Belleville’s soccer team announces venue change with season still set to start May 20

Garen Vartanian
·2 min read

There’s a slight change of plans in the inaugural season for Ehtar Belleville F.C.

After initially planning to play its home games at the former Lindenwood University and Belleville West campus on West Main Street, the team recently announced it instead will play at Althoff Catholic High School.

Club President Brian “BT” Thomas confirmed the venue change Tuesday afternoon. Althoff is located at 5401 West Main Street.

“They are incredibly accommodating,” Thomas said of Althoff. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to play there, and we’re very excited about the season starting soon.”

Other than the move to Althoff, Thomas said all other organizational aspects will remain the same. All game times and dates are unchanged and home contests still will feature family-oriented attractions, concessions and beer and food trucks.

“The only thing that’s changing is our address,” Thomas said.

Ehtar begins play as a National Premier Soccer League expansion team at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20, in Milwaukee. Prior to that, the team will play a home exhibition game — dubbed the Belleville Friendly Match — against Belle-Vegas at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Althoff.

Ehtar will compete in the Gateway Conference of the Midwest Region. Other teams include Club Atletico Saint Louis; Des Moines United F.C.; F.C. Milwaukee Torrent; Iowa Raptors F.C.; and Sunflower State F.C. out of Kansas City. The season starts Saturday, May 20, in Milwaukee and ends in August so college students have time to return to school.

The team will play two exhibition games, five home games and five away games. Admission will be $10 a ticket, but Ehtar has season ticket packages available for order on the club’s website — https://ehtarfc.com/.

For more information about Ehtar, Thomas encouraged people to visit their website.

Ehtar Belleville F.C.’s head coach Drew Crawford works with potential team members during an open tryout. Ehtar will play their home games at Althoff Catholic High School after originally planning on playing at the former Lindenwood University and Belleville West campus.
Ehtar Belleville F.C.’s head coach Drew Crawford works with potential team members during an open tryout. Ehtar will play their home games at Althoff Catholic High School after originally planning on playing at the former Lindenwood University and Belleville West campus.
Ehtar Belleville F.C. takes its name, which means swordsman or warrior, from southern Illinois distinction as “Little Egypt.” The new soccer club takes its colors from the flag of Belleville.
Ehtar Belleville F.C. takes its name, which means swordsman or warrior, from southern Illinois distinction as “Little Egypt.” The new soccer club takes its colors from the flag of Belleville.