Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Deering Memorial Field
129 Ludlow Street
Portland, Maine 04103

The summer of 2023 saw semi-pro soccer come to Portland, Maine’s largest city – the Maine Footy Tide of United Women’s Soccer looks to fill the gap in the development of female soccer players, from collegiate soccer and the professional ranks both stateside and overseas.

Since its inception, the Tide has looked to make an impact both on and off the pitch. Not only has Maine Footy strived to put a highly competitive team on the pitch, but also to provide training opportunities for girls in Portland and the surrounding community.

Portland has an active food truck scene, which extends to the food options available at Maine Footy matches. Just inside the gates, numerous food trucks offer a wide selection of culinary delights.

The Mainely Burgers truck offers eight different burger options, served on a choice of a potato bun, gluten-free bun, or bed of lettuce with beef or veggie patties. The truck also offers chicken and gourmet hot dogs, with sides including various types of fries, buffalo cauliflower, and onion rings.

The PB & ME truck puts a creative twist on the childhood classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich; their PB tacos are a unique take on Uncrustables, made with flour tortillas. They also offer several grilled cheese and other grilled sandwich options.

Local coffee shop Aroma Joe’s serves a variety of cold drinks, while other trucks provide seltzers, frappes, floats, root soda, and the uniquely Maine soft drink, Moxie.

With food trucks, it is not uncommon for the selection to change throughout the season, but visitors can count on a well-rounded number of options when it comes to food here.

Maine Footy has played both their seasons at Deering Memorial Field (also called Memorial Stadium), which is a no-frills public high school sports facility that has hosted high school football, soccer, and lacrosse over the years. The venue was also home to the Portland Phoenix of United Soccer League 2. Seating here consists of aluminum bleachers on each side of the field; the once well-manicured grounds now seem overgrown with trees and shrubbery, however, rendering one of the entrances nearly unusable. The far side bleachers offer relief from the setting sun behind the west-side (home) seating.

Downtimes in the match, such as when the ball is out of play, when players are setting up for a corner kick, or when a player might need to be tended to by a trainer, are often filled with ad reads, acknowledgments of Maine Footy supporters, and announcements of post-match activities. Tide goals are celebrated with the familiar blast of a lighthouse foghorn, accompanied by Kernkraft 400’s Zombie Nation.

As the summer sun sets behind the homeside stands, sitting in the nearside bleachers becomes nearly impossible. However, while the larger home bleachers provide relief from the setting sun, the swampy pond behind the main seating area harbors many mosquitoes as dusk turns to night.

Memorial Field is located in Portland’s Deering Center neighborhood – mostly surrounded by single and multi-family homes, as well as the neighboring high school’s athletic facilities, it does not lend itself to many major points of interest. However, there are a few local restaurants and convenience stores within walking distance where you can grab a quick bite or drink; Quality Shop, Pat’s Meat Market, and Rosemont Market and Bakery are all excellent options for a quick sandwich.

Downtown Portland, the center of the city’s attractions, is roughly three miles away on the Portland peninsula and features boutique shops, restaurants, and a handful of Maine’s renowned craft breweries and seafood dining spots. For craft beer enthusiasts, the epicenter of Portland’s craft beer scene can be found in the Riverside neighborhood on Industrial Way, which boasts no fewer than six breweries on its industrial loop.  For family-friendly entertainment, the Children’s Museum & Theater of Maine is located at nearby Thompson’s Point.

Considering the overlapping seasons of Maine Footy and the Portland Sea Dogs, both can be easily paired for a weekend of sports in Portland.

Maine Footy draws a decent-sized crowd comprised of both families and community members. Portland has a strong soccer following, recently strengthened by the future United Soccer League member, Portland Hearts of Pine.

Fans enthusiastically support the Tide, cheering for strong defensive plays, shots on goal, earned corners, and saves. However, the lack of a supporter group is somewhat disappointing. However, with the formation of Hearts of Pine came its supporters group, Dirigo Union – it would be nice to see that group supporting soccer across the city, including Tide matches, to create a truly special atmosphere at Deering Memorial Field.

The Tide’s youngest fans might be the most dedicated, bringing homemade signs to encourage their favorite players, and staying well after matches for pictures and autographs.

With many homes around the stadium, Memorial Field is truly a neighborhood facility, easily walkable for many fans. As much as Portland tries to be bike and public transit-friendly, it just is not there yet (although they do at least try).

For those arriving by car, there is ample street parking and a parking lot available at the north end of the stadium. Although the parking is far from optimal, given the seating is on the opposite side of the facility from the parking lot, at least the area around the field is paved, which does make traversing much easier. A wheelchair ramp adjacent to the fieldhouse makes the bleachers accessible for all, as well.

Admission to Maine Footy matches costs $20, with the profits “supporting scholarships, community outreach, and other initiatives that benefit the Tide and the community”. Even with proceeds going to worthy causes, the price of admission can be a bit tough to swallow. For comparison, tickets to local summer collegiate baseball in the area run $5, and minor league baseball in the city starts at $15.

Flags representing the countries of origin of Maine Footy’s players are displayed at the entrance to the field.

Fans are allowed to vote for the player of the match by scanning the QR code in the program to register their vote.

Following the match, Maine Footy players host a meet and greet with their youngest fans; this goes a long way in establishing a strong connection with the community, and with those who come out to support the team and its players.

The impact that teams such as the Maine Footy Tide can have on a community like Portland’s can never be underestimated. Maine Footy had a successful first season in Portland, building strong community support and furthering that success in its second season. Mainers are a highly dedicated group of backers of their own, and with a roster comprised of several former Maine high school stars, it is easy for the community to get behind the team.

The Tide’s primary goal is to provide a platform for women to showcase their soccer talents, either to improve for their upcoming collegiate season or to use the experience as a stepping stone to a professional soccer career. In addition, however, Maine Footy also looks to play a role in inspiring and supporting the next generation of female soccer players in their soccer journeys, and all signs point to a strong future for both the team and its community impact.