After seven years of playing “home” games on the Phillips 66 field outside Ferndale city limits, the Ferndale High School girls’ soccer team finally played a home match at FHS on Sept. 7. It was the first-ever varsity game in the brand-new Golden Eagles Stadium, and the team rewarded the packed crowd of supporters with a dominant 7-0 victory over Squalicum. 

“The energy was just so crazy,” said senior Mia Kinsfather, one of the soccer team’s captains. “To see the stands filled with fans, and to have the game we did to open it off – it was perfect.” 

A week later, the varsity Golden Eagles football team got to play their first game on the new turf field, winning a thriller against Glacier Peak in front of a sea of roaring fans in blue and gold. It was the football team’s first home game at FHS since 2020 after spending two years playing at Blaine High School’s stadium. 

“It was kind of surreal, to be honest,” said senior Conner Walcker, who plays safety and wingback for the football team. 

After over two years of construction, the Golden Eagles Stadium is now fully operational and ready to be a hub for the Ferndale community. It will host many more thrilling soccer and football games, graduations, and the first true home track meets in over a decade.  

The stadium and accompanying turf field complement FHS’ new Athletic Wing, which was completed in the fall of 2022 using voter-approved bond funds. It’s one piece of a rebuild of FHS’ entire campus, which will continue later this school year with the new CTE Wing and a remodeled Performing Arts Center. 

Students on the soccer team said they loved playing on the new turf field. 

“The quality of the turf is newer and playing on your actual home field is just a big deal,” said junior Jaiden O’Neill, one of the captains. “I’m excited to have the rest of this year and the rest of next year to play on it!” 

Seniors on the football team noted that the turf field was a major upgrade over the old FHS grass field. 

“Our old field had so many hills and lumps, it was a little difficult. But this one’s super flat and nice, and we’ve got a lot more seats in the stands,” said Walcker. 

Senior Camden Raymond, an offensive and defensive lineman on the football team, said he was even impressed by the new electronic scoreboard. 

“At first I thought we should’ve stuck with the old scoreboard, because it’s iconic,” he said. “But when I had a sack in Friday night’s game, and I looked up and saw myself on the scoreboard, I was like, ‘Okay, that’s big league, that’s pretty cool.’” 

Community members also said they loved the new stadium and field. 

“I have two high schoolers, and it feels so good to both of them to have such a beautiful space,” said Ferndale resident Kim Cancelosi. “It feels like the community values them and they have something to be proud of.” 

“I think it’s beautiful,” said Harvey Pottle, an FHS graduate who played on the Golden Eagles’ undefeated 1951 football team. “I wish I could’ve played on it!”