The Foothills Way
The Calgary-based club operates with one clear vision. Change the landscape of Canadian soccer. It’s safe to say that the Foothills organization has succeeded in achieving this goal over the past few years, especially on the women’s side. They have been competing in a very strong UWS division in arguably the second or third top league in North America. Since joining the league in 2017, they haven’t looked back, dominating in two title-winning seasons and making deep playoff runs as well. The club’s investment into the recruitment of top local Usports players and top NCAA players, including youth national team players. Foothills has been providing the most professional environment in Canada for some time and good players are attracted to it. Recently, we’ve seen some top pro’s emerge from the program, including players like Alex Lamontagne and Emily Burns who both play in France.
“Calgary Foothills Soccer Club strives to create a culture of excellence
that produces great players and outstanding individuals.”
1 on 1 with Lee Tucker
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For me this would be the pathway that we have. We run from U4 all the way through to the Pro-Am level with UWS. Until recently we were the only Canadian franchise with St.Albert joining in 2021. We have two world class facilities, 1 that is now used as a skills center and the other which is a full size indoor 11v11 field.
We have an on site performance center with sports science and video analysis departments.
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On field this season the aim is to continue to use our platform to advance individual players with the ultimate goal of seeing players come through our program and represent Canada.
Off field it would be to build on our supporter base and develop our relationships within the community.
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Our player pool is made up of current/former National pool players (U15/17/20/23), former professional players, NCAA & USports players and our top academy players. We have a solid core from within Calgary and then look to use our relationships with NCAA schools such as Memphis to bring in players. We have a core leadership group that includes some of our mature players with the recruitment strategy built on finding players that have the right character, have clarity in their goals and the right level of competency. We have established that culture is key!
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The level of competition on the field and the quality of the organisation(s) off the field. Using Santa Clarita as an example, they consistently send players into the NWSL environment after playing in our Western conference. The quality of stadiums is first class and the league operates with professional standards.
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Yes – we are already part of the Men’s Central League 1 exhibition series this summer and expect to be a part of the Central League 1 for our Women in 2023. This is a key component as we work towards a National League for Canada and to enable us to bring professional women’s soccer to Calgary.
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This is an opportunity to see some of the countries best up and coming players, be a part of an amazing game day experience and help to prove that Calgary is ready for professional women’s soccer. It is truly an exciting time to be a part of this movement.
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Opportunity. There are no professional women’s teams in Canada – in any sport. There is no National League for Canadian players to play in. There is no regional league (Western Canada) to compete in. We have always had the talent – we need to provide the players with the right opportunity in Alberta.
Creating more playing opportunities is one part. There will also be huge benefits for officials, coaches, administrators and business leaders. We would also provide more visibility for young girls to see females in leadership positions, we are big believers in if you can see it, you can be it.
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Yes, we want to be the first! We are ready now and would like to see this launch in the next 12-24 months.
About Lee
Lee Tucker is in his 9th year with the Calgary based club. He progressed through the age groups, especially the female side, and went on to coach the UWS first team starting in 2021. Lee’s and his staff’s philosophy is to give players an opportunity and to support them as they strive to move on to the next level. They are proud to have graduated many players to college/uni programs and to be able to give them a home for the summers, where they continue to develop and strive. Lee believes that opportunity is the key to growing and developing women’s soccer.
We wish Lee and his team all the best as they look to achieve their team goals this year.
