The South Hillsborough Soccer League (SHSL) Celtic Football Club has a lot to be grateful for and was pleased to announce the opening of Summerfield Soccer Park, a new state-of-the-art, seven-field, multi-million dollar soccer facility.
“We have simply outgrown our present location,” said league member Jim De Luca as he talked about the old location where the league has been playing since 1979.
SHSL is a non-profit organization that offers programs for children between ages 4-18 as well as a number of soccer clinics for adults. The league has been playing at Vance Vogel Field on Bullfrog Creek Rd. in Riverview and has been catering its clinics to those with experience as well as to those who are brand new to the sport.
The new Summerfield Soccer Park is a $3 million (soccer-only) facility located at 11942 Big Bend Rd. just west of the Summerfield Elementary School. The playing surface (made totally of Bermuda grass) is only one of the many new additions. The facility also features a new concession stand with all new equipment, and a new and healthier menu. All the lights inside the complex are on automatic timers to allow evening play while preserving the tranquility of the existing homes in the neighborhood. The SHSL had approximately 650 players register last fall and over 300 this spring. The organization hopes to retain the Vance Vogel fields for practice, expansion and for tournament play.
“Tournaments are a great source of bringing players from out-of-state to the area, providing an economic boom to South Hillsborough hotels and restaurants,” De Luca said.
Tryouts for the upcoming competitive season began on May 27, with registration for its recreational program being held in August. Soccer academy will also be held to get kids ready for the competive teams.
“We are still in need for a service vehicle or two and we are looking for sponsors, with the largest sponsor to donate at least one scoreboard,” De Luca said.
With the addition of the new Summerfield Soccer Park, SHSL plans to become one of the best youth soccer associations in Florida.
For more information, please visit www.shslsoccer.com.
