Pitt-Greenville Soccer Association
Building Skills & Friendships for a Lifetime

When children learn to play soccer, they’re not just learning a physical skill. Soccer teaches teamwork, discipline, persistence, and problem-solving – skills they’ll be able to apply to all aspects of life. It’s no wonder soccer is one of the most popular sports played by more than 270 million people worldwide. 

Since 1986, Greenville has been fortunate to have the Pitt-Greenville Soccer Association (PGSA) to introduce thousands of youth, ages 7-18 in Pitt County and surrounding areas, to the sport. The PGSA is a nonprofit association designed to educate, promote, and develop sportsmanship among youth, parents, and adults interested in soccer.

PGSA is run by a 15-member board of parent volunteers – many of whom have grown up playing the sport themselves and want the same experiences for their children. The board has the enthusiastic support of countless volunteers and businesses in the community, including TowneBank, where the board has held its monthly meetings for over a year, and moved its banking relationship about six months ago.

Mark Ellingwood, PGSA president, says, “TowneBank has been very generous with their meeting space and we’re looking forward to having a more collaborative relationship with them with our accounts now at Towne. It’s been a great transition so far.”

Mark, who also coaches, says his love for soccer started when he was growing up in New Hampshire. “I joined a club team when I was 8 and went on to play in high school and college. I have two daughters who play, one on a U-12 team and one on a U-10. Just watching their passion at PGSA made me want to get involved and find out how I could support the club.”

PGSA offers several levels of play. “We start kids off in our Academy (developmental) program when they are roughly between the ages of 7-10. This is where we teach them basic ball skills, like using the inside of your foot to kick the ball. Then they move into the Classic program where we start teaching the fundamentals of soccer—how the game is played from a team perspective, ball movement, and the theory behind the game.”

“We have a partnership with the City of Greenville that is called the Future Stars program,” adds Mark Jacobson, club secretary, whose daughter has played with the club for four years. “This is a recreation league for those who are soccer-curious — who want to see if their son or daughter is interested in the game and expose them to the team atmosphere. Kids can start in that program as early as age 4. Future Stars is one of the largest feeder groups for our Academy program.”

PGSA also offers a more competitive travel league and an adult league, growing in popularity, that targets college-age and beyond who still love the sport and want to participate.

“We’re one of only a few clubs in the state that’s completely owned by the club,” says Mark Jacobson. “Board members before us had the vision to purchase and develop land behind D.H. Conley High School, where the PGSA Soccer Complex sits. We have seven fields that we own, operate, and maintain, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s great that we have the autonomy to use the facility how we wish and to make changes to benefit our membership, but at the same time, the cost is significant.”

For the past 36 years, the Club has held a major fundraiser – Bojangles Beast of the East Tournament – in January to help keep teams active in the off-season. The economic impact of the tournament during 2024 was significant, attracting over 100 teams from as far away as New Jersey, and resulting in nearly $1 million in revenue for Greenville in the form of hotel stays, retail shopping, and restaurant revenue. It’s all hands on deck, especially when hosting a tournament.

Mark Jacobson sums it up nicely, “We all wear several hats. I’m the club secretary but also serve on the policies and procedures committee. I’m the social media guy and the website guy. That’s what we all signed up for. It’s a labor of love. We are trying to improve the club and the experience for our kids, but also for the kids who will come after them.”

PGSA pays their coaches a small stipend. “Believe me, no one is doing it for the money,” laughs Mark Ellingwood. “As a coach, I think one of the best things to experience is seeing your team grow up before your eyes. They become friends on the field, friends off the field, and to some extent – extended family. That’s just amazing to watch.”

For more information, visit PGASoccer.com.