Special to the Times-Free Press
East Boston FC, powered by Boston Scores, has officially launched for the spring 2025 season and will begin practices in March at Boston Scores Field at Salesian Heights, a beautiful new facility in East Boston.
East Boston FC (EBFC) is a recreational soccer club for youth in grades PreK-12. Providing multiple levels of soccer programming, EBFC is proud to be part of Mayor Michelle Wu’s efforts to expand neighborhood-based soccer leagues across the city.
Tommy Welch and his son,
Samuel Welch, join Boston Mayor
Michelle Wu for a photo at the
annual Mayor’s Cup Soccer Tournament.
Welch will serve as EBFC vice president
East Boston resident Tommy Welch, Regional School Superintendent in the Boston Public Schools, is the vice president of the new East Boston FC program. He is also a board member of Boston Scores.
“East Boston is a soccer community, and our youth and families are excited to see East Boston FC launch,” said Welch. “Families had been driving to other towns for soccer clubs, and now we are able to stay in East Boston and build a community hub right here.”
Welch said the idea for a new East Boston-based youth soccer team originated when Boston Scores, known for its outstanding after-school soccer and enrichment programs, relocated their headquarters from Jamaica Plain to East Boston and a $17 million renovation project was undertaken for the fields that were formerly utilized by Saint Domenic Savio High School athletic teams.
“Now we have our fields of dreams, we built it, and the kids are coming here – there is no field nicer than that one for youth sports in the entire city,” said Welch. “Last year we had over 250 youths participating through free programming in the summer and the fall. What we’re doing this year for the first time is starting an organized neighborhood soccer league similar to what’s happening in other Boston neighborhoods.”
Welch played soccer as a youth, before beginning his football career and competing at the collegiate level.
“As young as I can remember, soccer has always been a part of my life,” said Welch. “Now as the father of a 10-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son, soccer is something that we do together and enjoy.”
Travel teams will compete in the BAYS League
Tommy Welch said three East Boston FC boys teams and one girls team will compete in the third-and-fourth-grade division of the Boston Area Youth Soccer (BAYS) Conference. Those teams are in East Boston FC’s “travel” program.
“We have representation on our teams from every single school in East Boston, including the charter and Catholic schools,” said Welch. “It’s bringing everyone together.”
Welch said the East Boston FC teams will wear uniforms modeled after FC Barcelona, whose colors are blue, gold, and red.
The travel-team program will be supplemented by an in-house league in East Boston for youths of all ages (PreK-high school).
“This spring we expect 150-200 youths participating in the in-house league,” said Welch. “With a well-known 30-year organization like Boston Scores now located in East Boston, the interest in youth soccer here has exploded.”
Registration is open
Registration for the spring season is now open, and placement tryouts for travel teams will take place February 1. Practices for both grassroots and travel teams will start at the end of March with games beginning in April. The spring season will conclude in June.
EBFC is a volunteer-driven and neighborhood-based program that is governed by an Advisory
Board. Local nonprofit Boston Scores, who offers free afterschool soccer programs to over 1,800 youth across the city, provides backbone support for EBFC. EBFC practices and games will take place at the Boston Scores Field at Salesian Heights and field access is supported by the Salesian Boys & Girls Club.
EBFC and its coaches emphasize holistic player development that focuses on character building, skill development, and community building. The grassroots program is a recreational in-house league for kids of all skill levels that focuses on soccer fundamentals. The travel teams provide a more competitive level of play.
“Our partnership with the Salesian Boys & Girls Club to build our new field complex was founded on the vision that it would allow us to improve our programs across the City and to build community-based programs to better serve the East Boston neighborhood,” said John Maconga, Executive Director of Boston Scores. “We are thrilled that EBFC is launching and giving more youth in our community the opportunity to play.”
To learn more about EBFC and to register a child, please visit www.eastbostonfc.org or
www.bostonscores.org/ebfc