Lincoln FC Honors Founder and Coach Tim Stuckey
Soccer fields renamed to Stuckey Fields

 

[September 18, 2024] 

The Lincoln Futbol Club honored one of its founders and coaches at the opening of the 12th Annual Route 66 Shootout tournament on Friday night, September 13. Approximately 300 people gathered at the entrance to the Lincoln FC Soccer Complex, the ten soccer fields on Malerich Drive behind Walmart, to witness the unveiling of a new sign in honor of Tim Stuckey. The Lincoln FC soccer fields have been officially named Stuckey Fields.

The new sign and its unveiling and dedication was successfully kept a surprise to Stuckey despite the hundreds of well-wishers who came to honor his contributions to the club and community.

The unveiling ceremony was organized by Lincoln FC volunteer Josh Merreighn who spoke about Stuckey’s dedication and commitment to the club and about the sacrifices he has made to create and keep this dream of a competitive youth soccer club a reality.

Stuckey attended the sign’s unveiling with his wife and sons. When he was handed the microphone he said, “I don’t know what to say… I’m speechless. And I can’t believe you all showed up for it. Thank you. Thank you very much.”

Stuckey, along with other original board members Jeff Wunderlin, Rick Zimmer, Jim Coop, and Dru Hauter and a small group of Lincoln Community High School soccer parents, started the Lincoln FC in 2009 as a competitive soccer club for youth. Stuckey had been soccer coach at Lincoln Community High School for several years and had observed that the high school team was suffering from a lack of feeder programs in the county that other sports had.

He had many students on his high school soccer team who had only played recreationally before high school because competitive club opportunities did not exist locally. Stuckey and the other founding volunteers supplied this need with the creation of Lincoln FC. Stuckey has been involved ever since in almost every role from President of the Club to fields developer to tournament director to coach.

After the inception of Lincoln FC in the spring of 2009, the new board approached the Lincoln city council in the fall about converting 27 acres of city-owned farmland into a sports complex, which was met with approval. In 2010 Lincoln FC played its first competitions with three teams. The club doubled its number of teams in 2011, and in the spring officially opened the sports complex. Now Lincoln FC involves 100 to 120 kids every year totaling an impact of well over 1000 kids throughout its history.

Todd Mourning, Lincoln FC volunteer since 2012, said “Before this, LCHS soccer wasn't stellar. Coach Stuckey wanted a feeder system. It has paid off. LCHS now has its best winning percentage, it produced an All-State player, Garrett Slack, and it has multiple scoring records, all because of Lincoln FC.” Mourning praised Stuckey’s coaching as well adding, “Coach Stuckey has always held kids to a high level of integrity.”

The Route 66 Shootout soccer tournament hosted a record 113 soccer teams this year totaling over 1200 players from around the state. The tournament saw 193 matches over just 48 hours and brought an estimated 7,000-8,000 people to Lincoln over the weekend.

[Stephanie Hall]