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Subscribe to our NewsletterWelcome to the NEW Pekin Pride Soccer Club Website
Pekin Pride started in 2003 as one girls team ('94) that represented the Boys and Girls Club of Pekin playing in the competitive Central Illinois Youth Soccer League as well as competitive tournaments throughout the midwest.
In 2006, the girls left to form the Pekin Pride Soccer Club and added a few younger teams. In 2009, they merged with recreational ICSL member Pekin Metro under the Pekin Pride banner.
Thank You Team Sponsors
We would like to take a moment to recognize our team sponsors. These companies graciously donated funds to help each team offset the cost of uniforms and we will have their logos on the front of their sponsored team uniforms the next two years. You can find information for each of these companies under the sponsor link of this web page.
A special thanks to the following:
Maquet's Rail House U8 Girls Red Jersey
B Technical Services U8/9 Boys Red Jersey
Flexim America U8/9 Boys Black Jersey
Unland Companies U10 Boys Black Jersey
Brandt Consolidated U10 Boys Red Jersey
Illini Plumbing U9/10 Girls Red Jersey
Jimmy Johns U9/10 Girls Black Jersey
Life Plus MD U11 Boys Black Jersey
Trendsetters U11 Boys Red Jersey
Deuce Development U11/12 Girls Red Jersey
Emergency Physician Staffing U11/12 Girls Black Jersey
Simpleray U12 Boys Red and Black Jersey
Henderson Funeral Home U13 Girls Black
Steger's Furniture U13 Girls Red
Rescue Heart Veterinary Jr High Coed Red Jersey
Congratulations to PCHS Lady Dragons - Mid Illini Champions
Several of our past and current players were a part of the Pekin Community High School Lady Dragons soccer team that won the Mid Illini Conference title on Tuesday night. The Lady Dragons won the first soccer conference title for either the boys or girls program with a 4-0 victory over Limestone to finish their league record at 5-1-1. Congratulations to our own Edgar Sandoval and the rest of the Lady Dragons on the accomplishments this season.
http://www.pekintimes.com/sports/20170510/thats-first--pekin-wins-soccer-conference-title
Pekin Pride Mission Statement
We will provide the highest level of training to develop team and individual skills.
We will institute a competitive cauldron that will allow our athletes to bring out the best in themselves and their teammates.
We will ensure our teams are exposed to top competition.
We will teach about life through soccer… helping our players to be positive role models with the hope that one day they become driving forces within our community.
We will do our best to help families with financial challenges stay with the program.
Players need to recognize that this is not recreational soccer. Games are a priority and playing time is earned through ability, production on the field and effort in practice.
Players must bring a ball, shin guards, water, and a desire for excellence to each practice and they need to be prepared for the hard work necessary to maximize their potential.
Players must always show respect for parents, coaches, referees and opponents.
Pekin Pride Club History
Pekin Pride started in 2003 when John Campbell, then coach of a co-ed team that played in the Inter Community Soccer League, decided to form Pekin, Illinois’ first all girls traveling soccer team.
The team began playing through the Boys and Girls Club of Pekin, but even just getting started was a challenge. Five girls showed up to the first night of practice.
“So, I told each of the 5 girls at tryouts to go to their school and invite anyone who they think runs well in gym to come out for our team. I felt I could teach a good athlete to play soccer,” says Campbell.
Despite struggling through loss after loss during its inaugural fall season, parents and players decided to stick with it. The team worked hard over the winter, didn’t give up and managed to win half its games. The girls were just starting to compete with the stronger teams in the area.
In 2004, Pekin Pride entered the Orange and Blue Classic in Champaign and did more than compete: they won, defeating a team from Michigan for the title.
“That win changed our mental approach and increased our momentum. We now believe we can compete with anyone in any tournament.”
That winter, the team started training with the John Gaspar Soccer Academy and they have continued to improve by leaps and bounds, finishing first or second in more than a dozen tournaments throughout the state and qualifying for the SuperClubs national championships in the summer of 2006. They have also finished in first place in the Central Illinois Youth Soccer League for the spring of 2005 and fall of 2006, going a combined 16-0. In the fall of 2006, the team did not allow a goal in league play.
In the fall of 2006, Pekin Pride split off from Boys and Girls Club to form the Pekin Pride Soccer Club and is in the process of expanding to include the next generation of traveling soccer players in Pekin.
