About Windy City Wanderers FC, Chicago's Premier Adult Soccer Club

Windy City Wanderers FC (Football Club), affectionately known as the WCW, started off with humble beginnings in August 2006. Matt Rosine's simple idea was to create a club where a group of people could get together at least once a week, and always be guaranteed that enough people would turn up and get a good game of soccer going. Many groups had existed before where some weeks ten people would show, others only three. WCW would be the place that Chicago could rely on to always be playing soccer, week in week out.

August 13th was our inception, and nobody knew how many people would show up to "Our First Kickabout in the Park". As a few people started to trickle into our designated meetup place, our symbolic home at Grant Park, Matt was happy that there would at least be enough people for a small game. Mission accomplished! As the minutes continued to tick by, more and more people kept turning up. 5 people turned to 10, 10 to 15, 15 to 20 and then finally 25! A massive, overwhelming number! While at least 25 people had RSVP'd, it was never expected this many people would actually show up. Thinking fast, several smaller games of individual skill level were set up, and the very first WCW games began! This method of dividing people up still exists to this day.

As the summer of 2006 continued, word of a large group of people playing soccer in Grant Park spread throughout the city. People told their friends, who told their friends. Not only were these people playing fun soccer, but they were actually friendly! Plus, females could show up and play with other females, and not be intimidated by all male groups. As attendance grew, so did the need to establish more of a structure. Timed games were introduced, as were mass half times and water breaks. This also enabled everyone to get to know each other more and make new friends.

Each weekend's attendance grew steadily until one Sunday in September when 60 people showed up - at least 3 times the amount than was ever imagined. As Matt looked around, he realized that this was going to be about more than just having a regular place to play...

Since our beginnings, we have moved locations, established mid week games, set up a WCW West Side Branch, played our first Inter Club Tournament, held many social activities, taken part in and hosted our own charity events, held our own Fusbal Tournament, established our own uniform, entered teams into league competition (just for fun!), played indoor during the winter, and most importantly - made many many new friends!

Next up.... Why Do We Exist?