Ottumwa Soccer Club

Walsh Soccer Complex

Phase I of the Walsh Soccer Complex project was brought to completion in November 2002, thanks to the efforts and contributions of many different organizations and individuals from our community.  The Ottumwa Soccer Club would like to recognize and say “Thank you!” to any and all who helped with the project.  The soccer complex is located at “Walsh,” behind the offices of the central administration and the Board of Education of the Ottumwa Community Schools.  The project involved the removal of concrete curbs and foundations, removal of some trees, filling ditches, leveling/grading of fields, installation of drainage, seeding, erection of lighting equipment and the acquisition of soccer goals and other materials.  There are three full-sized fields (70 x 110 yds each) and space for two smaller fields (50 x 70 yds each).  Two minor fields (50 x 82 yds each) have been set up across each of the three full-sized fields.

The soccer field project started in March of 1999 when Al-Jon Inc manufactured four pairs of steel soccer goals.  Later that same year, John Deere Ottumwa Works manufactured five pairs of steel goals and Cargill Corn Milling made a cash donation of $3000.  The National Guard of Iowa, Company B 224^th Engineering Battalion, mobilized personnel and equipment on three different weekends to remove trees, concrete curbing and do dirt work.  The United States Soccer Foundation awarded us a $40,000, which allowed us to purchase equipment and install lighting.  The City of Ottumwa provided a loader and trucks to haul dirt for one day.  Wapello County also hauled dirt for a day and contributed $1000.  The Swansons (Don and his father Charles) donated dirt that had been excavated from a pond on their property.  The Wapello Foundation granted $7000 for the purchase of four pairs of soccer goals.  Chamness Technology of Eddyville donated over 350 tons of compost for the new field.  Dave Cobler, area farmer, transported semi-permanent steel goals and drilled holes in the ground for the erection of permanent steel goals.  He has also lent his time and equipment to disc, spread fertilizer and plant grass seed.  Musco Lighting was very helpful in the lighting project.  Alliant Energy has donated materials, equipment and time to help get the lights connected to electricity.

Fox 15 KYOU TV has supported the efforts of SISA by providing free air time.  The Ottumwa Courier has printed brochures, has provided space in the newspaper and has been extremely helpful and cooperative.  Indian Hills Community College has allowed SISA to play soccer on a field at the airport since September 2000 when the National Guard started dirt work at Walsh.  Certain local businesses and individuals contributed a total of $4490 in cash to a fundraising effort conducted by SISA in February and March of 2001:  Thomas Evans, Krafka Law Office, Martindale-Hayes Appraisal, Alexander-Johnson Funeral Chapel, Noel Insurance, Ottumwa Printing, Mid-American Energy, Henderson Auto Works, Associates In Dermatology, Obstetrics & Gynecology (Dr. Haas), Orthopedics & Reconstructive Surgery (Dr. Brindley), Edward Jones (Dennis Hohn), Hy Vee North & South, Nadine Hofts, Schwartz Insurance, Ottumwa Regional Health Center, Dairy Queen, McCall Communication, Bailey Office Equipment, Hobby Chest, Phil Taylor Antiques, Bowling Motors, Brown's Kitchen, Floor to Ceiling Store, Ottumwa Chiropractic Clinic, ENT of SE IA, P.C., Heartland Eye Care (Dr. Miller-Meeks), Iowa Health Physicians (Dr. Blommer & Dr. Wayne), Ottumwa Anesthesiologists PC (Dr. Mukkada), SE IA Neurological Associates (Dr. Pogel), Surgical Specialists Group, Dr. Patritto, EXCEL Corporation, Rominger Insurance, South East Iowa Blood Center, Parkview Plaza Hotel & Suites, Reece Funeral Home, Central Valley Bank, and Al-Jon Inc.  Soccer players and their parents have contributed their time as volunteers and have made financial contributions through the payment of dues and participation in fundraising efforts.  To all those who have contributed to our cause, we say, “Thank you!.”

The primary purpose of the Ottumwa Soccer Club is to further and promote the development of the sport of soccer in the city of Ottumwa, Iowa and surrounding area for children and their families.  To help fulfill that purpose, OSC is established as a non-profit organization so that it may receive donations to be applied toward the realization of its purpose.  OSC has developed the first soccer facility in Ottumwa, set up a local recreational youth soccer program, established a competitive league with five other towns in south-central Iowa, and organized a competitive soccer program among the elementary schools of Ottumwa.  Since 1999 OSC has organized a week-long soccer camp each summer.  Representatives of OSC have appeared before the school board (in 1998 and in 2001) to request that the Ottumwa Community Schools adopt soccer as an official school sport.  The Ottumwa Soccer Club (first organized as the Southern Iowa Soccer Association) was founded in November 1997 and recognized as an affiliate of the Iowa State Youth Soccer Association in January 1998.

The table below, submitted to the USSF in March 2002, contains a summary of funds (cash and in-kind) raised up to that point for the Walsh Soccer Complex project:

Other donations for which we have not sought written evidence:  (1) dirt-hauling for one day by Wapello County [approximately $1000 for one day’s use of dump truck and loader]; (2) dirt-hauling for one day by the City of Ottumwa [$1000]; (3) dirt-hauling for one day by Heckart & Sons [$1000]; (4) 90 tons of black dirt donated by Swansons; (5) full page thank-you ad provided by the Ottumwa Courier [$2000]; (6) the use of Indian Hills Community College field at the airport from August 2000 – October 2001; (7) 400’ of chain link fence (6’ tall) installed by the Ottumwa Community Schools.