The city of Oneonta, Alabama has recently built a new soccer field with taxpayer money and has made a deal with a for-profit league, Total Futbol, based out of Clay, Alabama. This move was a shock to Oneonta Soccer (formerly known as Blount County Youth Soccer League), which has served the community for 14 years.
Oneonta Mayor, Richard Phillips, has been promoting Total Futbol as the “ONLY program endorsed by and affiliated with the City of Oneonta”. This means that taxpayer money will be supporting a for-profit company outside of Oneonta, instead of supporting the local community-driven soccer league, formerly known as Blount County Youth Soccer which actually changed its name to Oneonta Soccer before the new field was built as part of a stipulation to use the new field.
In an exchange on Facebook, Mayor Phillips attempted to clarify the relationship, or lack thereof, with Oneonta Soccer. He ended up backpedaling on some of his statements when he was asked if Oneonta Soccer had ever deposited money with the City. Additionally, Phillips was asked how people would have signed up for the alleged soccer program the city offered and he provided a website that does not appear to show anything relating to soccer. The website has baseball, t-ball, softball, and basketball. If anyone has proof that this alleged city-sponsored soccer league (that is not Oneonta Soccer/Blount County Youth Soccer Fury)existed please reach out to us and we will correct the article.
You can view screenshots of that exchange below.
The Community was under the impression that Oneonta Soccer would be playing on the new field once they were completed. However, that excitement was turned upside down when this questionable deal was announced. To add insult to injury, Oneonta Soccer was not even offered to use or lease the field they were simply shoved aside.
The soccer community is now divided over the city’s decision, with some questioning the motives behind the endorsement of Total Futbol. The questions raised include whether the City and Mayor Phillips have something against Oneonta Soccer or if there is something more nefarious at play. Whatever it is, something is not adding up. According to our sources, the city was even paying for the generator lights at the soccer fields where Oneonta Soccer was playing. That is odd for a city to pay for lighting at a supposedly unaffiliated entities field to the tune of $1200 per month.
The community knows that Oneonta Soccer has a proven track record of success and support. The league has been a pillar of the community, providing opportunities for young soccer players to grow and develop their skills.
In conclusion, the soccer community wants transparency from the city of Oneonta and Mayor Phillips.
If you would like to support the local soccer league, registration for the spring season is still open until 2/10/2023. You can sign up by going to Oneonta.club.