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K
Too bad they can’t find a place in North County to play. Its not like we don’t have any decent soccer fields.
Amen, Chuck. Maybe if some people who still live in North County show up, they can get the game moved back to its rightful location. Or…we host our own game!
Sts,john and james and good shepard host a game at good shepard every year at 9am. free hotdogs and beer
I agree with Chuck. As a former St. Jerome player who still plays in U-City, I know there are many, many good fields open. Believe it or not, people still live in NoCoMo.
Dan, maybe I should do a story on the current state of North County soccer? If we’ve got good fields going to waste, that’s a missed opportunity for the area. I played soccer most of my life, and I know my family spent thousands of dollars over the years in communities where I practiced or had games – especially at restaurants.
If you know of any fields I should check into, please email me: shannon at NOCOstl.com.
admin, the Dellwood Soccer Arena is still open! Ken Daniels runs the place still. 869-8686
While North County soccer may not be what it was once, there is still a lot of talent in the area. Trinity and Coach Drake (40+ years coaching!) are still producing competitive and talented teams (unfortunate loss in quarterfinals this year), after losing in the State Finals last year.
And McCluer North has seen a rejuvenation in their program of late, and they’re doing it in a neat way that not many programs in STL have been able to achieve, African-Americans in the soccer program.
The American did a story on the diversity of the team earlier this year.
http://www.stlamerican.com/articles/2009/10/29/sports/local_sports/sports02.txt
MCNorth went to the Class 3 Final four last year, and this year almost did again but lost in a tough game to SLUH in the quarters, but North finished 18-7.
I think an article on NOCO soccer would be very interesting, you might want to contact Coach Raziq at McCluer North for his views on North County soccer, diversity, and the future of the sport in North County. He seems to be doing great things at North.
Living in Seattle now but would have loved to join in on this game. As a former St Ann player I’d have had to play with the team from the west- Angela Merici was always our rival.
Huge adult soccer league here in my neck of the woods- year round outdoor (yes, even in the rain). Will look you guys up when I return to the midwest.
How was the turn out? Next time, how about using the Trinity field? I bet they would let you use it if you also presented it as a type of “fundraiser” for Trinity, since many North County CYC students attended: Mercy, St. Thomas Aquinas, Rosary, St. Thomas-Aquinas-Mercy and now Trinity. It seems a perfect fit to me!