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SALT LAKE CITY -- Young soccer players will get new gear and new moves Aug. 6 thanks to the memory of a Utah player who was killed in his prime.
Matt Knoop was a soccer star from Park City killed by a hit-and-run driver on his LDS mission in Brazil three years ago. After his death, his family created a charitable legacy, called Kick for Kids, to share soccer with kids who might not be able to afford to play.
"He lived his life to the fullest, every minute," his mother, Kaye Knoop says. "I don't think he ever slept."
The Utah Youth Soccer Association and Taylorsville Youth Soccer League teamed up for a the benefit in his honor this weekend. They'll hold soccer clinics on the field of Taylorsville High School. They'll offer scholarships for club teams and give away gear to kids who might not otherwise afford it. It all happens from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
"A lot of the kids that ordinarily couldn't play because of financial reasons will now get an opportunity to be part of an organization," says E.J. Reyes with Taylorsville Youth Soccer League.
"He would just be so amazed," says Kaye Knoop of the benefit.
Matt Knoop played on five club championship teams while growing up in Park City. He aspired to play in college, and eventually coach, but was killed by a hit-and-run driver on his mission in Brazil.
"The mission was everything to him. Everything," his mother says.
She says her son loved to kick the ball around with kids while on his mission.
"He was really a friend to those kids in need. He always had an ear to listen to problems."
"Because Matt was so humble, he's taken back a little bit that all this is going on," she says. "But, I know that he would be so proud of this event and so happy to be helping these kids in need."
It's a big event. A lot of kids are going to go home with some incredible gear. The soccer association is giving away a more than 50 shin pads, and also 150 soccer balls.
"There's a lot of kids that can't afford it, and this is a great opportunity here and within our clubs that have money set aside to scholarship kids who couldn't otherwise afford it," says Drew Hiatt, executive director of the Utah Youth Soccer Association.
That helps keep Matt Knoop's memory alive.
"You don't want your child to be forgotten," his mother says. "With an event like this, and other events we've been able to do for Matt, we're sure of that."
