New soccer fields open for play

MURRIETA ---- Ken Smith said it might be the craziest thing he's ever done.

The local entrepreneur who turned delivering fruit juice in a converted Ford van in the late 1970s into the multimillion-dollar Southwest Traders ---- a Temecula-based firm that delivers ice cream and frozen treats to shops in five Western states ---- has turned 42 acres of dirt into a green expanse of soccer fields for local players of the Southwest Soccer Club, including his four sons.

"I've spent $300,000 and basically all I have is a one-year lease," said Smith, who is a founder and chairman of the board of the soccer club. "But sometimes you just have to take a chance."

This is the second weekend of youth soccer games being played at the John Blanche Soccer Complex on Diaz Road in Murrieta, just north of the Temecula city boundary.

Only two fields are now striped for games, but by the time all the grass grows in at the site ---- in another month or two ---- as many as 20 full size soccer fields will be available to the Southwest Soccer Club and to other soccer clubs and community groups in the valley.

The 42-acre site is owned by Rancho California Water District.

"The Southwest Soccer Club approached us several months ago (about leasing the property) and we were OK with it," said Paul Gonzalez, the district's general services manager. "It seemed to be a good deal for everyone."

Gonzalez said the soccer association leases the property for about $1,000 per month. That agreement, however, is on a year-to-year basis because as the valley population continues to grow, the water district ---- which serves parts of Murrieta, Temecula and several unincorporated communities ---- will probably need the land to expand its own facilities, Gonzalez said. The water district also leases land to the Murrieta Pony Baseball League under a similar agreement.

"We made them (Southwest Soccer) very aware that the site was earmarked for future development," Gonzalez said. "My hat goes off to Ken Smith and his group. What they've done is very good for the kids and for our community."

The complex is named for John Frank Blanche of Fallbrook, a retired U.S. Marine who was active in youth soccer in his community and died in a car crash in April 2001, Smith said.

"John was very helpful when we started our club several years ago," Smith said. "When he died, I made a promise to his wife that I would find a way to honor him for his work."

Smith worked closely with Rich Soltysiak, a soccer coach and former member of the Temecula Planning Commission, to find the site.

"Without Rich, this wouldn't have been possible," Smith said. Other volunteers from the club also worked to make the field a reality.

"We moved around some dirt, but the site didn't require any major grading, just some leveling and flattening," Smith said.

Grass, sprinklers, fencing and other equipment contributed to the startup costs Smith paid to prepare the complex.

"I didn't think it would cost quite this much," he said. "But it's worth it."

The Southwest Soccer Club's membership is dwarfed by several other area soccer organizations, including the Temecula-Murrieta Soccer Club and the Temecula Valley Soccer Association, which have thousands of players.

"We're a small club with only about 200 players," Smith said. "But there just wasn't enough time or space in the valley for all of our practices and games. This should take some of the pressure off and allow other clubs space to play."

Those other local soccer groups will be encouraged to use the new complex for large tournaments that can attract as many as 7,000 people, many from out of town, Smith said.

"Our goal is to work with people to help elevate soccer here in the valley," Smith said. "And attracting that many people from out of town will be good for local businesses like restaurants and hotels."

His group plans to contact area business owners to sponsor the fields and help defray some of the expenses.

Smith also hopes nonsoccer groups, including nonprofit and equestrian organizations, might be interested in renting the location for events.

"As long as the water district says it's OK, I don't see why other groups can't have events here," he said.

Smith hopes to keep the soccer fields on the water district's land for years to come, but he's a realist.

"The way this area is growing, I know it's not a question of if, but a question of when" the water district will need the land, he said.

"It's hard to find this much green grass in one location anymore. I'm from the Midwest and I love big fields of grass. We're just grateful to have this lease on the property."

More information on the Southwest Soccer Club is available at www.southwestsoccerclub.com.

Contact staff writer John Hunneman at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2603, or jhunneman@californian.com.

9/22/02