Thank You for Being Part of Summit Valley United

As we wrap up another season for Summit Valley United and continue building Summit Valley United Academy, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on where we are as a club and say thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey.

First and foremost, thank you to every player who represented Summit Valley United this season in the United Premiser Soccer League (UPSL) and Washington Premier League (WPL). Whether you were with us for the entire season, part of it, attended every training session, or only made a few appearances, you played a role in the story of this club.

Running an adult soccer club is not easy. It requires commitment from players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters. There are challenges every season, whether that is player availability, league fees, field rentals, travel, uniforms, administration, or simply finding enough hours in the day to get everything done. Despite those challenges, we continue to move forward because there are people who believe in what we are trying to build.

I also want to thank all of the players and families who attended our Summit Valley United Academy tryouts over the last few weeks. The turnout exceeded our expectations, and it was fantastic to see so many young players excited about joining the club. The future of any soccer club depends on developing the next generation of players, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to grow our youth programs throughout Virginia and West Virginia.

The youth side of the club has seen tremendous momentum, but none of it happens without people willing to give their time and energy. To every parent, volunteer, coach, assistant coach, manager, supporter, and friend of the club, thank you. Many people only see what happens on game day, but there are countless hours spent behind the scenes organizing practices, registering players, scheduling fields, communicating with families, coordinating leagues, ordering equipment, managing finances, and handling all the other responsibilities that come with operating a soccer club.

A special thank you goes to those who have consistently stepped up to help throughout the year. Whether it was coaching, running training sessions, helping with administration, setting up fields, supporting events, or simply being available when needed, your efforts have made a significant difference.

As we look ahead, we know there is still a lot of work to do.

One of our biggest priorities is expanding the leadership and coaching structure within the club. The reality is that a growing club cannot rely on a small number of people to do everything. We are actively looking for coaches, team managers, administrators, and volunteers who want to help us continue building something special. We need people who are passionate about player development, creating positive environments, and helping move the club forward both on and off the field.

This is particularly important on the adult side of Summit Valley United. We have ambitious goals, but achieving them requires more people willing to contribute their time, experience, and leadership. Building competitive teams is not just about the players on the field. It requires a strong support structure around them.

We are also continuing our efforts to establish and grow a competitive women's program. The interest we have seen recently has been encouraging, and we believe there is a real opportunity to create something meaningful for female players in our area. To make that happen, we need coaches, managers, and supporters who want to help us build a program that can grow and compete for years to come.

I also want to acknowledge the commitment that our players make simply to be part of the club. We understand that every player has different circumstances. Some are working full-time jobs, some are balancing school and college commitments, some have families, and many are dealing with financial pressures that make participating in competitive soccer difficult. We know that life does not stop because there is a training session or a match scheduled. As a club, we appreciate the sacrifices that players make to attend practices, travel to games, pay league fees, purchase equipment, and continue pursuing the game they love. While we always encourage commitment, communication, and accountability, we also understand that every player's situation is different. We are grateful for everyone who makes the effort to be part of Summit Valley United, regardless of the challenges they may be facing outside of soccer.

Like many clubs, we face financial challenges. Everyone wants lower costs, better facilities, more equipment, additional coaching staff, and expanded opportunities. We want those things too. The reality is that building a sustainable club takes time.

Sponsorships, partnerships, facilities, and growth opportunities all come from consistently showing up, competing, serving the community, and demonstrating that we are building something worth investing in. We are committed to doing exactly that.

The vision for Summit Valley United has always been bigger than a single team, a single season, or a single league. Our goal is to provide a pathway for players of all ages, create opportunities to compete at higher levels, and build a soccer community that people are proud to be part of.

There will be challenges along the way. There always are. But there are also opportunities, and we are excited about what comes next.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far. Thank you for your commitment, your support, your patience, and your belief in what we are building.

We are only getting started.

Liam Cleary

Summit Valley United & Summit Valley United Academy