SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — The soccer game is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the world, and one team that ensures that the game is enjoyed in Saskatoon from the grassroots is the Saskatoon United Soccer Club. 

The Saskatoon United Soccer Club is one of the oldest soccer clubs in Canada and the oldest in Saskatchewan. The Club was established on April 13, 1954 as a male-only soccer club. But as the years passed by and as interest in the game cut across men and women, young and old, the Club has incorporated every group interested in the game.

In the last 67 years and still counting, the Saskatoon United Soccer Club has been at the forefront in developing and exporting soccer stars to the rest of Canada and the world. Some of these people are inductees of the Canada Sports Hall of Fame.

The Saskatoon Kinsmen Henk Ruys Soccer Centre, the home ground of the Club, can’t be the same without them. As a matter of fact, Saskatoon United Club was the primary reason for constructing the center. The center’s construction process started in 1993 and was completed five years later in 1998. The sports center has been home for the United since then.

As a team, they have also done well for themselves in terms of bringing trophies home as one of the best soccer teams that everyone looks out for in any competition they are involved in. In 1975, 1976 and 1977, United was the provincial champions of the Saskatchewan Shield. This made them hold the record as the first soccer team in the province to win the Saskatchewan Shield three consecutive times. 

Ray Jones is one person whose association with the United brought many good memories. He played for many years for United and later became a coach. As a coach, Jones helped the team to lift five additional Saskatchewan Shields.

Doug Knott is another man who many people did not know played for the Saskatoon United Soccer Club for a whopping 12 years, during which he won two provincial championships.

Although the Saskatoon United Soccer Club started as a men-only team in the early days, the women’s wing of the team was established in the early 1980’s. From the 1980’s to date, over 10 women from the United have represented Saskatchewan at the national level. In 2018, the U19 Saskatoon United Soccer Club was crowned provincial champion.

In 1996 when the Saskatoon Youth Soccer Inc. was to be structured, the Saskatoon United Soccer Club was one of the founding members. Other founding members are Eastside Youth Soccer Association, Hollandia International Soccer Club, Lakewood Soccer Association, and Aurora Soccer Club.

It is also worth mentioning that the United were silver medalists at the Challenge Cup National Championship in 1982. That’s the best any team in Saskatchewan has ever done at the national level.

The Saskatoon United Soccer Club has been making a lot of impacts. They were honored at one of the Saskatoon Hall of Fame induction ceremonies as the Sports Organisation of the Year. In addition, the Club recently became part of the Alliance League.

Cory Clapson, the present club president, had a lot to say at an interview about the difference between the newly formed Alliance League and City League. He said, “There is a City League which is the non competitive, no trials, therefore no division, you simply sign up if you are assigned to a team, and you play. For the Alliance league there will be higher commitment, there will be trials and the players will be assigned to either A or B (division) based on their technical skills.”

Even as the Saskatoon United Soccer team will face a new challenge in the Alliance League, soccer fans are expecting and hoping to bring the trophy home. But, as they always say, “Have fun. Play Hard. Bruises will fade. Pride lasts forever.”

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