LA Looking For Former Soccer Players For Alumni Game

Livingston Academy looking for girls soccer alumni to return to campus for an alumni game this summer.

Head Coach Heather Marshall said she got the idea from friends who played at White County High School, where an alumni game has taken place three years running. She said because girls soccer is not a top-tier sport in terms of attendance, she hopes the game will draw interest from students and the community.

“Playing sports in high school, I think, has a very important place in everyone’s heart that played sports at that time in their life,” Marshall said. “And so, if you reconnect them with that love that they had back then, I think you get them more involved with the community and the team, and that way, you get more support when you have stuff going on during the season.”

Marshall said the game will count as an official preseason match on the team’s schedule. She said she has 12 alumni currently signed up who graduated as far back as 2002. Marshall said she would like to double that number, given that some of the players may not be in quite the same shape they were when they played years ago, making substitutes extremely valuable.

“I like to show off my players because they’re not just good soccer players, they’re people,” Marshall said. “And so, anytime I can get people to come cheer them on, especially if we’ve got a big game at home or something, I’m going to do it. So, just getting our team out there and getting people excited about soccer.”

She said she plans to hold the game on either July 29 or 30, depending on alumni availability. She said several members of the current coaching staff played on the team and will compete against their current players, creating a fun, competitive environment for everyone involved.

“We’re only allotted so many fundraisers, so I don’t know that it would bring enough money to replace one of our current ones, but it’s not out of the question,” Marshall said. “It just kind of depends what kind of traction it gets.”

She said there would be a small gate fee to cover referee fees. She said many of her players grew up watching some of the former players who have signed up to participate, so she is excited to see Livingston Academy girls soccer of the past face off with the athletes of the present and future.