Dear Editor

An open letter to Union Local Superintendent Ben Porter and High School Principal Robert Mascolino,

I, like probably both you grew up without soccer and when my children began playing, fell in love with the sport. My three kids all went on to play college soccer and still play adult soccer after graduating from St. Clairsville High School.

Back in the mid-90’s OVAC Director Sam Mumley and I spearheaded an effort along with Alcwyn Elliott to start a high school program with much less than Union Local has been offered to start its program. St. CIairsville High Schools boys & girls soccer program has prospered for 20 years and had the school board not approved it, where would the over 800 kids be today having not played the sport?

The majority of them may not have chosen to play football, cross country or volleyball. You have taken a political route in saying that you are not against the program but must it come up with funding for 3 to 5 years. This is just an easy way to put up a hurdle that may be difficult to overcome while making some happy on both sides that you are not against it and also not endorsing it.

As President of the St. Clairsville Area Soccer Association for over 16 years, our association has seen at least 3 attempts to have a Soccer Program at Union Local and at least 2 at Barnesville.

In 2015 it may be time to make it a reality. There have been a large number of kids from Union Local, Martins Ferry, Shadyside and even some from Barnesville participating in our recreational programs.

Our name is a misnomer because we are open to all kids in Belmont County and beyond. I hope you will work with those trying to start a program there and offer them more than just hope. As an association we still do what can to provide assistance.

The Capstone Complex is a very nice soccer facility and we will continue to improve the program to provide soccer training to all in the Valley.

As Sam Mumley always said “It’s for the kids.”

Let’s think about them first and find a way to make this happen.

On Behalf of the St. Clairsville Area Soccer Association,

President David B. Hahn