Soccer supply story makes its pitch

Gary O’Neil has played soccer since he was four years old and coached the sport for eight years.

He always dreamed of opening a soccer supply store, and after two years searching for the ideal location and securing funding, he has.

“I’ve been wanting to do this forever ... There wasn’t a soccer store here and it’s very much needed in the area,” O’Neil said.

The Soccer Pitch, located at 9621 Mickelberry Road in Silverdale, opened just more than a month ago. Don’t let the name confuse you: “Pitch” means playing field.

The store carries soccer cleats, socks, bags, balls, goalie jerseys, referee uniforms and a variety of other soccer apparel. Running shoes and apparel also are sold at the shop.

“For me, running has always been a passion and there was nowhere in Silverdale to buy quality apparel and equipment,” said Leigh Sinclair, O’Neil’s wife and co-owner of the store.

The running section includes Ryka shoes, which are designed specifically for women, along with Brooks, Avia and New Balance shoes. There are sports bras, running tights, track spikes and special “Runnerware” — undergarments designed for jogging.

In addition to Puma, Umbro, Diadora, Uhlsport and Kappa apparel, the couple said Nike and Adidas are coming soon.

“It was a surprise how much it cost to bring Adidas and Nike to the shop,” O’Neil said.

Business got off to a good start, O’Neil said. He is looking forward to upcoming select and recreational soccer seasons, which could boost sales even more.

“We already have teams coming in ordering jerseys, shorts, balls and socks,” O’Neil said.

The groups have included high school teams and military intramural groups, according to O’Neil.

The couple stressed they want to attract women as well as men to the store. Sinclair said she has noted a trend of mothers getting hooked on soccer. The store carries hard-to-find cleats, turf shoes and socks designed for women.

In the future, O’Neil said he hopes to sponsor local soccer teams, but that it will take time to get “into the groove,” he said.

The most popular items so far have been children’s shoes and clothing, according to O’Neil.

The toughest part of operating the business — besides juggling his schedule with another job — is handling the paperwork and the bookkeeping, O’Neil said.

The best part “is coming here and hanging out in my own soccer store. My friends come in and we try on the clothes,” he added.

The store employs three people besides Sinclair and O’Neil.

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