Cook at Homewood Farmers Market on Saturday,
July 18, to promote the club’s fall season.
(Photo by Eric Crump/HF Chronicle)
As HF Soccer Club heads into the second season of its 41st year, popularity of the sport continues to rise, according to club officials.
Club President Cyrus Elion and longtime club official Ray Cook were at the Homewood Farmers Market on Saturday, July 18, to spread the word about registration for the fall season.
Elion said the spring season saw a big boost in participation, with an increase of more than 100 players. Cook said the fall season could see more gains, with as many as 800 players hitting the local soccer fields each Saturday during the fall season.
Part of the increase in attention is due to recent success of U.S. pro soccer teams. The U.S. women’s team claimed the World Cup earlier this month and the men’s team exceeded expectations in the 2014 men’s World Cup competition.
With four decades of providing opportunities to play soccer, the organization also has built a solid local foundation. Past players have grown up, and some have had children who play and some have joined the coaching ranks.
Walk-in registration will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 25, at Marie Irwin Center, 18120 Highland Ave. in Homewood. Registration is also available online at www.hfsoccerclub.org.
Games take place from 9 a.m. to about 1 p.m., mostly on fields at Apollo Park in Homewood.
The season will begin Saturday, Sept. 12, and will continue to the end of October. The club supports both recreational and competitive teams.
The annual Pumpkin Cup tournament will be held Oct. 3 for girls and co-ed teams and Oct. 12 for boys teams.
“We’re looking forward to another good season,” Elion said.