In 1998, Perdido Bay Soccer began with less than 100 kids playing on the outfields of Baar’s Field behind Winn Dixie. At the time local dad, Randy Hopper, assembled a committee of dedicated folks like Andy Max, Steve Thrasher, John Remich and Fred Garth, to line fields, paint goals and organize coaches and referees. These days, the Perdido Bay Soccer, now known as Perdido Bay Futbol Club still has the same family feel as it did back then, except now more than 1500 kids are playing soccer at Perdido each year!

Soccer participation grew under Hopper’s leadership and by 2003, more than 200 kids were playing each fall. The baseball outfields were getting crowded and an expansion was critical. Fortunately, local real estate developers, Jim and Alison Davenport, were able to negotiate with Sacred Heart Hospital to allow the soccer club to build new fields on the opposite side of the Winn Dixie, next to the parking lot. The Davenports had a daughter playing soccer and the family graciously financed most of the construction costs. More dedicated Perdido parents like Rob Chelico and other civic organizations donated the funds to sod the fields at the tune of $30,000. By the fall of 2004, Perdido Soccer had its own home.

With year-round fields, the Soccer Committee decided to try Spring Soccer as an experiment. To everyone’s surprise, more than 200 kids signed up for the Spring 2005 season. Participation grew each season breaking records each year from 300 to 400 to 500 kids per season by 2011.

The soccer committee had expanded too. Fred Garth had taken over Randy Hopper’s position and others joined in like Ken Parsons, Jimmy Holmes, Jim Quinlan, John Brockman and many other dedicated volunteers.

As soccer grew, the community was lobbying our county commissioners for more field space. Sacred Heart was rapidly getting over crowded. In 2008, the county spent $300,000 to build fields at Jim Bailey Middle School, also known as Seth Simpson Park. At the same time, Perdido Soccer launched a select soccer organization and practiced at the Bailey fields. The select club formed their own 501C-3 organization under the name, the Perdido Bay Futbol Club with founding members Fred Garth, Ken Parsons, John Guidroz and Fred Krause. Soon, PBFC had more than 10 teams traveling the Southeast and winning medals, a testament to the program that had been developed by Hopper and his crew.

In 2010, the country bought 200+ acres on Bauer Road and then dedicated close to $10 million to build a state of the art soccer, baseball, softball and football sportsplex. In August 2012, the park opened to great fanfare and the very next month, the PBFC (which was now combined select and rec soccer) held a 200-team tournament that yielded a $2+ million economic impact for Escambia County and surrounding areas. This validated the investment and illustrated that soccer in Escambia County is not only great for kids but also for the economy.

As of 2013/2014, the PBFC is servicing 1,500 kids annually. The organization has more than 100 volunteer coaches and a volunteer committee of parents who continue to run an amazing soccer organization. The clubs also hosts two major tournaments per year in a partnership with SnapSoccer that bring millions of dollars into local area. Teams from as far away as Texas, Tennessee and Illinois travel to Perdido Key to play soccer, enjoy our beaches and eat our seafood.

If history is any guide, PBFC will continue to grow and before long, more than 2,000 kids will be playing soccer at PBFC. It’s a testament to the dedication of many parents who have spent countless hours on the soccer fields helping kids to learn about life and sports.

If you love helping kids and want to be a part one of our committees please email president@perdidobayfc.com.