Clay County may be on the outer reaches of Jacksonville, but that doesn’t stop it from being an important player in the local soccer scene.
United Soccer Alliance, a merged product of Clay County Soccer Club and Westside Soccer Club, has a rich history dating back to 1977. The club is inseparable from the sport’s fascinating past on the First Coast, with the now-defunct New England Tea Men’s relocation to Jacksonville kickstarting a chain reaction that led to its modern-day existence.
Manchester United legend Dennis Viollet followed the Tea Men and soon became intertwined in the city’s soccer scene. He became United Soccer Alliance’s first director of competition in the late 1990s, adding some European prestige to the club.
“He laid the foundation for the club today,” United Soccer Alliance executive director Matt Hollyoak said. “Even to this day, we still have coaches that played for [the Tea Men] that work with our club.”
Hollyoak’s journey is quite similar to Violette’s, with the sport also bringing him to the First Coast. Born in London, he attended the University of North Florida and played collegiate soccer for the Ospreys.
“As a student, I didn’t have a penny to my name and I needed food,” Hollyoak said. “I reached out to all of the local soccer clubs and Clay County actually offered me a part-time job to coach and work some clinics.”
Following graduation, he returned to England to play professionally, but found his way back to Clay County after his career. Much like his own story, Hollyoak cites the involvement of the organization’s alumni giving back as one of his favorite aspects of United Soccer Alliance.
“It’s really cool because I started working here in 2006 and had an inside to the club then and worked with the players then,” Hollyoak said. “The players that I then worked with are now coaching with me and are still involved.”
Much like JAXUSL, he believes that United Soccer Alliance’s individualized, family-like approach makes the club stand out. Teams and players watch each other’s matches and work to better each other, even when they won’t benefit from it themselves.
“It’s a community as much as it is a soccer club,” Hollyoak said.
Similar to sentiments that have been expressed by many, Hollyoak believes that the opportunity for Northeast Florida locals to take in professional soccer with their own eyes is at the top of the list of what JAXUSL will offer.
“You get this 3D approach, you get to see everything,” Hollyoak said. “If you’re a center back, you get to look at what the center back’s doing while the center forward’s banging in a goal and that’s something you can only appreciate from live soccer.”
He also stated that a pro team will bring plenty of excitement, for fans and players alike. JAXUSL will make this possible by presenting the local soccer community with upper-level competition that today’s youth can aspire to.
United Soccer Alliance offers a wide variety of programs, from young kids all the way into their adult years. They have two campuses, with matches taking place at Eagle Harbor Soccer Complex and Ringhaver Park.
Outside of league play, they also offer camps with options for U6-U19 age groups. No matter one’s skill level, there’s an opportunity to learn and grow within the game at United Soccer Alliance.
Volunteers are also welcome, with a variety of needs at the club for any calling one may have. Those looking to get involved can serve as coaches, help with field maintenance, work concessions and more.
To contact the club, you can reach them by visiting their offices at the Eagle Harbor Soccer Complex or via email at admin@unitedsocceralliance.org.
