Photo of NYCFC defender Josh Williams with EHYSL youth soccer players
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 15, 2015-On July 7 and 8, the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) held its annual Dinner of Champions, a tradition that extends back almost to the year of EHYSL’s founding in 1974 when it kicked off its inaugural season as the West Put Youth Soccer League and joined the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). The dinners over two nights were held at Anthony’s Pier 9 Restaurant in New Windsor.
All division winners, players, coaches and parents were invited for an evening devoted to recognizing the players, honoring the coaches and thanking the parents for their combined efforts to make soccer the popular sport it is. 38 champion teams from the 2014-15 season were introduced, and each coach praised his or her squad and introduced the players to a round of applause from the hundreds in attendance each night.
“I don’t know of any other leagues or organizations in youth soccer that hold a dinner such as this but I believe this to be vitally important, and this event will continue as long as I am President,” commented EHYSL President Jim Purdy.
The four EHYSL scholarship recipients were also honored: Davis Acevedo (Rensselaer Polytechnic University), Liam Kelly (New York University), Robyn Torregrosa (Rice University) and Monica Williams (Stevens Institute of Technology).
“These four scholarship recipients have exhibited excellence not only on the soccer field but in the classroom and the community as well,” President Purdy stated.
Adding to the festivities, New York City FC defenders RJ Allen and Josh Williams spoke to groups of players, posed for photographs and signed autographs. Scott Miller of the NYCFC Front Office discussed the plans of the expansion franchise to become the preferred MLS team in New York.
“Enjoy your summer and we will be looking forward to your efforts next year to return to this event,” added President Purdy.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and 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 11 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.
From left to right: EHYSL age group coordinator Randy Reed, EHYSL First Vice President Jim Eleftherion, NYCFC defender RJ Allen, EHYSL President Jim Purdy, EHYSL age group coordinator Dan Kelly