RIDGELAND — The new Holmes Community College soccer field house is nearing completion, and the College will hold a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to unveil the facility on the Ridgeland Campus.
The ribbon cutting for the field house, located on the northeast corner of campus (412 W. Ridgeland Avenue, Ridgeland), is set for 10:30 a.m. The field house is 5,923 square feet and features locker and team rooms for both men’s and women’s soccer, coach’s offices, laundry rooms and storage as well as restrooms and concessions for use on gamedays on the Ridgeland Campus.
The locker rooms are 464 square foot each and have 33 lockers with accompanying showers and restrooms while the team rooms are 582 square foot each and have seating for 33 people. Each team room will have audio/visual equipment for the players to watch film.
JH&H Architects of Flowood are the architects for the project while England Enterprises, Inc. of Vaughan constructed the facility.
“It has been a five-year process, and I am glad to see it before Matt, Don and I retire,” Holmes Athletic Director Andy Wood said. “I appreciate Dr. Haffey and Sonny allocating the money for the soccer teams.”
“We are extremely thankful to Dr. Haffey, Dr. Burnham, Andy Wood and all of our administration that made this happen,” Head Women’s Coach Wesley Noble said. “This is a huge blessing to this program and it is great to work for an administration that backs the program in such ways. Their generosity never goes unnoticed.”
Holmes’ Ridgeland Campus Vice President Dr. Don Burnham echoed their sentiments. “I am extremely excited to see this project come to fruition,” Dr. Burnham said. “We have certainly needed the facility for some time. Also, I am extremely grateful that the Holmes Community College Board of Trustees and Dr. Haffey saw the need for the facility. When Dr. Haffey told us a few years ago to begin work on the project we were beyond elated. To now see the culmination of that effort is beyond words.”
Not only will the facility serve current student athletes but will be big for future soccer players at the College.
“I think it will help us recruit better players because it shows how important soccer is to us here at Holmes Community College,” said Wood.
“It will be a major component for our program, giving the girls a place that is truly theirs,” Noble said. “We are in a very competitive league and having a first-class facility gives us another tool to continue to strive to be at the top of the MACCC.”
“Previously, we had no facility for our players to use or to show recruits and certainly competing coaches could and would use that to their advantage,” Dr. Burnham said. “We now have a facility that is second to none, and our players can see and be part of it. This lets them know that they are supported by the college in a manner that is equal to or greater than competing schools support their soccer programs.”
Enhancing the gameday experience with restrooms and concessions nearby was important.
“I think these facilities will help make our game day experience more exciting and convenient for our fans,” Wood said. “Having bathrooms on this side of the parking lot is really important. Also, having a concession stand area allows the fans to be able get refreshments at the game instead of bringing their own snacks and drinks with them.
“It pulls everything together, from a fan standpoint of convenience as well as for the players,” Noble said. “Everything we need for a game day is all in one place now. We couldn’t be more excited!”
“This facility completely changes the gameday experience for our players who now have locker room facilities on site,” Dr. Burnham said. “This provides them a place to prepare for their matches as a team in the appropriate environment for the competition. Second, fans and players now have facilities to use that do not require them to walk to other campus buildings or leave campus, which will be a very welcome addition for all of us. It is a gameday changer for us.”
All students, faculty, staff, alumni along with current/former players are invited to the ribbon cutting. For more information about the soccer programs, reach out to Coach Convertino at msoccer@holmescc.edu or Coach Noble at wsoccer@holmescc.edu.
To see the artist’s rendering of the facility, go to Soccer Field House Ribbon Cutting.
