Western United Pioneers
Western United Pioneers
Background
Western United Pioneers (formerly Western United FC) is one of the oldest cub soccer organizations in Massachusetts having roots back to the 1980’s; they are a very competitive soccer club based in Ludlow, Massachusetts.
Western United Pioneers provide an advanced program of coaching and competition to help student-athletes reach the highest level of soccer.
[On May 8, 2012 Western Mass Junior Pioneers soccer club merged with Western United FC; the new name of the club is Western United Pioneers and is comprised of players from Worcester to Albany and from Hartford to Southern Vermont and New Hampshire.]
The Western United Pioneer teams play in the Massachusetts Premier league (NSL), New England Premiership (NEP) and Region 1.
Since 1991, the club has compiled thirty State Championships, five Regional Finalists, ten Regional Semi-Finalists, and countless Championships at premier level tournaments.
They have a great fact sheet on where some of their alum landed. Check it out here.
Club Composition
The club has established competitive and developmental teams from U10 through U20 for both boys and girls. Currently Western United Pioneers is comprised of 18 boys teams and 8 girls teams; there are 22 coaches.
Related (?) to Western Mass Pioneers.
Camps/Clinics
Western United Pioneers offers many clinics and camps throughout the year.
Programs include:a March Day-Clinic; April Vacation Camp; summer clinics; and a high school residential camp.
They also have a “Developmental Program”; open to kids between 5-10. They will be introduced to team concepts and develop into technically sound players.
Tournaments
Western United Pioneer teams compete in a variety of tournaments each year. Some of their past activities include:
- Farmington Bank Soccer Shoutout (Labor Day)
- Oakwood Fall Friendlies
- FSA Turkey Shoot
- Western Winter Classic
- FSA Winter Festival
- NEFC Preseason Tournament
- NESC Cape Cod Classic (Memorial Day)
- YMS Columbus Day Cup
- MPS Thanksgiving Showcase
- PDA Spring Kickoff
- FC Delco Player Cup
Not all teams take part in all tournaments.
Facilities
- Sawyer Field, Williston Northampton School, Easthampton MA
- Galbraith Field, Williston Northampton School, Easthampton MA
- Holyoke Elks Club
- Holyoke High School, Mackenzie Stadium
Website
- The Western United Pioneers has one of the best websites for a soccer club; the site is easy to navigate; easy on the eyes – great colors.
- Best of all it has just about all the information you need to get started and all along during the seasons.
- They have a “search” option which is fantastic as many sites do not.
- The site does not have a field update section so you can see the conditions of the outdoor fields during inclement weather; they may provide via email and / or Tweets – not sure.
Been with this club for 5 years (since u-9) Coaches have changed but my daughter continue to develop into a strong and competitive player…very happy with this club.
club is great
Har
We have been with this club for over 3 months the team is competitive , the girls are very nice and the coaching is awesome. I don’t know how the other comments are from anybody whos with the program now it seems like there are disgruntle parents who expect miracle workers from the staff. I looked at the coaching staff for all the age groups and these folk are the who’s who in the community. And are some of the of best coaches in are area.. Look forward to great things to come also.
Abrasive coaches, questionable whether players are placed at appropriate age group, dirty play encourage. Scrappy soccer club.
This club has terrible coaching staff as politics tend to determine who makes what team.evils are held every year with the top team not really having to worry because there is no movement.once you are placed on a team that is where you stay regardless of how well you perform….they tend to tell you what you want to hear as to keep you coming back to keep their account nice and full of money….they also tend to pick tournaments lacking talent so as to make it look like they are better than they really are….brought in some new coaches last year and have gone more downhill than up…we have decided to spend our money elsewhere and would not recommend this club at all….some kids on the top teams hardly ever play in the games as the coaching staff tends to pick kids to play based on what their parents can do for the coaches in the future…..terrible terrible club ….don’t be fooled by these silver tongued devils…it’s never about getting your player better but more of a money scam
Seems to me the reviews here are unfair. There are a lot of teams at all age levels in this club and the experience with one team doesn’t translate to all. I’ve had two kids playing with the club for over a year and they do a great job. Nice people, good coaching, competitive tournaments and specialty coaches (especially for goalies). The focus is not on winning but on a fundamental style of play that will carry on as they get older. Also some perks like players get to attend all Pioneers games for free, Revs nights, etc.
that’s what I am talking about
Club has come a long way, used to be scrappy but have come into form and are very competitive nowadays. Have improved their records as well – good for them !
I have a son on the Pioneers and we have had nothing but a very positive experience. Many say couching is lousy but I don’t see that at all. All very good and very professional.
I’d say go for it!
The experience we had with this club was a extremely bad. There is no coaching happening with this age group (U-14). They will tell you that NEP is suppose to be developmental but don’t let them fool you. This club does not develop players at all or at least the coaches who coach the U-14 red age group. We left after U-13 and have been told from a family whose son is still playing on this team that there is no coaching taking place and the players are taught to hit and run with no emphasis on possession. This coach lost all of his players last year and from what we hear his assistant coach this year is a complete joke instructing the coach on what to do and making all the decisions although he never even played college ball. Yes we were 1 of the families that left and from what we have heard his team this year is very unhappy. We are very happy with our move and we warn you to think twice before you move to this club at this age group, If your child has very little skill, can run fast and hit hard then this is the team/club for you. If you would like your child to develop as a player and play real soccer please think about moving to this club.
Personally, I am very disappointed in Western United. The merger was horrible as all were hoping for a elite team to compete with others across the state. Just not sure what the future holds for this club for good soccer players – too just mediocre players. Sorry we are involved in the new club.
bad luck I guess
Terrible experience. Multiple coaches alternating practices, games, kids never knew what style they were supposed to play, coaches never really got to know the players (had one coach for a game didn’t know half the kids’ names!). Communication between Western and the families (e.g. when tournaments were, where they were, etc…), coaches spending more time texting than coaching. Wish I could get my money back.