JB Marine Soccer Club
Overview
JB Marine Soccer Club is one of the most historically successful youth soccer clubs in St. Louis, based in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Founded in 1978 by George Foster, the club was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1985. Named after the Jefferson Barracks military installation area, JB Marine operates approximately 40 teams with ~1,000 players.
The club holds an ECNL Girls franchise and competes across multiple competitive tiers.
Legal entity: JB Marine Soccer Club (EIN 43-1506901), 501(c)(3) since December 1993.
Financials
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,021,234 | $820,507 | $1,320,420 |
| 2023 | $755,865 | $555,489 | $1,119,693 |
| 2022 | $790,245 | $602,963 | $919,318 |
| 2021 | $662,569 | $524,704 | $732,036 |
| 2020 | $339,938 | $356,318 | $594,171 |
| 2019 | $527,696 | $438,060 | $610,551 |
Source: ProPublica 990 filings (HIGH)
Key observations:
- $1.02M revenue in FY2024 — 35% YoY growth, first time crossing $1M
- $1.32M net assets — net assets EXCEED annual revenue, extremely healthy balance sheet
- ~70% revenue from program services
- William Laub (President/Director): $66,000 compensation
- George Foster (Founder, Chairman/VP): $0 compensation
- Conservative financial management — accumulated substantial reserves
Teams & Players
- ~40 teams (MEDIUM — master list)
- ~1,000 players (MEDIUM — master list)
- Ages U8-U19
Competitive achievements:
- 6 National Championships
- 84 Missouri State Championships
- 23 Regional Championships
- 18 Final Four appearances
League Affiliations
- ecnl Girls — franchise holder
- SLYSA — local league
- Missouri State Cup / Midwest Regional League
- Club to Club
Facilities
- Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex (Maryland Heights, MO) — shared municipal facility
- Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex
JB Marine does not own dedicated facilities.
Leadership
- William G Laub — President/Director ($66K)
- George P Foster — Chairman/VP/Founder ($0)
- Sean Sortor — Executive Director
- H. Eugene Lewis — Secretary/Treasurer
Competitive Position
JB Marine is a mid-tier competitive club with exceptional financial health relative to its size.
Strengths:
- ECNL Girls franchise — valuable asset
- $1.3M net assets on $1M revenue — fortress balance sheet
- 6 national championships — strong brand
- Conservative, sustainable operations
Weaknesses:
- Small scale (40 teams, 1,000 players)
- No owned facilities
- $1M revenue limits investment capacity
- Founder-dependent governance (George Foster still active since 1978)
Investment Thesis
JB Marine is a solid bolt-on acquisition for its ECNL Girls franchise and clean balance sheet. At $1M revenue with $1.3M net assets, the financial profile is exceptionally clean.
Valuation estimate: $2-3M (ECNL franchise premium applies)
Open Questions
- Is George Foster planning succession? He’s been with the club since 1978.
- How does JB Marine’s ECNL franchise relate to Missouri Rush’s and KC Select’s?
- Would the club be interested in joining a platform, or is independence valued?