Our Story

In 2012, Kaig Lightner, Founder and Executive Director, began to develop the concept of Portland Community Football Club (PCFC) in partnership with a group of passionate and frustrated soccer parents, most of whom live in the city’s most diverse, low-income and under-resourced neighborhoods.

For young players to participate and flourish in competitive soccer programs requires an unrealistic amount of money, time and resources. In a region where participating in top soccer clubs costs at least $2,000 annually per athlete, low-income youth are automatically excluded from the high-quality coaching, state of the art equipment and training facilities that more privileged kids receive.

PCFC was created to dismantle the barriers to competitive athletic training and opportunity, and to provide a safe and brave space for all youth to gain skills, confidence, educational and emotional support. In addition to supporting low-income, immigrant and refugee youth, PCFC is one of the only youth soccer clubs in the nation that openly encourages and supports LGBTQ+ players, coaches and parents.