From left to right: Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association First Vice President Albino Guimaraes, 2015 Hall of Fame inductee James Bowne, Eastern District Soccer League President Peter Pinori and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association President Richard Christiano.
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
December 15, 2015-Congratulations to James Bowne, the newest member of the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place at the 2015 Holiday Party organized by both the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association on December 6 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.
Jams kicked off his soccer career as a player for Brooklyn Technical High School back in 1971. He picked it up again when he took over the LaGrange men’s team in 1995, from which he brought their “informal summer league” they played in to state affiliation in 2003. He and John Jorgenson co-founded the Over-40 Division of the Eastern District Soccer League (EDSL) in 2004 with only four teams. It has since grown to 17 teams and participates in the Amoroso 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.”
He 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.
James took up the whistle in 1998 after passing the Grade 8 Referee Certification course in 1997. He has since officiated in six youth leagues in 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 and instructor of the Hudson Valley Soccer Referee Association (HVSRA), 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.
In 1999, James completed US Soccer’s Assignor Course and assumed the position of Head Referee for the LaGrange Soccer Club until 2006, when he moved to Beacon. He selects and schedules refs for all indoor competitions at The Net in LaGrange and guides youth referees every weekend during the winter season.
“James is the best! He is a wonderful person who always find the time to help others,” said State Referee Administrator Enrico Romano.
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.