Hunter
Soccer Club began in 1962 as a response to a call for physical fitness
from the President of the United States, at the time, John Fitzgerald
Kennedy. Originally called St. Luke's Soccer Club, it was made up
of a group of Cub Scouts under the leadership of John Hunter.
John Hunter, a native born Scotsman, came to this country with
a love of soccer. He took St. Luke's Cub Scouts and utilized Abington
High School's fields and taught them the game of soccer with a volleyball.
Mr. Hunter received support from Episcopal Academy when they sent
Mr. Hunter their discarded shorts, shoes and equipment. He, along
with Hans Peters, helped form an Intercounty Soccer League some
40 years ago.
St. Luke's Soccer Club, although with religious overtones in the
name was truly non-denominational. The Cub Scouts came from all
backgrounds and all religious beliefs.
In 1970, John Hunter passed away. It was in 1970, that St. Luke's
Soccer Club became Hunter Soccer Club to honor the memory of its
founder.
Hunter Soccer Club does not discriminate against any of its participants
whether coaches or players because of their religious backgrounds,
race or gender. Hunter is a non-profit corporation and consists
of volunteers trying to help the youth of our community through
the great sport of soccer.
Hunter's colors are blue and white which come from the original
colors of St. Luke's athletic teams. St. Luke's is a Roman Catholic
parish located in Glenside where the Cub Scouts would meet in 1962.
St. Luke's colors became Hunter's colors.
Hunter's uniforms are blue and white horizontal stripes. These
stem from the uniforms of what used to be the English Premier League
Team Queen's Park Rangers. Some QPR players would come to Glenside
in the summer for Hunter's soccer camps. As a matter of fact, the
early Hunter uniforms came from England and were exact duplicates
of QPR's teams. That tradition continues today. The horizontal stripes
are called "hoops".
Hunter's practice facilities are located in Penn Bryn Park in Abington
Township as well as Abington High School and Abington Junior High
School. Hunter's home fields are located at Abington Junior High
School, Abington Senior High School, Penn Bryn Park and Thomas Williams
Park (Cheltenham Township), along with Renniger Park.
Hunter, like most organizations, has seen many changes and has
had many ups and downs in its history. However, it still remains
a very viable, strong, community oriented group that helps teach
children from everywhere the great game of soccer.
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