The Philadelphia Union first team won’t take the field until Sunday night, but there was no shortage of soccer action on Seaport Drive this week as the Chester Union played their fourth and final home game of the season on the WSFS Bank Sportsplex fields on Thursday evening.
2024 marks the first year that Chester High School has fielded a PIAA-sanctioned soccer team in over thirty years. With drums, smoke, chants, and Philadelphia Union staff decked out in the team’s orange and black aplenty, Thursday’s matchup was a special celebration of that milestone.
“It's an incredible opportunity for these kids,” said Matthew Mountford, Chester Union’s Head Coach and Director of Philadelphia Union Youth Club Affiliates.
“We don't really focus on the results. The fact that we have a team and we have a bunch of committed boys out there that are willing to give everything… it's all part of a bigger picture. I always say to the team, ‘you don't get to play in this environment on this stage every single day, so go out and enjoy it.’”
After the match, Chester Union players ran over to the sideline thanking fans for their support. Moments like those wouldn’t be possible without the Philadelphia Union Foundation and their promise to bring soccer back to Chester.
“I think it's an unbelievable opportunity that not many people have, you know, and I think that these boys don't take that for granted, and they're grateful for absolutely everything, which is amazing to see, and the humble and the kind and honestly as a human being, that's all we can we can really want,” Mountford said.
The 2024 season is just the start – with brand new kits, a brand-new field to play on at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex, and an entire professional soccer organization supporting them, the best is yet to come for Chester Union.
Along with the students from Chester High School, STEM Academy, and Chester Charter Scholars Academy competing in PIAA, there are more than 200 kids registered for Chester Union’s U8-U19 club program, which is another branch of Philadelphia Union Foundation's youth soccer initiative.
“From a foundation perspective, we are really proud to have fulfilled the commitment we made to the community,” said Alyssa Radu, Philadelphia Union Foundation’s Director of Charitable Programs and Operations.
“Most importantly, we just want to create a safe environment from kids and give them an opportunity to play games. The club that we're developing, which is more for all ages, that'll funnel into the high school. In the last year, we’ve laid a foundation for these young kids to be able to play the game at no cost and remove the financial burden, so we're really proud to be able to provide that.”
For more information on Philadelphia Union Foundation's Chester Union programming, click here!
