Soccer in Maine has surged over the past few decades, a growth story that traces its roots to a single man’s dedication on a modest high school field. Rich Kent founded the first soccer team at Rumford High in 1979 and spent two decades coaching, planting the seeds of a statewide passion that still blooms today.
A Legacy That Still Resonates
The impact of Kent’s early work is evident in the sell‑out crowds at Fitzpatrick Stadium for the Hearts of Pine and the throngs that gather in Monument Square to watch World Cup matches. Those scenes of community excitement echo the enthusiasm he sparked among players who later carried the sport into colleges, clubs, and public celebrations across the state.
From Classroom to Field
Seth Woodcock, now the associate athletic director at the University of Maine, was among the Maine youths who traveled to England in 1994 to test their skills against club teams. Craig Roberts, a standout from Greely High and Bowdoin College, later coached the Scarborough girls to a Class A championship game, recalling a 1987 match against a London side that served as a wake‑up call for the entire region.
Beyond the homegrown talent, waves of immigrants arriving in Lewiston and Portland brought their own love for soccer, infusing Maine’s version of the game with new flair and diversity. That cultural infusion has helped the sport expand beyond men’s teams, with plans for a women’s soccer side set to draw huge crowds to Fitzpatrick Stadium next year.
Kent’s influence also reached beyond the pitch. While serving as director of the Maine Writing Project at the University of Maine, he chronicled his experiences in the novel “Sing On, Maine United!” — a testament to how the sport intertwined with education, community, and personal storytelling.