Making a pitch for soccer at Chester High

To the right of Science and Discovery High School sits a 10-acre span of real estate that, in its heyday, was the home of soccer in Chester.

It's been 20 years since anyone has played anything on a pitch now reduced to crabgrass, weeds, bramble and a small garbage site.

But when visionary Rob Smith, countless volunteers and a $50,000 grant courtesy of Pepsi Co. are through, this once-dilapidated stretch will become the epicenter for the return of prep soccer to the city's school district.

On Tuesday, the Union bested 15 other Major League Soccer clubs via an online vote for the appropriation from the Pepsi Refresh Project to better their communities.

Smith, the Union's vice president of soccer development and community relations, envisions the field as a sanctuary for children throughout Chester, a city riddled with poverty and crime.

"The goal is to put a high school team back in place. You've got to have a high school team here in Chester," Smith said. "But you've got to have the numbers. Last year, we started in the fall with an informal kick-around and had about 15 kids. This year, we have over 20 to 25 kids expressing interest, and we are expecting that number to increase."

The district hasn't had a high school program since the 1986-87 season, according to Chester High athletic director Randy Legette. Chester is the only Pennsylvania school district of its size and enrollment without one.

A high school soccer program would be subject to approval by the Chester school board. If approved, the team also would include students from Science and Discovery.

A partnership with the Chester-Upland School District allowed the Union to begin the formation of a program that encompasses both middle and high school levels. The way Smith sees it, soccer is taking off at such a rapid pace among Chester's youth, the Clippers could be ready to fully join the PIAA varsity ranks in "2 years," for the 2012-13 fall season. Currently, the high-school age team encompasses kids from Science and Discovery and Chester High and is coached by S&D physical education teacher David Sands.