By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
May 18, 2022-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), inducted three wonderful volunteers into its Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 15 during a brunch at the Huntington Hilton.
Bill Rudy has been President of the Huntington Boys Club (HBC) for the past 18 years. He is at HBC’s home, the Half Hollow Hills Soccer Complex, from dawn to dusk every Saturday and Sunday during the season and left the soccer fields for a few hours to attend this ceremony. The soccer complex has some one of the finest grass fields on the East Coast and Bill is a large part of that. Soccer volunteers know that if you need something done, you call Bill. Prior to becoming President, Bill held virtually every administrative role within the club and he has seemingly done everything at HBC, which includes lining fields and cutting grass.
Marc Stein died last October after being an essential part of the LIJSL for decades. Long considered one of the good guys in soccer, Marc was a mentor, teacher, friend and coach to so many. He was a member of the LIJSL Board of Directors from 2012 until his passing. He also volunteered on the Long Island Cup Committee for two decades, 15 years as the Boys Cup Chairperson plus emceed the trophy presentation. Marc was also Chairperson of the Rules Committee and spent five years as an Age Group Coordinator.
“The positivity that Marc brought to everything he did with that big smile,” LIJSL President Andrew Seabury explained. “He is irreplaceable and we still have not replaced him on the LIJSL Board of Directors.”
Fred Schoenfeld was one of the founders of the Hewlett-Lawrence Soccer Club, then known as Blue Star, in 1971. Fred established travel teams, started an intramural program, recruited coaches and worked with school districts to be able to use their fields. A decade later, in 1981, Blue Star had 750 youth players when it joined the LIJSL. To this day, Hewlett/ Lawrence teams honor their heritage as each team nickname begins with the word “Blue.” The club was also one of the first on Long Island to kick off a girls program. Additionally in 1981, Fred rebuilt the United States Maccabiah Soccer Program, winning silver medals in both 1983 and 1985 when it had never advanced beyond the group stage before.
From left to right: LIJSL President Andrew Seabury, Bill Rudy, Mrs. Marc Stein and Fred Schoenfeld. Both photos courtesy of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
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 nine 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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/