WE ARE THE KICKERS! The Milwaukee Kickers Story Chapter 1: “Realizing a Dream” The Wisconsin Soccer Association began a youth soccer program in 1962 with the Milwaukee County Parks & Recreation Department, which, by 1968, had become the third largest participation sport in the park system. In 1970, it moved up to second largest. Because the league program was basically ethnic-oriented, it became evident in 1968 to several people deeply involved in Milwaukee area soccer clubs that a new club needed to be formed to accommodate the growing number of American kids enjoying the game. Recognizing the lack of opportunity for the American player in an almost totally ethnic controlled sport, the 12 initiators wanted to develop the sport in a unique way to become a “traditional American” sport: to give everyone a place and a chance to play, boys and girls alike; to provide good coaching and stable administration; and, most importantly, to develop FAMILY INVOLVEMENT, which, in turn, would provide a strong volunteer base from which to operate the club. After much soul searching, these people left their respective clubs and founded the Milwaukee Kickers in November, 1968. Using the slogan, “American Soccer is Our Goal”, and choosing red and gray as club colors, the twelve Founders were: Carol and Lorenzo Draghicchio, Lew and Louise Dray, Dorothy and Frank Kral, Aleks and Helga Nikolic, Irene and Milan Nikolic, Elfriede and Sirous Samy . The fledgling club operated literally on a shoestring, relying almost entirely on car washes, rummage sales, newspaper drives and merchandise sales to finance the operation. The first adult squads competed in January, 1969, in the Indoor Season of the WSA at the Milwaukee Auditorium. Seven teams (five youth and two adult) were fielded in the 1969 outdoor season: PeeWee (U10), Bantam (U12), Midget (U14), Intermediate(U16) and Junior (U18); two First Division adult teams. The teams exceeded all expectations – and the club timetable – by garnering two championships and one tournament Cup. One Senior team, with a record of 14-0-2, was promoted from the minor First Division to the Major Division of the Wisconsin State League. The PeeWees (U10) won the State League crown with an 8-2-0 record, while the Midgets (U12) won the annual Leo Gabrich Memorial Cup. Success had come quickly, and the teams on the field had caught the club administration four to five years ahead of its timetable, both financially and administratively. An all-out effort was mounted to solidify the newly gained position of the club. Chapter 2: “1970’s - Bigger and Better” America, coming off of the chaotic events of the 60’s, enhanced its awareness politically, historically, environmentally and culturally. Increased immigration, “All the President’s Men”, the women’s movement, affirmative action, “Earth Day”, pop art, Fleetwood Mac, “The Godfather”, “All in the Family”, and sports on TV—these were representative of the “household terms” which combined to make this decade poised to create and expand into new areas. And so it was with the expansion explosion of the Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club in its first full decade. It seemed that the Kickers philosophy, mission and structure appealed to the public in the Milwaukee area with a resounding upsurge in membership and teams fielded. The Club had to respond to the ever-growing demand with a well thought out plan for expansion on a proactive rather than reactive level. Financial support, “Kicnic”, Kickers’ Awards Banquets, girls’/women’s soccer, sports medicine emphasis, grievance/complaint procedures, complex scheduling issues, soccer as a cohesive force in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park Community Assn., Kickers Soccer Camps, environmental experiment with Kickers Sports Center: these were the issues that drove expansion in the 70’s. The first task was to design an efficient administration base as well as to apply for and receive status as a not-for-profit Wisconsin Foundation (June, 1970). Second, the Club provided soccer training to area youth, assisted in establishing high school varsity teams in the Milwaukee area, and lead players toward scholarships in colleges. The Kickers chose to make soccer the No. 1 sport in the Milwaukee recreation field. On this foundation, the first full decade, the 1970’s, made inroads in all areas of soccer and the sports community, and the achievements reflected those efforts: • Grew from 7 to over 280 teams by 1979 • Created an income-producing venture, “Kickers Foosball of Wisconsin” in 1972 • Licensed USSF coaches; effective administration • Presented scholarships to UW-M • Involved in development of Milwaukee Public Schools High School League and programs, as well as Whitefish Bay and Wauwatosa High School varsity teams • Helped develop the Milwaukee County Women’s League in 1976; Kicker Women won the League championship in 1978 • Formed Milwaukee County Old-Timers’ League • Travelled internationally (to England) in 1974: Detoro Kickers youth team • Increased popularity of family activities: by 1977, our annual Awards Banquet grew to 11 banquets (in different regions) to handle the approximately 1,800 players and their families. The annual Kicnic had to move to Uihlein Polo Field to accommodate the games, skill projects and food and refreshments offered. • KICKS, the monthly news magazine and “lifeline” with the Kickers membership, earned the record of “oldest continuing soccer publication” in the United States by the end of the 70’s • Organized the first youth girls’ league in the state • Organized the first boys’ “Squirt” (U8) teams; Kickers ran the league • Established own Kickers’ youth indoor program • Operated first Summer Soccer Day Camp program for youth in the state in 1976; 417 participants by 1978; 11 locations hosting 534 participants in 1979. • Organized the first club-only, continuing program clinics for players, coaches and club officials • Established in 1977 own Kicker PeeWee and Bantam Leagues to complement the Squirt League • Established its own staff of referees from junior and senior club personnel to whistle games in the three Kickers leagues, plus the youth girls league • Changed its corporate name to reflect the growth in the four county metropolitan area to make it Metropolitan Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club • Established regional subsidiaries to more efficiently handle administration, scheduling and transportation problems • Utilized the land for the “Kickers Sports Center” complex on N. 124th & W. Brown Deer Rd. as a partner with Waste Management in 1978, as an experiment in the recreational use of landfill. Through the efforts of countless volunteers and the vision and leadership of those who took on the challenges of guiding this first major expansion, the Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club adjusted and honed the structure and opportunities that a major sports organization must provide…an on-going process in an exciting, ever changing venture! Chapter 3: “And the ‘Kick’ Goes on…/ New Horizons and Reinforcing Progress” By 1982, the Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club was firmly entrenched in the metro area sports scene, and a dominating force in Wisconsin soccer. The Club was comprised of seven “Areas”: Senior Division; Girls; North Shore; Metro; Tosa; Waukesha and Ozaukee. Within each of these main areas, “Regions” were the workable, “day-to-day” operations. For example, the GIRLS AREA (Brookfield, Wauwatosa, North Shore, Metro, Shorewood, Elm Grove, Ozaukee ) administration was the “umbrella” for seven Regions, each responsible for running teams in whatever age levels were necessary. Regions had a Regional Director and the group of Regional Directors comprised the Area administration, led by the Area Director, who represented them at the Club administrative level in policy and procedural matters. The other six Areas and their Regions were: SENIORS: Adult Men’s and Women’s competitive teams, Old-Timers; NORTH SHORE: Bay, Santa Monica; Richards, Fox Point; Henry Clay; Brown Deer; Cumberland; METRO: Milw. East-Lloyd; Sherman Park-North; Sherman Park- South; Northwest; Mid-City; Milw. Southeast; Milw. South; Shorewood U8, U10, U12 & U14; TOSA: Tosa East I; Tosa East II, Tosa North, Tosa Village I; Tosa Village II; Tosa West; WAUKESHA: Elm Grove; Lakes; Brookfield; Menomonee Falls; OZAUKEE: Cedarburg; Grafton; Mequon; Port Washington ...approximately 366 teams! With growth come “growing pains”...and the Kickers felt those in the loss of a large part of the Brookfield Region in 1981, which decided to become an independent club. However, other Kicker programs and projects were being designed to meet the ever-increasing demand for excellence in soccer preparation while, at the same time, meeting the needs of all levels of players, from recreational to competitive. With so many other activities vying for a child’s time and interest, the challenge was to keep the “fun factor” while still providing the learning, competition, and experience that gave value to the time invested in the sport. Trained coaches and travel increased the level of the game and gave a sense of competency to teams’ accomplishments. A common denominator in most people’s involvement in those years was their children’s desire to play soccer. Responding to a child’s request after moving to a new “uncharted” area: “Dad, my friends want to learn how to play soccer. Do you think we can start a team here?” or seeing the success that soccer brought to the community building and breaking down racial barriers in other areas and wanting to replicate that...this was part of the initial motivation that carried the Club’s mission to ever greater levels. Recognizing the need for a confirmation of soccer as a solid community sport, many parents and club officials were involved in the formation of varsity high school programs in their communities: MPS, Wauwatosa, Whitefish Bay, Ozaukee, Brookfield/Elm Grove, as well as private high schools. Their vision and efforts included the future of collegiate soccer, and influenced many colleges and universities to upgrade or actually form school soccer programs, recruiting the new available talent coming through club soccer like the Kickers. As numbers of teams in the club grew, the need to develop levels of preparation and excellence did, too. The all-important beginnings in the neighborhoods, providing youngsters with the opportunity to play on teams with their friends and learn the game, spawned the need for better coaching as the players honed their skills. That, in turn, produced more skilled teams, who then wanted to compete on higher levels, travel to other areas of the country and internationally, and then looked ahead for high school varsity and college soccer opportunities. The club kept up with these transitions, by offering the comprehensive programs in demand and reaching out into the community and the schools to make the transition from club soccer to “school soccer” possible. The reinforcement of these transitions in the playing level, was underscored by the need to administer a club that seemed to be reaching in so many directions at once. The administrative level’s importance reflected the Club’s desire to reinforce the progress it had made. Communication was vital and the Club “vehicle”, the “KICKS” magazine, as well as tapping the expertise of club members in the media, helped get the word out to the general public that soccer is an American sport. Someone described these years of creation, development and growth as “a special, magical time…we had been introduced to soccer, a new sport for us, but we could see immediately that it was a perfect sport for our children in every way. So, the number of teams just kept growing and we all just kept finding ways to help facilitate that growth.” At the same time, it was an era of new challenges dealing with splinter groups, growing pains at the high school and college levels, the women’s program and administrative structuring of the Club. The strength of the Club, however, was shown as being an “incubator” for developing different facets and geographical areas of MK, to the point where individuals felt they could replicate the program outside the Club structure. Ironically, the splinter groups built their new clubs on the Kicker principles of inclusiveness and volunteerism. It’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…we must have been doing a lot of things right! Chapter 4: “New Level of Excellence” By 1986, the Club needed an “Administrative Home” for its activities. The many dining room tables were overflowing with player applications, schedules and phone messages. Spare rooms and basements were stuffed to the gills with player uniforms. It was time for a real office. The new MK President, with Board approval, hired the first administrative assistant. With a computer in place (newest MAC available), the Club became part of the computer age. The player applications with checks were processed by paid staff with improved financial reports and paid accountant supervision. The “KICKS” Magazine continued to be published with staff support. The uniforms became disposable (owned by the player and no longer collected after each season). The Milwaukee Kickers Board and supporting committees met in the building conference room. Soon the Club needed more space and moved within the building to larger quarters. Office hours were increased into the evening to accommodate the needs of volunteers, coaches and managers. With the ever increasing player registrations and teams, the need for better opportunities for the competitive player also arose. The Club began a highly competitive program, the Nationals Program, with professional coaches coming from England. These coaches organized and coached these new teams as well as trained the volunteer coaches of recreation and local competitive teams and conducted player clinics and camps throughout the year. All members benefited. Simultaneously, the Kickers Sports Center on 124th and Brown Deer Road saw increased use: Kicker sponsored youth tournaments with outside clubs; continuation of the annual “Kicnic”; adult team play; and an active concession stand. Field maintenance was improved, and our first “official” stadium-type field, “Rossetti Field”, complete with bleachers, was donated and installed. Volunteers helped with all activities. Then as the complex hummed with activity, Waste Management was forced to close the site for environmental reasons. But, sometimes when a door closes, a window opens…and the Kickers’ search for a new home opened exciting new opportunities. Initially, several groups of volunteers and club officers fanned out to check out available space for a new soccer park. Because the club membership stretched from Sheboygan County through Ozaukee County to the south end of Milwaukee County and west into Waukesha and Washington counties, a geographical center was the goal of the quest. The Uihlein Family Trust held land on Good Hope Road in Milwaukee from 6000 west to approximately 7300 west. The main tenant, the Milwaukee Polo Club, had decided to move its games and practices further west into Waukesha County. One of the volunteers was connected with the Trust and Lorry Uihlein, and the Club began to maintain and use the existing fields with an option to purchase the land. The challenge was to earn enough money through tournaments and events and a capital campaign. Chapter 5: “Ever in Transition” The era of the later 1980’s into the ‘90’s was another pivotal period for MKSC, with the Club essentially “morphing” from a mom and pop system into a multi-million dollar organization. As our volunteers became more knowledgeable and confident about the game and the organization, they were able to strengthen their own geographical area “clubs” within MK so that the sense of commu - nity flourished locally and within the Kickers. Many of the developing regions produced people who went on to help their local school system field varsity soccer programs for boys and girls during this time. Others were instrumental in working on club-wide concerns, such as referee education, coach - ing, administration (scheduling, event organization and uniform purchase and distribution to name a few), and the quest for a permanent facility to house MKSC – multiple fields, both indoor and out - door. Much of the groundwork for the next phase/transition of the Club’s growth (the “big move” to Uihlein Soccer Park in 1994) was being laid by the people with vision, dedication and enthusiasm we call our volunteers! Chapter 6: Laying the Groundwork With the Club’s growth into many areas (not only literally, as in “regions”, but figuratively, as in programs), the need for a “home” for the thousands of MK players was a top priority in the early 1990’s. We had started with the Waste Management site, on N. 124th and W. Brown Deer Rd., in the mid 1980’s, and used that at full capacity with regular scheduled games, tournaments, club Kicnics, etc..When Waste Management was forced to close the site for environmental reasons, the need for a replacement was sharply felt.

Then MK president, George Farley, took on the task of finding such a venue, and pulled together a team of volunteers. Key committee members, many of whom are HOF honorees, found an urban site at the old Milwaukee Polo Field site and, through the generosity of the property owner, Mrs. Laurie Uihlein, who pledged over $2 million to the project as well as agreeing to the sale and transfer of the property, the Milwaukee Kickers appeared to have a home for years to come.

Chapter 7: From Dream to Reality Key persons and organizations partnered with Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club to develop Uihlein Soccer Park. Initially The Uihlein Trust 1976, controlled by Laurie Uihlein, agreed to lease and then sell the land. When property tax issues and environmental issues arose, two law firms (Foley & Lardner LLP and Michael, Best & Friedrich LLP) agreed to perform pro bono work to deal with those issues. Thankfully, Milwaukee County, led by County Executive Tom Ament and County Supervisors Roger Quindel and Lee Holloway, and the Milwaukee County Board agreed to issue a 20 year bond to purchase the “polo fields” and build an indoor soccer facility, with the Club paying back the bond issue. This partnership solved the tax and environmental issues for the Club.

With the land purchased by Milwaukee County and the full support of the Kickers Board of Trustees and officers, a Club ad hoc committee formed and worked with Uihlein Architects and the Milwaukee County administration to plan the building. This committee further worked on additional “build outs”, financed by the Kickers, after the building was finished. Additionally, a Capital Campaign Committee formed to raise dollars to help defray the added lease expense to the Club. This campaign succeeded in its mission during the “start-up” phase of indoor revenue development.

During the early years of the park, the professional outdoor soccer team, the Rampage, played and practiced on the outdoor fields; later the professional indoor soccer team, the Wave, practiced at the facility. Now, almost 20 years after the building dedication in 1995, the indoor fields are used year round; and during the outdoor seasons, both recreational and competitive youth teams, men’s and women’s recreational leagues, high school state tournaments, college teams, and the Kickers’ Major team play their games on the outdoor fields. The relationship between Milwaukee County and the Club continues to be solid, which benefits both the Club and this Milwaukee County park.

2015 Women’s World Cup Champion: USA