Remembering Eastern New York Hall of Famer Mike Clarke - Eastern NY Youth Soccer Association

Mike Clarke when he was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2012. From left to right: Willie Dempsey, Mike Clarke, Hilda Wolfe, Rocco Amoroso, Burt Wilkes and John Kilby. Photo courtesy of ENYYSA.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

June 17, 2023-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the loss of Michael Clarke who passed on June 16.

“I was saddened to hear about the passing of Mike, a legendary figure and one of the true gentlemen of soccer who volunteered on Long Island for decades,” stated ENYYSA President Richard Christiano.

Mike began his soccer career as a youth soccer coach in the Brentwood Soccer Club in the 1970’s, coaching both boys and girls. He then served as club President and under his leadership, the club tripled in size. Mike served as tournament director of Brentwood’s Columbus Day Tournament, played at what is now Brentwood State Park.

In the early 1980’s, Mike became a member of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Board of Directors. Mike was also the girls varsity coach at MacArthur High School in Levittown and his reputation as an ambassador of sportsmanship led the Nassau County Soccer Coaches Association to annually give the top girls player in the county the Michael Clarke MVP Award.

Mike also received the Marg McGory Award for his unwavering dedication to the LIJSL’s TOPSoccer Program for children with special needs. He was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 1994 and in the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2012.

There are not many volunteer positions in Long Island soccer that Mike did not hold as he has served as LIJSL Select Chairperson, Long Island Cup Chairperson, LIJSL Hall of Fame Chairperson, LIJSL Games Supervisor, State Cup Commissioner plus served on the committees for the LIJSL Convention, LIJSL Scholarship Program and LIJSL Rules Committee.

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Mike at the Peter Collins Soccer Park. Photo courtesy of the LIJSL.

Additionally, Mike served as Director of the Peter Collins Soccer Park since 2001. The Soccer Park is a 22-acre facility sporting five large fields and three small-sided fields and it’s the home of the LIJSL, the Rough Riders as well as the Plainview/Old Bethpage Highlanders Soccer Club. Plainview/Old Bethpage needed a new home after their fields on Round Swamp Road that they have been using since the 1980’s were paved over for development. The fields have hosted teams from around the world as well as the US Youth National Team Program and a who’s who of American soccer has played there at one time or another.

“We are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Mike Clarke,” LIJSL President Andrew Seabury said. “The LIJSL community has lost one of the truly great servants of the game. His service to the league was second to none, and his generosity of spirit will forever be missed. Our deeply condolences go to Mike’s family and his many friends.”

With approximately 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 10 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 Children With Special Needs. 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 onto http://www.enysoccer.com/