Register now for Fall Soccer

The Bellaire Soccer and Express Soccer programs have merged to create the Houston Express Soccer program, a division of Houston Near Town Soccer. Players will be directed to the Houston Express web site to register for Fall 2008.

To register online and for information on player evaluations, please visit our club website:

President's message

We are grateful to our sponsors ($500 team sponsors):
(to add a website link, contact our webmaster...)

CenterPoint Energy
Doyle Raizner, LLP
Escalante's Mexican Grille
Hammers U17 Parents

Vision Source! Meyer Park

Westheimer Plumbing and Hardware
Brad and Toni Willson

Houston Near Town Soccer Club and Bellaire Soccer Club to Merge

Effective Fall 2008 Season

(printable pdf)

Houston-- (Feb. 20, 2008)-- Houston Near Town Soccer Club and Bellaire Soccer Club have agreed to merge their competitive programs*, creating one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the Houston area.

The competitive soccer division will compete under the name Houston Express Soccer and is expected to field teams with more than 1,000 youth soccer players. Express is made up of boys and girls soccer teams between the ages of eight and 18 and teams from both clubs will begin playing together in the fall 2008 season.

Registration for the fall season began in mid-April with team tryouts starting the second week in May and continuing through the first week in June for older players.

“This is an exciting time for both clubs and for the competitive players of the area,” said Mark Gibbs, director of training and coaching for the Express Soccer Club. “Combining the efforts of so many dedicated and talented individuals will benefit everyone associated with the club, as well as further strengthen the already tremendous talent pool in Houston. The merger expands Near Town Soccer’s ability to

offer an extensive soccer program at both the competitive and recreational levels, while continuing to be conveniently located for our local communities.”

Gibbs joined Near Town in 2007 to elevate the professional training provided in the competitive program. He will oversee the training of the new merged club, which expects to field almost 70 competitive teams. The combined organizations will have players living in over 50 different Houston area zip codes. Express will offer competitive programs at the Division I, Super II and Division II levels, as well as recreational Division III, and developmental Division IV. Overall, Near Town’s ability to offer a comprehensive, yet convenient soccer program for both the competitive and recreational soccer player continues to expand.

The teams will play on the South Campus Athletic Complex (www.southcampus.org) fields just south of Loop 610 at Stella Link, and on fields previously used by the Bellaire Soccer Club (most notably Pin Oak Middle School and Feld Park). Games and practices will continue at Pin Oak.

“This merger is an opportunity for two well established soccer clubs to join together to make their programs even stronger, “said David Luther, President of the Bellaire Soccer Club. “Our visions and philosophies are in alignment toward the goal of player skill development and fun. It has been our longstanding goal that all kids have the opportunity to participate in soccer and to tailor a program to meet the needs and abilities of the beginning recreational player through the most advanced skill and playing level. This combination gives us the opportunity to meet those goals and to serve a much broader group within the community.”

Near Town also operates a robust recreational soccer program, West University Soccer Club, which attracts more than 800 recreational soccer players from age six to 11. The City of Bellaire will continue its recreational soccer program through its Park and Recreation Department.

For more information on the new Houston Express club, please contact David Luther at bscprez@mail.com .

*competitive programs = HYSA, EDS2 ("Super-2") and EDDOA ("Division I"). There is also a separate recreational program (WU Soccer) that is in-house and is run similar to Bellaire Recreation.

Coaches: D CLINIC SCHEDULED June 4-8

A five-day licensing course, 36 hours of instruction – 6 hours of classroom, 30 hours on- field). To qualify for this course you must hold your "E" License for one year or apply for a waiver with STYSA (details on that at bottom of this article.

To Register for this clinic:

1. Make your reservation TODAY by emailing the following information to lakejacksondoc@hotmail.com . Include your first and last name, your home address, your phone number, the division level you coach at, your date of birth, and the date you completed your E course. 

2. Send a photocopy of your "E" License or copy of waiver with registration payment. You will not be registered in the course without this information.

3. Send a check or Money Order for $135 made to BYSA, 135 Frostwood Drive, Lake Jackson Texas.

4. This MUST be received on or before May 23, 2008. If payment is not received I will not be able to purchase your materials needed for the course.

5. Contact Michaele Gregory at 979-292-0126 or email lakejacksondoc@hotmail.com  if you have further questions.

If you do not have your E license and wish to request a waiver, go to the STYSA website, locate Coaching Education at the top of the page, print the waiver form and send it to lupem@stxsoccer.org .

Coaches: stay current with recent licensing requirements put in place by STYSA. See section in our "Guidance to Coaches" page.

Fall 2007 Results:

Fall Playoff-bound teams and HYSA trophy-winners.

Please go to our teams pages at the left to contact any of our teams

Dynamo Players Training BSC Teams

BSC is excited to count three Dynamo players among our trainers. It's a great opportunity for our kids to learn not just soccer skills, but also life skills. We look forward to great results on and off the pitch.

The girls U17 Hammers '91 are using Chris Wondolowski for its team trainer in the Fall/Spring 07/08 season.  Said coach Steve Long, "Chris is a great addition as he brings an enthusiasm for the game that the girls need as they get older. It is quite exciting for them at a Dynamo game to see their trainer out on the pitch playing. To them, that is super to watch."

The boys U12 Tiger Sharks have hired Erik Ustruck to train the team in the Fall. Coach George Humphrey: "Erik brings his exceptional knowledge of technical and tactical soccer to the team and will help each of our boys develop into the finest athletes they are capable of."  Before joining the Dynamos, Erik played for Santa Clara University and plays the midfield and striker positions.

Mike Chabala has been working with the U17 Bruise since May 2007. He worked with the team on a weekly basis during the summer and continues to train  when team trainer Glenn Davis is not available. "Our players really like Mike and he brings a great energy level to our sessions with an emphasis on speed of play and possession. It's great for our boys to have an opportunity to train with a current pro who brings lots of the concepts he is being coached with him from his Dynamo practices," said coach Pat Ankney.  Mike also trains the U12 Pumas girls team twice a week.

Please!

Please!

The entrance drive is not wide enough for cars to stop on the curb.  Tell your parents not to interfere with other traffic by stopping on the curb or in the drive aisle to drop off or pick up their kids.  Find a place in the lot. If traffic and parking is congested, then park on Glenmont and or in the HCC parking lot across Glenmont.

Monthly club meeting: First Sunday of each month, Optimist Building at Horn Field. 7:00 pm.

Each team sends at least one representative.