NorthStar Soccer Ministries

NorthStar Soccer Ministries, formerly Neighborhood Network, Camp Northstar, Northstar Youth Ministries, and NorthStar Soccer Club is a Christian youth ministry founded in Smithfield by Paul Neville in 1996.

Originally conceived as a broad-ranging community resource, Neighborhood Network quickly began focusing on programs for youth, including scouting, recreational sports, and summer learning. In 2001 the organization took the name NorthStar Youth Ministries.

The NorthStar Soccer Club began at McLendon Park in 2002, and within a few years its popularity eclipsed the ministry's other offerings and NorthStar's higher-level teams began competing in the Central Alabama Soccer League. Val Kikkert came on board as soccer director in 2009 and more than doubled participation.

NortStar Soccer expanded to Cornerstone School in Woodlawn in 2014. In January 2016 the organization dropped its other programs and took on its present name. In 2018 NorthStar established its own Intramural League and began hosting practices at Hemphill Elementary School in Arlington-West End. Holy Rosary Soccer of Gate City joined the NorthStar Intramural League in 2019. NorthStar's travel teams compete in the Central Alabama Soccer League and the Alabama Soccer Association's US Youth Soccer-affiliated leagues.

In 2023 NorthStar partnered with Inspiritus Birmingham to provide soccer camps for children in families placed in Birmingham through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

References

• Goodman, Joseph (July 27, 2023) "Finding refuge on a soccer field in Birmingham." AL.com

External links

• NorthStar Soccer Ministries website