Even with over 330 days until first kick, the buzz is already building. Bellingham United FC is being talked about, and quite regularly. With the team being announced some 5 months ago, it is quite astounding what has already been accomplished.
“The Hammers” as they have affectionately become known as by the supporters group, will begin play in 2012 at Civic Stadium. Club Owner and President, Jeff McIntyre, says the club chose Civic because “historically it has been the best venue for top notch sporting events in Whatcom County. There are some great views from within the stadium and it is very centrally located to downtown Bellingham.”
Jeff was featured on the local sports radio show “the Zone” on KPUG 1170, as well as the Bellingham Herald, Lynden Tribune and the Western Front—all without a single player on the roster.
The club will join the Pacific Coast Soccer League, a league first started in 1908 and, its current version in 1981. The addition of The Hammers will bring the league up to eight clubs will all seven other clubs based in British Columbia, which, according to McIntyre, “gives us a unique us vs. them standpoint”.
BUFC has already announced the Board of Directors as well, which boasts the Director of MLS for Adidas, the President of WFC Rangers, and even the owner of local pub, The Copper Hog to name a few. Board member and Brand Manager Ted Denesson, who also owns TNT Signs and Promotional Products in Ferndale, is “excited about being involved with something positive for the area, and to be able to have soccer at a higher level in the Bellingham area.” Plus, he’s “most excited for the games. I can’t wait!”
“It was critical for us to hire coaches that knew the area, the players and the leaders in the soccer community. We want faces and names that people in Bellingham know and recognize,” said McIntyre. Both Lance Calloway and Marc Ronney have coached in the area for a combined total of over 40 years, their selection as head and assistant coaches was an easy one.
“The first and foremost goal is that we want to assemble the most competitive squad possible,” says coach Calloway. “I feel that part of that plan will certainly to be first looking at the local talent. The WFC Rangers have produced a lot of great players from their program who have gone on to play at the collegiate level and for some of the squads playing in the BC Premier leagues or other PDL squads. I believe we will be able to put out a competitive squad with a great mix of local players, plus players from outside of Whatcom County who have indicated they want to be part of BUFC.”
“Having been involved in coaching in Whatcom County as well as with our state programs, I have been able to see a lot of great players and have a generally good idea of players and their levels. It has been great as we have had several past local players already express interest in playing for BUFC”
The club now plans a few promotional events for the coming months, including participating in Baker Blast, a local youth soccer tournament from June 24-26, partnering with Bellingham Bay Coffee for a “Name our coffee” contest and co-sponsoring a public Women’s World Cup Final viewing party at the Sportsplex along with WSSA Rapids. More information for these events can be found on the clubs website,www.bellinghamunited.com. Player tryouts are planned for next spring, for more information please email lance@bellinghamunited.com
“The Hammers” as they have affectionately become known as by the supporters group, will begin play in 2012 at Civic Stadium. Club Owner and President, Jeff McIntyre, says the club chose Civic because “historically it has been the best venue for top notch sporting events in Whatcom County. There are some great views from within the stadium and it is very centrally located to downtown Bellingham.”
Jeff was featured on the local sports radio show “the Zone” on KPUG 1170, as well as the Bellingham Herald, Lynden Tribune and the Western Front—all without a single player on the roster.
The club will join the Pacific Coast Soccer League, a league first started in 1908 and, its current version in 1981. The addition of The Hammers will bring the league up to eight clubs will all seven other clubs based in British Columbia, which, according to McIntyre, “gives us a unique us vs. them standpoint”.
BUFC has already announced the Board of Directors as well, which boasts the Director of MLS for Adidas, the President of WFC Rangers, and even the owner of local pub, The Copper Hog to name a few. Board member and Brand Manager Ted Denesson, who also owns TNT Signs and Promotional Products in Ferndale, is “excited about being involved with something positive for the area, and to be able to have soccer at a higher level in the Bellingham area.” Plus, he’s “most excited for the games. I can’t wait!”
“It was critical for us to hire coaches that knew the area, the players and the leaders in the soccer community. We want faces and names that people in Bellingham know and recognize,” said McIntyre. Both Lance Calloway and Marc Ronney have coached in the area for a combined total of over 40 years, their selection as head and assistant coaches was an easy one.
“The first and foremost goal is that we want to assemble the most competitive squad possible,” says coach Calloway. “I feel that part of that plan will certainly to be first looking at the local talent. The WFC Rangers have produced a lot of great players from their program who have gone on to play at the collegiate level and for some of the squads playing in the BC Premier leagues or other PDL squads. I believe we will be able to put out a competitive squad with a great mix of local players, plus players from outside of Whatcom County who have indicated they want to be part of BUFC.”
“Having been involved in coaching in Whatcom County as well as with our state programs, I have been able to see a lot of great players and have a generally good idea of players and their levels. It has been great as we have had several past local players already express interest in playing for BUFC”
The club now plans a few promotional events for the coming months, including participating in Baker Blast, a local youth soccer tournament from June 24-26, partnering with Bellingham Bay Coffee for a “Name our coffee” contest and co-sponsoring a public Women’s World Cup Final viewing party at the Sportsplex along with WSSA Rapids. More information for these events can be found on the clubs website,www.bellinghamunited.com. Player tryouts are planned for next spring, for more information please email lance@bellinghamunited.com
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