By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
August 7, 2014-With a dozen irrigated fields, being centrally located and just a short corner kick from the Taconic Parkway, Stringham Park in LaGrange hosts many top soccer competitions annually. For the past several years, the home of the LaGrange Soccer Club has hosted the State Open Cup finals of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and the State Under-23 finals of the Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association.
Last Saturday, August 2, Stringham Park was the host to a different sort of competition, the 11th Annual Goals For Hope. As this is a festival, no standings were kept and the purpose of the festival was to have fun while raising money for a great cause, the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, which funds support services and outreach for those affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley.
“The LaGrange Soccer Club is proud to be able to provide the use of Stringham Park for such a great event,” commented LaGrange Soccer Club President René Rivera.
The officiating was donated by referees of the Hudson Valley Soccer Referee Association (HVSRA) and has been since the first tournament back in 2004. There are even US Soccer instructors and assessors present in addition to referees.
“In my second year coordinating referees for the GFH festival, I have found an abundance of referees offering to volunteer their time to assist this effort,” offered Rob Sweeting, the LaGrange Head Referee. “This year we have about 25 officials lined up to aid in providing a great day of soccer to all the ladies playing.”
The competition is widely disparate, from the competitive games provided by college women on summer break, to the “Soccer Moms” playing 7v7, to the “Soccer GrandMoms” filling the ranks of the 5v5 mini-soccer teams. Many of the players grew up playing in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL). And everyone has a great time, always bearing in mind that the real purpose of the day is to raise money to fight breast cancer and support those families affected by the disease. The Co-Chairperson of Goals For Hope, Amanda Tierney said, “The community support for our Goals For Hope breast cancer tournament is overwhelming, from the women who play, to the youth players who volunteer to help run the event.”
This year’s Survivor Honoree was Mrs. Christine Galloway, a long-time Beacon Soccer Club coach who was recognized for fighting through (and prevailing over) two cancer diagnoses. The former EHYSL Board Member and her husband Robert have been pioneers in youth soccer in the Hudson Valley. In 1996, Christine became the first female elected to the East Hudson Hall of Fame. She was joined 10 years later by Robert.
The festival, through entrance fees, donations, sponsorships, and raffles of goods and services, has raised over $300,000 in the past 11 years.
“We are proud to be able to provide ongoing support for the Miles for Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, and grateful to those who contribute to the success of our events, helping to give back to those in need in our community,” Tierney added.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.
