FSJ Soccer Club not holding breath for soccer field fix

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Fort St. John Soccer Club president Darren Snider voiced his concerns about the state of city fields on Friday’s Moose Talks.

Snider says the city managers have been telling him for many years that the fields will be looked at in a couple of years. When he called the city manager this year asking if soccer field repairs were part of the plans, the answer was no.

“Different managers have talked about it, managers move on, a new manager comes with a different priority, and nothing gets done,” says Snider. “This time, I just decided I would send a letter to City Council as opposed to the city managers themselves. Whether that’s right or wrong, that’s what I decided to do.”

Snider indicated that membership numbers are fairly similar between hockey and soccer and that it’s more cost-effective to maintain soccer fields than ice rinks.

In his letter, he says the ice surfaces at the Pomeroy Sport Centre would never be allowed to be in such disrepair. As for the soccer fields, he says people look at them as just a grassy area that kids can play soccer on.

“That’s not how it should be looked at. It should be looked at as a soccer facility that needs maintenance and needs upkeep in order to maintain a quality surface.”

For now, Fort St. John Soccer uses School District 60 fields, but Snider says having one destination for soccer would be beneficial.

“Ideally, we would love to have a spot where more of the soccer community can come together and play it all in one spot, so there’s more of a soccer feeling, more of a community feeling for it. Having the smaller kids watch the older kids, stuff like that.”

Council has agreed to meet with Snider to discuss options, but Snider “isn’t holding his breath”. Surerus Park, which houses two soccer pitches, is slated for redevelopment in 2023. As for short-term solutions, Snider says there aren’t any.

“It kind of depends on whether the 2023 date is actually going to happen this time. Given the grass has to grow, that’s going to take a full year. I’m not too sure what kind of top dressing they would even consider at this point if they’re fully engaged in doing a full repair two years from now, or even in a year.”