My name is Ella Jade Meldrum (Ballstaedt).
I started playing soccer at the age of 3, and from the moment I touched that field, I fell in love with the game. My dream as a young girl was to play on the US Women's National Soccer team. I fell in love with Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Abby Wambach, Shannon Box, Carli Lloyd, and so many others. Each of them inspired me in different ways.
The Team That Changed Everything
By the end of my 8th grade year I joined a new club soccer team — one that had some of my closest friends in the world on it. I didn't know it yet, but these girls would become my lifelong sisters.
Imelda, who I consider one of my closest friends to this day, was a big part of me joining that team, and I will be forever grateful for her for being one of the largest reasons I found success and love for the beautiful game. These girls taught me what dedication, loyalty, support, and love really meant. We competed with each other day in and day out, and never once held it against each other. We not only made each other better players — we made each other better young women.
Because of Soccer, I am who I am today, and I have lifelong friends.
A College Education and a Dream Realized
In my sophomore year of high school I was offered scholarships to play soccer collegiately. Because of Soccer, I paid for my schooling.
I spent two years at the University of Utah playing against some of the top teams and players in the country. My final two years of college I played at BYU — the school I had dreamed of playing at ever since I was a little girl. I can still remember my senior night game, lining up and looking at the mountainside, thinking about how lucky I was to play at such an incredible program, with such amazing girls, in such a beautiful place.
Because of Soccer, I received a college education and lived my dreams.
The Love of My Life
After college, I ran into one of my club teammates' brothers. He was with Dawson Meldrum. Dawson asked me out — we went on a date, played soccer together, I watched his college games, and we fell in love.
On St. Patrick's Day of 2022, he asked me to marry him on South Field — the very place where I played my last two years of college soccer.
Because of Soccer, I met and married the love of my life, and I am growing a beautiful little family.
Why Because of Soccer Exists
I will never be able to fully give back to soccer what it has given to me. But I will always give thanks for the impact it has had on my life.
Through this company, I hope to help individuals recognize the impact soccer has had on their own lives — and to give others the opportunity to experience what soccer can do for them. I want to create a space where stories like mine are told, celebrated, and shared — because they happen every single day, all over the world.
Because of Soccer, we can reach our potential and become the best people we can be.
— Ella Jade Meldrum, Founder of Because of Soccer