If you build it, they will come. The field of dreams in this case is for soccer, as land has been purchased that will someday be the home to Tigers and Saints, hopefully sooner than later.
The 6.2 acres where the soccer field is located is off Allen’s Ferry next to the Little League Baseball fields. Other locations were considered including a site by Northside but they eventually settled on the field that is located near their present practice field. The soccer teams currently use the high school football field for their home games and share a common practice field.
“We want to make it a nice facility, something DeKalb County can be proud of,” said DeKalb Middle School Coach Justin Nokes, noting the Saints and Lady Saints, Tigers and Lady Tigers will play their home games in the future facility. “This is a shared facility and me and Coach K have worked closely together and we will continue doing that as we build this dream together.”
As for when the first game will be played on the field, Nokes said that will depend on when they can get going on building the field and its connected bleachers and scoreboard.
“That’s still up in the air at this time,” Nokes said. “An ideal situation would be to have it going b the fall season. That might be a little ambitious but we’re going to try our best.”
Nokes said the soccer program is still looking for funds now that the school board has helped with the purchase of the property.
“We still have to level field, build concession stands, build bench areas, ticket areas, a parking lot and the list goes on and on,” the coach noted. “I feel like the community is going to band together and support us.”
The fact the first step has been made to having their own soccer field to play home games is huge, the coach said.
“This is the biggest thing since Coach K and Jerry Adcock started this program 14 years ago,” Nokes said, adding that he appreciates the football team allowing them to use their field for home soccer games. “We can finally have a place of our own and a place to call home.”
