The Warren Sentinel

Article date: September 14, 2006

 Skyline Soccerplex opens with sunshine, smiles and soccer

 By: Kevin Seabrooke

 More than 200 kids, coaches, parents, family and fans gathered in the fields along Kerfoot Avenue early Saturday morning to welcome a new chapter in the sports history of Front Royal and Warren County with the official opening of the Skyline Soccerplex.

Coinciding with the opening of the fall season for the Front Royal Soccer Association, representatives from the various organizations that made the $723,000 soccerplex a reality gathered to say a few words for the opening of the four fields in phase I.

Three more fields will eventually be built as part of phase II.

“One of the biggest needs for Warren County Parks and Recreation was having an adequate and permanent facility for youth and adults to play the growing sport of soccer,” Warren County Administrator Doug Stanley said.

Stanley recognized that the concept, born in 1999, took the county, town, the Economic Development Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Soccer Association and FMC Corp. working together to get it done.

“That’s an accomplishment, especially when you look at the number of key personnel changes we’ve had over the last eight years,” Stanley said.  “Yes, it’s been a long and slow process but, as someone said to me earlier this morning, ‘if it’s worth waiting for, it’s worth waiting for.”’

Warren County Board of Supervisors chairman Richard Traczyk said “Front Royal and Warren County are changing and changing rapidly,” noting the completion of the new Bing Crosby Stadium, the North Fork Bridge, the construction of the new high schools and the three new shopping centers on U.S. 522.

“The old Avtex site will again serve this community in a positive way,” Traczyk said.  “It provided jobs for the community for many years.”

Front Royal Mayor Jim Eastham noted that area soccer teams have for years searched the county for flat places to play soccer, wandering around like vagabonds and often finding places that were not all that flat.”

“Those days are over,” Eastham said.  “If it’s a good idea, people will find a way to make it happen. The Skyline Soccerplex will be the new home of soccer in Front Royal.”

Del. Clifford “Clay” Athey remembered his days as a 10-year old living down the street on Duncan Avenue.

“This was our centerfield,” Athey said.  “Ed Stump went to Avtex and asked if the town could use this field.  This soccerplex is about progress and evolution, but mostly it’s about our children.”

Bonnie Gross of the EPA recognized the process has been long and thanked all agencies involved for their patience.

“This is the first piece [of the Avtex site] we’re seeing become a reality,” Gross said.  “It’s taken us a while, but patience pays off.”

Lyle Turybury, president of the Front Royal Soccer Association thanked all involved and gave Nick Crettier the 2006 FRSA Volunteer of the Year Award noting the Crettier was the longest serving board member and current league commissioner.

“When I first started coaching eight years ago, I heard of a dream of a soccerplex,” Turybury said, “It’s nice to know dreams come true.”

Turybury, on behalf of the FRSA, presented Traczyk with a $20,000 check made out to Warren County.

Doug Homer of the U.S. Soccer Association, which donated $100,000 to the project and FMC Corp. representative John Torrance were also on hand to kick off the first ceremonial ball.