OLFC Mendo had their first tournament a couple weeks ago and we are proud to announce that they will be continuing on through the fall, thanks to the stewardship of Mendocino (CA) area ONELOVE Ambassador Jeremiah Heim and the support of the Mendo Rec Center.
OLFC Mendo Crest by JRV Design
Newspapers in Mendocino and Fort Bragg, CA ran the following article last week -
by Jeremiah Heim
This years Skunk Classic produced some pretty amazing matches and truly showed the excellence of Northern California soccer. With some great showings by our local travel teams, it was an honor to be able to participate.
As fate would have it the U-10 boys division was in need of a fill in team, this gave the opportunity to a wonderful group of boys, ages 7-9 years old, to participate in their first ever soccer tournament. Through a joint sponsorship with the CYSL, ONELOVE FC and a huge commitment of some truly dedicated soccer parents. We were able to field a squad of 14 young players, eager for their first tournament experience.
With four practice sessions as a team and having just met two weeks prior to the tournament, the boys took to the field in their first match as a group of kids all wearing the same shirt. We did score a goal in the first match on Sat., and again in the last match on Sunday. All through a gallant team effort. We also held the Sonoma team to a score less first half, which was later told to our boys by the Sonoma Coach, that no team has ever held them to a score less half in any tournament that they’ve played. By the time the final whistle blew in what was their final match of the tournament on Sunday afternoon, those same boys walked off the field as a team, who had just accomplished playing in their first tournament.
To all who were witness to the amazing unity, positivity and growth as a unit these boys showed, we all know that we were witness to the most beautiful aspect of soccer. It wasn’t about winning or losing, it was about the gallant team effort put forth by these young up and coming players. It was as much fun to watch as it was for them to play.
Our team was a last minute fill in team, the spot was given to us by the CYSL and tournament director Tess Albin-Smith, our club ONELOVE FC Mendo is a local club, based out of the Mendo Rec. Center. We are a community enrichment program, sponsored by ONELOVE FC and the Mendo Rec. Center. we have an adult co-ed program, that allows the high school age kids to train for free & we will also be sponsoring a co-ed adult team in the Coast Cup on Labor Day weekend. We’ve been teaching soccer at the Mendo Rec. Center since spring as an after school program and all thru the summer, this fall we will continue to teach out Tiny Tots soccer class which is 3-4 year olds. We are in the process of beginning our fund raising and training to take the same team to the Founders Cup in Dec.
A huge ONELOVE goes to the CYSL & Tess Albin-Smith (tournament director) for the opportunity, ONELOVE FC for the uniform sponsorship and the parents who truly made it happen for these boys but most of all a huge ONELOVE and congratulations to the members of the OLFC Mendo Striker Club, who set out into the unknown and came back as a team.
OLFC Mendo is a collaboration between ONELOVE FC & the Mendocino Rec. Center, dedicated to bringing our community together through the love of the beautiful game. All of this has been made possible thru the sponsorship of ONELOVE FC & Peg Levy Brown(director of the Mendocino Rec. Center), who has given our club a home at the Mendo Rec Center. LIVE BEAUTIFUL, PLAY BEAUTIFUL, ONELOVE.
thanks,
Jeremiah Heim
Head Coach
OLFC Mendo
