Semipro soccer club calling Harding Stadium home this spring
MARION — Fut Ohio SC needed a home, and the Marion City Schools provided it.
The men's semipro soccer team will now make themselves comfortable in Harding Stadium during their spring season.
"It’s really neat and people should come and see it. They do radio broadcasts in Spanish. The games are live streamed. It’s very serious stuff," Marion Harding Athletic Director Sean Kearns said.
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Why Marion?
A Marion group rents the stadium for Sunday matches throughout the year, and members associated with Fut Ohio SC have made the trip up to play in the past. When the club was without use of a field for their own matches, they remembered Harding Stadium and calls were made.
"We were able to put it together with the central office and get them some nights. It’s great," Kearns said. "They are very excited to get to know our youth in this area."
What is Fut Ohio SC?
It is a soccer club based out of Columbus that competes in the United Premier Soccer League, the largest pro development league in North America with roughly 400 clubs across the nation.
It is a fourth-division league, three rungs below the Columbus Crew and Major League Soccer. According to its website, the average age of players is 22 to 23, and it fills the gap between youth and true professional soccer. Fut Ohio SC competes in the 10-team Ohio League sponsored by the UPSL.
According to Kearns, it's high-level soccer, as the group debuted at Harding Stadium two weeks ago, losing 5-1 to FC Cincinnati Academy after starting the year with a 1-0 win over the Indy Gladiators SC.
Who are the players?
The Fut Ohio SC roster is truly international. Eight listed come from the United States, while the rest are from 12 different countries: Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Haiti, Algeria, Egypt, Venezuela, United Kingdom, Honduras, Tanzania and Togo.
When will they play in Marion?
The next game is Saturday at 7 p.m. when the club will host the Ohio League leaders Inter Columbus FC, which is 3-0. Other games slated for Harding Stadium at 7 p.m. on Saturday nights will be May 11 against Greater Columbus Futbol Club, June 1 against Lions Football Club and June 22 against Columbus Wolves FC. A possible postseason match could be played later in the summer.
What is admission?
All games are free and seating is general admission. Kids will be allowed on the field to stand with the players for the national anthem, and Kearns said he is looking for as many ball girls and boys to work the sidelines as possible.
"I’ve emailed all the people in the surrounding schools and our league to let them know. It’s there and available, and it’s great for soccer. It’s growing like crazy," Kearns said.
At the opener, Kearns said there were between 250 and 300 fans at the game, and they are hoping for more as the season continues.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Harding Stadium hosting spring semipro soccer games on Saturdays
