Soccer Pros Find Home in Rockville Retirement Community

Chris Hummer, the general manager of the Washington Spirit, was searching high and low for affordable housing for members of his professional women's soccer team when he was put into contact with an unlikely location: Ingleside at King Farm retirement community.

The community volunteered to host members of his team, and that is how Robyn Gayle and Diana Matheson found themselves as the new residents of the Rockville-based retirement community.

"When I first told [Matheson], she thought I was joking," said Gayle, who was teammates with Matheson on Canada's bronze medal-winning 2012 Olympic soccer team. "But we took a look at the place and said 'This looks pretty cool.'"

The two players, both in their 20s, will be sharing a two-bedroom suite at Ingleside for the entire Spirit season, an arrangement that the players said is just fine with them.

"It's been great, there's a lot more storage," said Matheson. "The walk-in closet is bigger than most bedrooms I've stayed at. We have everything we need."

The players were also quick to praise the welcoming attitude of the other residents of the community.

"Everyone is so friendly," said Matheson. "Everyone is incredibly welcoming, they've been offering to help out and we've made a bunch of new friends."

"It feels like everyday someone drops off a package or gift to our room," said Gayle.

Hummer came across the opportunity when Steve Gurney, the publisher of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, was attempting to contact local sports teams to promote the BIG EVENT, a luncheon at Nationals Park that focuses on stories of intergenerational connections.

Hummer told him about his housing dilemma and Gurney contacted multiple retirement communities in the area. Hummer said Ingleside at King Farm was immediately receptive to the idea.

The experience for Gayle and Matheson has been so positive that Hummer has expressed serious interest in having more of his players live in a similar situation.

"We would love for them to take more," said Hummer, though he acknowledged that Ingleside was already at capacity. He added that if another community offered a similar opportunity he would "do it in a heartbeat."

According to Marilyn Leist, the executive director of Ingleside at King Farm, the players and their team aren't the only beneficiaries of their residency.

"They are accomplished young women whose presence lifts the spirit of all with whom they come into contact," said Leist. "This intergenerational experience has been wonderful for both the residents and the soccer players in promoting understanding."

The residents plan on supporting Gayle and Matheson and the rest of their team at all of their upcoming home games.