Soccer fans, velcro down.

The sport, often described as the number one spectator sport in the world based on the number of fans who watch and follow it across the globe, is coming to Sanders County and beyond this fall as a high school sport.

That announcement was made this past week by Clark Fork Soccer Alliance spokesman Nick Lawyer, who said the CFSA is going to be presenting financial support to a proposed co-op team that will feature players from both Thompson Falls and Plains beginning this coming Fall. The CFSA organization also has players and supporters in Mineral County.

“Clark Fork Soccer Alliance will be presenting Thompson Falls Superintendent of School Bud Scully with a donation of $23,270 this Monday at the T Falls School District practice field (south of the school) this Monday afternoon,” Lawyer, a coach and prominent figure in local soccer said.

Up to this point, the CFSA has been a soccer club despite several attempts to have it sanctioned as a high school sport. The organization has been operating since the early 2000s, Lawyer said. Recent okays from both School Boards has opened the door for soccer to be an official high school sport after a long struggle to gain equal footing with other high school sports activities.

“Since 2018 we have been advocating for soccer to become a school sport in the area we serve,” Lawyer said. “With strong community support this last March the Plains and Thompson Falls school boards decided to form a co-op to sanction soccer as a MHSA sport in these communities. Thompson Falls will be the lead school and Plains the secondary school. The soccer community has committed to raising funds annually to fully support the sponsorship of soccer as a school activity”.

The organization serves both Sanders and Mineral counties and has grown impressively in the past few years as a sport more and more youth want to play. There are currently six communities in the bi-county area that have CFSA supported programs.

“We offer full developmental and competitive soccer, winter indoor futbal and competitive Spring soccer,” Lawyer added. “Over the past three years we have provided soccer opportunities to more than 600 players aged three to 19 year old. Our mission is to make soccer available to all who are interested and to grow youth and adult soccer skills, character and health through soccer”.

The club has produced several top flight players, including many who have gone on to play at higher levels.

“Over the years our competitiveness has grown and as a club we now feel that these players are ready for the challenge of MHSA (Montana High School Association) soccer,” Lawyer continued. “Last Fall our U19 girls team was undefeated and over the last three years our U19 boys have lost only four games”.

Lawyer said the funds to be donated were raised from 38 community donors.

“We believe this strong support shows the interest and viability of soccer as a sport in our communities”.

For more information, contact clarkforksoccer.org. High school play is expected to begin this fall.