Landmark FC thriving in MMSL’s lower divisions

Sixteen years and counting. That’s how long Landmark FC has been playing in the Manitoba Major Soccer League’s lower divisions.

The club currently tops the standings of the MMSL’s fifth division, with a few players who helped found the team in 2010 still suiting up for them, including manager Mike Plett, who quipped he wanted to play with the team in it’s 50th anniversary year.

“I’ll be 73, so that’s my goal — to play until I’m 73,” Plett said with a chuckle after a 0-0 draw against Storm FC Aug. 6 in Landmark.

Many of the players in this edition of the team come to Landmark from Winnipeg, eager to continue their competitive soccer career beyond rec leagues.

“It’s a young squad from Winnipeg, over the years we’ve kind of migrated that way,” Plett said, noting the 2026 edition of Landmark FC is one of the most skilled teams they’ve fielded.

“We’ve brought in some guys’ kids to come play with us and before you know it they’ve got all their friends playing and us old guys look slow and tired out there.”

Some of the Landmark players have moved up to play some games in higher divisions, with promotion to division 4 in the MMSL a possibility for next season. Hanover Soccer Club, based out of Steinbach fields teams in division 1, 2 and 3. Latino Power, a team based out of Blumenort, play in division 4.

Soccer still boasts a deep adult competitive league across the province, with 65 teams playing across six divisions, including in many rural communities.

Hockey has just 23 teams across two senior leagues with baseball only fielding 17 teams across three leagues.

“We need that,” Plett said, reflecting on sports across the province.

“Especially men’s sports… It’s not just us going and playing darts, it’s us going and being active and we’re battling.”

Rural teams also continue to draw a fanbase, with dozens in attendance to watch the lowest division of adult soccer in the province Aug. 6.

“I’m going to fight to have the team in Landmark for as long as I can,” Plett said.

“We’ll see what happens… It’ll go where the players go.”

United Weston, which currently play in division 4, but spent last year in division 5, were founded in 1909 and even won a pair of Canadian championships in the 1920s.

Landmark FC will play their final home match of the season Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.