We are excited to announce that Jr Gaels Soccer has become a part of Atlético Ottawa’s Powered By Program, further strengthening our commitment to grassroots soccer development throughout the province of Ontario.
Established in 1981, Jr Gaels Soccer has operated for over 30 years as a youth soccer club, originally formed under the name Kingston Township Minor Soccer Association. In 2018, the club entered into an agreement to partner with Queen’s University whose sports teams are known as the Queen’s Golden Gaels, and the soccer club was renamed: Jr. Gaels Soccer Club.
Before being known as Jr Gaels Soccer, the club went under 2 other names. In 1998, the name Cataraqui Clippers was adopted when Kingston Township and Pittsburgh Township amalgamated to form the city of Kingston. In 2015, the name Kingston Clippers was born to give more identity to where the club was on the map.
Jr Gaels Soccer is an instrumental soccer institution in Kingston, providing a space for over 2,400 players to hone their skills and develop their understanding – and love – for the beautiful game. More than 30 people are working for the club in full-time and part-time capacities, whilst an intensive network of over 300 volunteers ensures a smoothly run operation which welcomes players from three -years old to adult, offering programming ranging from grassroots to regional competitions.
President, Allan Turtle, cited Atlético Ottawa’s proven track record of investment in the Canadian Soccer landscape and the club’s ability to learn and grow with the local soccer community as key reasons for joining the Powered By Program.
“We hope to inspire our athletes to reach for the professional game while growing the competitiveness of our programs provincially and giving young and recreational players access to experience professional soccer at a reasonable price,” Allan said. “We want to ensure that all athletes of all abilities have access to the beautiful game in our region while empowering those who desire more, to dare to reach for their goals!”
By joining the Powered By Clubs Program, Jr Gaels Soccer will gain access to Atlético Ottawa’s extensive network, providing additional resources and expertise to support their growth and development. This partnership will also create opportunities for players to showcase their abilities in front of professional coaches, potentially opening doors for higher levels of competition.
The Powered By Atlético Ottawa program, a collaboration between Atlético Ottawa, Atlético de Madrid, and the Canadian Premier League, currently supports multiple local soccer clubs across the region, including Ottawa South United, Ottawa City Soccer Club, Ottawa Gloucester Hornets, Gloucester Dragons, Russell Soccer Club, St. Anthony SC, Nepean Hotspurs Soccer Club, CS Aylmer, FC Petite Nation, Association de Soccer de Gatineau, Seaway Valley Soccer Club, Petawawa Minor Soccer Club, Quinte West SC. and now Jr Gaels Soccer. For more information about the program and its members, please visit HERE.