A local youth soccer club has high aspiration as the Humboldt FC hopes to increase interest to one day create a high school program.
Hot off winning the Governor’s Cup in Topeka, Humboldt FC recently began tryouts for next season with hopes of future expansions as the club continues generating community interest.
“It’s giving back and creating a foundation here in our area,” Humboldt FC coach Hiram Raby said. “We develop it from the ground level going back to the Lil Kickers Clinics for those under 4 and 5 years old and develop a foundation for the basic skills. That led into the competitive side and offering another level.”
The program began in 2022 to create a hub for youth soccer development in Allen County. Along with hosting a youth soccer team, Humboldt FC also hosts Lil’ Kickers Clinics in order to teach foundational skills and develop local love for the world’s most popular sport.
“What we’ve done with the competitive side is offering something to kids looking for a little more,” Raby said. “A little more of a challenge, the possibility of increasing their skills and going that route. It’s crucial to be able to get out and play competition. With us being centralized here, where we’re an hour and a half from Wichita, an hour and a half away from Topeka, Kansas City — we’re centralized and those are the hubs of soccer in Kansas and Missouri.”
Humboldt FC will host tryouts Tuesday and Thursday as well as several youth clinics over the summer months. Those interested in joining the program, sponsoring the team or supporting the program can follow them on Facebook for more information on upcoming events, fundraisers and clinics.
“After a lot of tournaments we go to, I would say Humboldt is probably the most googled thing,” Raby said. “A lot of people, after we play them, say ‘Where is Humboldt?’ We are definitely putting Humboldt on the map when it comes to youth soccer in this area.”
