Challenger Sports began running summer soccer camp in 1985, as British Soccer Camps, a division of All American Indoor Sports Inc. All American operated a number of multi-purpose indoor soccer facilities and was owned by Ron Matsch and Jim Jorgensen. Ron and Jim also founded Discovery Zone Inc., an indoor playground and fun center for children, that went on to achieve international success.
The British Soccer Camp program quickly grew throughout the Midwest, expanding into Oklahoma, Tennessee and Georgia, and establishing a reputation of delivering quality coaching with a unique British cultural twist.
On October 1, 1997, Challenger Sports was created by Ron Matsch, Jim Jorgensen, Peter Arch and Alan Jones, and the company acquired the operations of British Soccer. Gearing up for nationwide growth of the British Soccer Camp program and for further expansion into other elements of the soccer industry, Challenger Sports quickly recruited Paul Lawrence and Derek Shoare who at the time were President and Vice President of the largest soccer camp company in the United States.
Challenger built a quality staff of full-time Regional Soccer Directors, and within two years had established a network of offices throughout the United States. Challenger also invested heavily in the United Kingdom and were the first United States-based soccer company to set up a full-time recruitment and training operation in Britain.
Challenger's investment was quickly rewarded as the British Soccer Camp program grew by over 47 percent in 1998 and then grew a further 71 percent in 1999! Since then, the company has continued to grow steadily each year, and Challenger now runs over 3,500 British Soccer Camps for 120,000 children and also coaches a further 50,000 players on their rapidly expanding year round Club Trainer programs.
