Organized soccer within the City of Yorkton goes back many years, says community coach Chad Grodzinski.
It started with the Yorkton Soccer Association (YSA).
He said it was in place as a community-based program to promote the youth game through house league games.
Going back to the late 1990s, he says, club teams began to emerge, such as the likes of the Yorkton Manchesters, Yorkton Liverpool, Yorkton Mutiny, and Yorkton Santos.
"At the club level, players were offered a program focused on skill development as well as game competition versus other club teams throughout the province," states Grodzinski.
Back in 2001, the club soccer teams went on to form the Yorkton United Football Club (YUFC).
According to Grodzinski, this allowed the club to grow and continue to develop soccer within the community of Yorkton as joint effort.
Over a time frame of about 10 years, the YUFC has made a name for themselves as one of the top clubs throughout the province.
"They have enjoyed success at tournaments in cities like Swift Current, Estevan, Regina and Saskatoon at various age levels.
A number of the YUFC teams have been able to capture gold at the provincial level most recently the U18 Dynamo captured the Division-II provincial title this past summer season," Grodzinski explains via an emailed letter to Yorkton This Week.
In back-to-back seasons, the men's team of Yorkton United won the right to represent Saskatchewan at the national level (2007 and 2008).
Also many of the club's players have gone on to play soccer at the university level, notes Grodzinski.
In recent months there have been some exciting announcements in the soccer community. The City of Yorkton has announced that they are going ahead with plans to build six new multi-use fields in the Logan Green area on the south end of the city.
The most recent news of course comes 10 years after the club was formed they are happy to announce that Yorkton United FC and the Yorkton Soccer Association have joined together under the Yorkton United FC banner to offer players of all skill and commitment levels from the age four years old to adult a chance to play and learn the game of soccer.
The YUFC are now making plans for the upcoming indoor soccer season by offering their YUFC Grassroots and YUFC Grassroots Future Stars programs at the U6 and U8 level as well as their YUFC Community and YUFC Stars programs for players U10 right up to adults.
"This new program is open to both male and female players of all skill levels in a fun learning environment," insists Grodzinski.
Registration for entry into the newly-formed YUFC can be made at the Canada Soccer Shop located at 23 Broadway St. E, says Grodzinski. Also, on-line registrations will be available in September at www.yorktonunitedfc.ca.
