State Referee Administrator Enrico Romano on the left with honoree James Bowne
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
January 8, 2014-At the Eastern District Soccer League’s (EDSL) Holiday Party at the Castle in Tarrytown on December 15, soccer lifer James Bowne was honored for his commitment to the game. The Beacon resident took over the Summer Mens-Over-30 division from Chris McLernan, the President of the LaGrange Soccer Club, in 1998 and is also in charge of their indoor division. James volunteers as well as the Registrar and Games Chairperson of the EDSL’s Mens-Over-40 division. The Over-40s kicked off in 2004 with just three teams and now have 13 squads along with a State Cup.
"James is a major reason why the EDSL has become the largest adult soccer league in Eastern New York. He founded our Indoor at the Net League in LaGrange and the Over 40 Fall and Spring Leagues in addition to becoming an official for Eastern New York games," commented EDSL President Peter Pinori. "James is always willing and ready to help in any situation that might occur. He and his wife Tania are also good friends to me and the entire Board of Directors."
James took up the whistle in 1998 after passing the Grade 8 Referee Certification course in December 1997. He has since officiated in six leagues in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA)––East Hudson Youth Soccer League, Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League, Westchester Youth Soccer League, Capital District Youth Soccer League, Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League and the Long Island Junior Soccer League. Besides being a member of the Hudson Valley Soccer Referee Association, James refs college games with his colleagues in the Mid-Hudson Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association and high school matches in the Mid-Hudson Soccer Officials Association.
"James is the best! He is a wonderful person who always find the time to help others," said State Referee Administrator Enrico Romano.
Somehow, with all this volunteering and refereeing, James is able to still play the Beautiful Game as he continues to have fun in pick-up games with his friends on Friday nights. He started playing soccer at Brooklyn Tech High School, then moved on to the LaGrange men’s team in 1998 and Germania in 2008.
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 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.