A Brief History of the
Aberdeen Soccer Association
The Aberdeen Soccer Association was founded in 1986 for the purpose of developing, governing and promoting the game of soccer in the Aberdeen area.
During its first three years, the Association sponsored only a spring season. In 1989, in conjunction with the Family Y, a spring and fall season was attempted. In 1990 the Association began its current practice of being the sole sponsor of both seasons.
Over the years, the Association has had five presidents: Bob Wilson, Tammy Dixon, Tim Wall, Larry Lovrien, and current president, Bob Schuchardt. It is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of the thirteen association officers elected at the Annual General Meeting along with the various league commissioners and administrators appointed each year. The Association was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in 1987 and is a 501(c)3 tax deductible organization.
Since it’s founding, the Association has experienced tremendous growth. In 1986 just a few hundred children played soccer in Aberdeen. By 1990 just over 1000 boys and girls played soccer. This number had increased to 2,500 by 1996. This year, 1998, almost 3,000 boys and girls played soccer in Aberdeen.
In late 1997, the Aberdeen Public and Catholic School Boards each approved soccer as a high school letter sport. The varsity soccer program, in its first year, has enjoyed great success giving high school students an additional opportunity to participate in a team sport and earn a school letter. The varsity program is funded entirely by the Association without any cost to either school system.
In the spring of 1991, the Association held its first city tournament. This tournament is now a popular feature of each spring and fall season. All players, under 10 and older, are eligible to participate in the city tournament at no additional cost to the player.
Early in its existence, the Association began its efforts to build a permanent soccer complex in Aberdeen. With the dedication of the Moccasin Creek Soccer Complex in the Fall of 1992, that dream was realized. The construction of a parking lot, rest rooms and a concession stand were completed in 1996.
With the growth of soccer in Aberdeen, however, the complex is already too small, It was fully scheduled by the spring of 1993. By 1996 almost half of all games had to be played at locations other than the complex. The Association, in partnership with the City of Aberdeen, is in the process of raising $400,000 to develop additional fields adjacent to the present complex. Construction of these additional fields was completed in Fall 2000.
The Association moved into its first office in January, 1996 and quickly out grew this space. The Association moved into a larger suite of offices in 1997, and again in 2000. The Association computerized its operations in 1996, went online in 1999, and now has a fully equipped office to conduct its various activities.
Aberdeen Soccer Association
Last Updated October, 2001