THE OAKWOOD SOCCER CLUB HAS OPENED AN OUTDOOR COMPLEX WITH TWO ARTIFICIAL TURF PITCHES INCLUDING ONE WITH LIGHTS. THE 24 ACRE SITE IS SEVEN MILES SOUTH OF THE OAKWOOD SPORTS CENTER (INDOOR FACILITY) IN GLASTONBURY. THE PARK IS LOCATED AT 521 GLASTONBURY TURNPIKE (RT 17) IN PORTLAND, CT. THE OAKWOOD SOCCER PARK IS NOW THE HOME TRAINING AND MATCH SITE FOR OAKWOOD’S 23 PREMIER TEAMS, BOY’S AND GIRL’S AGES U-8 THROUGH U-18.
THE TWO STATE-OF-THE- ART SOCCER FIELDS (111 YARDS X 71 YARDS) FEATURE THE LATEST FIELD TURF PRODUCT, IN-FILLED MONOFILAMENT ARTIFICIAL TURF. THE SAME SURFACE IS INSTALLED AT GILLETTE STADIUM IN FOXBOROUGH, MA. THE PRODUCT WILL ALLOW FOR CONSTANT PLAY 11-12 MONTHS A YEAR. OAKWOOD PLANS TO TRAIN THEIR OLDER ACADEMY TEAMS OUTDOOR AS LONG AS THE FIELDS ARE PLAYABLE OR PLOWED. IN FACT, THE CLUB ALREADY HAS 12 HOME ACADEMY GAMES SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2010.
OAKWOOD COACHING DIRECTORS RICK DERELLA & DAVE FARRELL, BOTH MEMBERS OF THE CT SOCCER HALL OF FAME, HAVE ENVISIONED THIS PROJECT FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS. THE PARK WILL ALLOW THE CLUB TO GROW WITH ADDITIONAL TEAMS, TOURNAMENTS AND SUMMER CAMPS. DIRECTOR RICK DERELLA FEELS THE COMPLEX IS THE PERFECT COMPLIMENT TO THE OAKWOOD INDOOR CENTER IN GLASTONBURY. "THE OAKWOOD SOCCER PARK GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN OUTDOORS ON REGULAR BASIS, 11 MONTHS A YEAR; OUR PLAYERS WILL CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM THE EXTRA FIELD TIME", DERELLA COMMENTED. CO-DIRECTOR DAVE FARRELL ADDED, “NOW WE CAN FOCUS OUR EFFORTS IN A PLANNED MANNER WITHOUT CONFLICT OF OTHERS, IN TERMS OF SCHEDULING, IT’S A GREAT VALUE ADDED TO OUR CLUB MEMBERS". THE CLUB HAS RENTED MULTPLE TURF AND GRASS FIELDS FOR THE PAST 21 YEARS.
THE 24 ACRE SOCCER PARK HAS SPACE FOR A THIRD FIELD AND A RESTAURANT/ CLUBHOUSE AS FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS. THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR THE PROJECT, JIM GALEY, PRESIDENT OF FUSS & ONEIL DESIGN BUILD SERVICES ADDED, “THE SITE IS A PERFECT USE; ITS LOCALE IS PRIVATE AND LAYOUT ATTRACTIVE; AS SOCCER SPECIFIC VENUE IT WILL BE FULLY UTILIZED AND ENJOYED BY ALL".
FINANCING FOR THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH TD BANKNORTH. ALLISON STANDISH PLIMPTON, VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMERCIAL BANKING COMMENTED, “FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES T.D. BANKNORTH HAS PROUDLY PARTNERED WITH OAKWOOD. OUR ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN ONE OF EASE, AS BOTH ORGANIZATIONS CORE VALUES ARE CENTERED IN SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE WORK AND LIVE. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MR. DERELLA AND MR. FARRELL, OAKWOOD’S BUSINESS HAS THRIVED. THE BANK WAS PLEASED TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLUB’S NEW OUTDOOR FACILITY LOCATED IN PORTLAND. T.D. BANKNORTH WISHES OAKWOOD ALL THE BEST, AND CONGRATULATES THEM ON ANOTHER MILESTONE.”
OAKWOOD SOCCER CLUB IS A MEMBER OF THE US SOCCER DEVELOPMENTAL ACADEMY AND WILL PLAY HOME MATCHES VERSUS THE YOUTH TEAMS OF THE NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION AND DC UNITED AS WELL AS OTHER TOP CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE NORTEAST. THE CLUB IS A NON-PROFIT YOUTH ORGANIZATION DESIGNED TO DEVELOP STUDENT ATHLETES TO HIGHEST LEVEL OF SOCCER AND ACADEMIA.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS GO TO OAKWOODSOCCER.COM
