We’re honored to share that Franklin County SC was recently featured in the local news! Our story was published in this week’s eMissourian — highlighting the launch of our club, the incredible support from local families, and the mission behind what we do.

Disclaimer: This article originally appeared in the July 2, 2025 edition of the eMissourian. Republished here with credit to the original source.

A new soccer program for Franklin County is charging ahead toward its first season this fall, and

organizers say they’re thrilled with the progress they’ve made so far.

The Franklin County Sports Club (FCSC) was officially founded in October, but President and

Executive Director Alex Moraes said the “team behind the team” came together a little over a

year ago. Since then, the club has hosted a number of camps and official tryouts for its fall

season, secured sponsorship from local businesses and received approval to build a full-size

practice field in New Haven.

Moraes said over 130 players have signed up to compete on six teams as part of the St. Louis

Youth Soccer Association (SLYSA) this fall. That number was more than four times what the

coaching staff was expecting. According to Moraes, the turnout is a testament to the desire in

Franklin County for high-level competitive soccer closer than St. Louis.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Moraes. “Our club is targeting the county, not just one

municipality. And the whole county needed those opportunities, for sure.”

Moraes played soccer in his home country of Honduras and began coaching 11 years ago, he

said. He came to the U.S. to attend Lindenwood University, and in February he became a U.S.

citizen. It was through coaching soccer that he met Jason Schmelz, another longtime coach and

former Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy who lives in Marthasville. Schmelz now serves as the

secretary of the FCSC board, alongside Moraes and Vice President Scott Alberson.

The idea that united the three men was a simple one, according to Moraes: Why should families

have to leave Franklin County for competitive club soccer? St. Louis and St. Charles counties

each have dozens of clubs that compete in SLYSA, according to the league’s website. Over 20

more clubs from Illinois — some as far away as Springfield — also participate in the league.

Moraes said that after some market research, the FCSC board felt confident the idea could take

root in Franklin County.

“People started to buy in. People were like, ‘Oh my gosh, yeah, we don’t have a club like this in

this area,’” he said.

The logistics involved with building a soccer program from the ground up haven’t been easy,

according to the board.

“We pulled teeth to get field space, for sure. We worked on that for three months,” said Schmelz.

The club’s soccer camps so far have taken place at N-Sports Rec Center in Washington, and

recently Moraes shared that Memorial Baptist Church in New Haven agreed to let FCSC use

field space for a year.

But the board envisioned a more permanent space for their practices, and in April FCSC received

approval from the New Haven Park Board to build a practice field at the New Haven City Park.

The city will own the soccer field and lease it, according to the contract the two entities signed

June 12. FCSC continues to raise funds for the half-million dollar project, Moraes said, and

hopes to get started in the fall.

Union-based landscaping company Muddy Boots is one business donating services for the New

Haven field, saying on social media the field will be a “staple in our community and surrounding

areas for years to come.”



Moraes said a big part of his soccer philosophy is coaching development, as well as player

development. He’s recruited a number of coaches from Franklin County who played

competitively and encouraged them to further their coaching training.

Coach Diego Orozco, a Union High School graduate, said he’s “really, really pleased” with how

the club has been coming together. Orozco played soccer at East Central College and St. Louis

Community College. He said he’s been blown away by the enthusiasm from young players in

this area to become competitive against some of the region’s top tier soccer teams.

“I think Franklin County has a lot of talent to offer,” he said.

Another FCSC coach, St. Francis Borgia High School graduate Olivia Bays, recently returned

from Springfield, where she completed a soccer coaching course through the United States

Soccer Federation. Bays said she grew up playing club soccer in St. Louis and is looking forward

to the chance to “bring it closer to my hometown” of Union.

“We’re super excited to get the fall league started,” she said.

Moraes and Schmelz said the FCSC motto — “One club, one goal” — has guided the board over

the last year as they cleared the hurdles ahead of the fall season. They’ve secured sponsorships

from the Bank of Washington, Union’s Optima Dental Group and Auto Body Brothers, Dos Bros

Mexican Restaurant in New Haven and more. They’re still actively raising funds for the field and

hoping to grow the club after their inaugural season.

But with most of the administrative foundation laid, the FCSC directors said they’re primed and

ready to build soccer teams that represent the best of Franklin County.

“I’m ready to hit the pitch, to be honest with you. Ready to get my cleats on,” said Schmelz.