Ranch Field to have official opening

Times Reporter  

 

Though it has been in use for the start of this season, Strathmore Minor Soccer Federation (SMSF) will host a mini tournament with surrounding town teams on June 15 at the new Ranch Field behind Wal-Mart. 

“It’s worked out very well,” said President of SMSF Mark Shorhen. “We’ve had good responses from other teams.”

The field was built with the help of the Government of Alberta Initiative, which provided a grant of over $100,000, covering roughly a third of the cost. The basics of the area were finished last year, with posts and irrigation systems being implemented last month.

Teams will still have use of the field off of Park Lane Drive, but the new area will be used by the Grassroots House-league players (U4, U6, U8) from May to June, and the competitive teams (U10, U12, U14, U16) from April to July. This is the first year the Strathmore Spurs have had a U10 girls team, and numbers are continuing to grow for the league overall.

“We were kind of caught off guard with the excess numbers,” Shorhen said, who’s managed the league for seven years. “We started out small, and then it ended up getting a lot more, filled up all the teams to the max as well. We took registration up until we ran out of jerseys this year, and we ended up having to still having to turn people down.”

The club, which began in 1998, has roughly 400 players involved this season; Strathmore Veterinary Clinic has sponsored everyone’s jerseys. 

Shorhen also encourages adults to attend drop-in sessions on Friday evenings, which will begin May 31 at the new Ranch Field.