Kicking for community

By Christopher Otero

Denver’s gay and lesbian soccer club, The Goal Miners, are gearing up for the outdoor spring season — a time when Club Manager Brian Coulthard said the Goal Miners are ready to increase team membership and welcome players of all skill levels to join.

The club prides themselves on providing a safe environment for all to have fun, keep active and enjoy the game of soccer, Coulthard said. The group often ventures out for social events like viewing parties for professional games and plans to hold meet-and-greet opportunities to win over prospective players — most likely at The Wrangler, the Goal Miners’ official sponsor.

After moving to Denver from Seattle in early 2013, Coulthard took it upon himself to build and rebrand the Goal Miners into a much more active group. Aiming to strengthen the club’s image, he relaunched in Fall 2013 and set club up as a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA). Founded in 1992, the IGLFA supports clubs on the local level and currently has 100-plus teams from more than 30 countries as part of their organization.

Coulthard said community service should be an important aspect of any organization and plans on making outreach an integral part of the Goal Miners’ mission once the club becomes more established. Coulthard’s former club in Seattle, Rain City Soccer, worked with local organizations such as Lambert House and Lifelong AIDS Alliance.

The Goal Miners currently play in non–LGBT-specific leagues, but when membership increases, Coulthard hopes to take a team to play in national IGLFA tournaments and even the Gay Games.

For now, the club is comprised of roughly 35 percent women, Coulthard said, so there is also the possibility of an all-women’s team in the Goal Miners future. For the time being, Coulthard’s goal is to increase the active roster across the board, and seeks players with healthy, positive attitudes, regardless of experience.

For those interested in learning more about the Goal Miners or becoming a member, visit their website at denvergaysoccer.org or you may email them directly at info@denvergaysoccer.org.