Go To: Club History - First Teams [+] 

updated June, 2012

1999: To better serve the needs of the local aspiring youth player, the Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club was established. Goals of the Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club were established to ensure a high-quality training environment, knowledgeable instruction from licensed coaches, and the highest level of competition.

Use of the Spokane Shadow name was extended to the new youth Club from the Spokane Shadow Soccer Premier Development League team (age U-23 players), which was part of the United Soccer League. That team suspended operations in 2006.

2000: The Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club began league play within the Washington State Youth Soccer Association. Washington Youth Soccer (www.wsysa.com) comprises 42 member associations, which include more than 250 clubs or leagues throughout the State. In turn, WSYSA is affiliated with United States Youth Soccer, United States Soccer Federation, and ultimately with FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association).

The founding Board of Directors included Dave Berto, Chris Stiles, Andy McDirmid, Jeff Heimbigner and Einar Thorarinsson. Jeff Robbins was hired as Executive Director and Stuart Saunders was hired as Coaching Director. Beginning with seven teams, the club grew to include 19 teams.

2007: To provide for “like vs. like” competition among Washington state clubs that consistently demonstrate the ability to develop Premier League teams and share a commitment to appropriate developmental philosophies for youth, the Player Development League was formed. The Spokane Shadow is the ONLY PDL club in the Inland Empire (Spokane area) and only one of two in the entire Eastern Washington region.

In April, 2007, the Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club adopted new Articles and Bylaws and applied to renew its 501 (c)(3) non-profit status. A new Board of Directors was elected by the membership. Concluding a national search in November, 2007, Sean Bushéy was hired as Technical Director.

2009: Spokane’s existing Select clubs: Breakers, Sabers, United (formerly Scotties) and FC Storm and the Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club unified together and initiated a gradual integration process in order to better serve the needs of our area youth recreational players. The installation of the new U11 program was the appropriate starting point for this process for the 2009-2010 season. The integration of age groups "ages up" one year, each following year; the unified Select age groups for the 2010-2011 season are the U11 and U12 boys and girls teams.

Agreement for unification was passed unanimously by the voting members of the Competitive Committee on March 31, 2009, with final amendments occurring April 10, 2009. Subsequently, all existing Club boards approved the unification. Shadow welcomed 625 unified players for the 2009-2010 season.

2010: Washington Youth Soccer Association and the unified Spokane Premier and Select soccer club Presidents agree to the formation of the new Inland Empire Youth Soccer Association. IEYSA Articles and Bylaws are presented, filed, and accepted. Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club receives its renewed 501 (c)(3) letter of determination. After record numbers at tryouts, Shadow welcomed 1,070 U10 Junior Program, unified Select and Regional Club Premier players for its 2010-2011 season.

2012: May, 2012 saw the next phase of soccer development for our community as our club combined with Spokane Soccer Club Elite with the ultimate purpose of strengthening the competitive soccer opportunities for youth players in our community. A record number of licensed coaches for a Spokane club have come together to teach and encourage players along their soccer development path. Our club has earned for two straight seasons a top 6 ranking in Washington, and the combining of clubs further strengthens opportunities for our 1,100+ players to compete against the very best in the state.

More details coming soon!