Notable Hall of Fame Inductees
Cesar Aliaga has played soccer for most of his life, founded the Port Chester Soccer Club in 1994 and served as club President from 1994 to 2001 and 2003 to the present.
Rocco Amoroso, Mr. Sportsmanship, founded the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program in 1980 and it was copied around the world. Served as Chairperson of Eastern New York’s Hall of Fame Committee until his passing in 2016 at the age of 89.
Milagros Arana has served as President of the New York Metropolitan Women’s Soccer League since 2000. Played in the league and coaches the Manhattan Kickers women today, winning the 2012 State Cup.
Chris Armas is a LIJSL and Eastern New York ODP alumnus who played in Major League Soccer for over a decade and had 66 caps with the US National Team.
George Barr played professionally for 15 years in the American Soccer League, then volunteered as a coach in what is now the Syosset Soccer Club in the LIJSL.
Jack Baumann, the father of girls soccer on Long Island, was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club, Eastern New York and making sure that girls had the same opportunities to play soccer as boys.
Ben Boehm played for Pfaelzer Soccer Club in the CJSL, then played local adult soccer and has been coaching at BW Gottschee since 1967.
John Boulos was New York City schools’ MVP while leading the Manuel Training School to the city championship, played on the Bay Ridge Hearts of the CJSL, then competed professionally in the American Soccer League.
James Bowne is a player and referee who is also a referee instructor and assignor plus a Board member of the Eastern District Soccer League.
Gordon Bradley coached Pelé, Carlos Alberto, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia with the Cosmos, then coached the Washington Diplomats. Helped grow the game by giving numerous youth clinics in the New York metro area.
Carlo Bucich co-founded the youth program of the Istria Sport Club in 1978, which plays in the CJSL. Became a CJSL Trustee, coaches the Istria men’s team in the Long Island Soccer Football League.
Luigi Cecchi volunteered as President, Secretary and Registrar of the Italian-American Soccer League.
Richard Ceonzo was appointed to the EHYSL Board of Directors in 1999, as well as served on many committees with the league. Rich has also had a long and very distinguished career as a referee, achieving Grade 5 Assessor status in 2013. He served as Eastern New York State Referee Administrator in 2011, in charge of thousands of certified soccer referees from Long Island to the Canadian border.
Richard Christiano, who has brought fiscal responsibility to Eastern New York as our President since 2010, was a youth coach for the New Hyde Park Wildcats and served on the LIJSL Board of Directors for 14 years, greatly improving the LIJSL Select Program during this time.
Philip Christopher owns the New York Freedoms and was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Professional Soccer League.
Mike Clarke coached Brentwood Soccer Club teams in the 1970s, then served as club President and Director of the Brentwood Columbus Day Tournament. He has volunteered on the LIJSL Board of Directors and many league committees as well as being State Cup Chairperson and Director of the Peter Collins Soccer Park.
Peter Clinton was one of the Founding Fathers of the CDYSL in 1976 as well as being one of the Founding Fathers of the Clifton Park Soccer Club.
Jack Cohen was a top coach for Oceanside United in the LIJSL as well as New York Hota in the CJSL before becoming Eastern New York’s ODP Chairperson.
Emil Cohill serves as Secretary of the CJSL, has been refereeing for over three decades and played local amateur soccer.
Peter Collins volunteered as LIJSL President for 27 years, a time when the league quadrupled in size. On his watch, the league started TOPSoccer, the Exceptional Senior Games, LIJSL Convention and the Peter Collins Soccer Park.
Joan Connor started as a Bethpage Soccer Club coach, became club President, is now 1st Vice President of the LIJSL and serves as Chair of the Registration and Tournament Control committees.
Dr. Bob Contiguglia grew up on Long Island, then moved to Colorado, playing, coaching and managing soccer teams. During his tenure as US Soccer President, the US Women’s National Team won the 1999 Women’s World Cup and the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Miguel Cuellar played local soccer, served as President of the Metrokids Interregional Soccer League plus coaches and referees.
Joan Czach, the Executive Director of the LIJSL, has been involved in youth soccer since 1978 and coached the West Babylon Panthers to the 2000 Boys-Under-17 national championship.
Livio D’Arpino was an Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association Vice President who was seemingly involved in every aspect of local soccer until his untimely passing in 2002.
William Dempsey has been a member of the New York Irish Rovers for over three decades. Starting as a player and is now the club President. Serves on the Long Island Soccer Football League Board of Directors.
Nino DePasquali is a successful coach at the youth and adult levels. He coached Regis High School to two New York City championships.
Isabel Driscoll was one of the original members of the Massapequa Soccer Club, serving the club as President, Board member, tournament director, coach and referee. Volunteered as Secretary of Eastern New York for nearly a decade.
Jim Eleftherion has volunteered as coach, Mahopac Sports Association Soccer Club President and is currently 1st Vice President and Games Chairperson of the EHYSL and Eastern New York Treasurer.
Dieter Emmerling played local amateur soccer. After a hip fracture, he turned to coaching and led the New York Hota BU18 team, then the CJSL BU18 Select Team. Also volunteered as President of New York Hota.
Joe Ferraro started coaching in what is now the Northport/Cow Harbor Soccer Club, served on the club’s Board of Directors ,then volunteered for many years as LIJSL Registrar plus was Chairperson of the LIJSL Hall of Fame Committee.
Mike Finnegan volunteered as a longtime coach in the Rockville Centre Soccer Club, then served as club President. For over two decades, he served as Treasurer of Eastern New York.
Jack Flamhaft played soccer in New York City public schools, served as US Soccer President from 1959 to 1961.
Eddie Gamarra founded the Our Lady Queen of Peace soccer program in 1980, serving as the club’s President for 30 years. Eddie’s generosity is seen throughout the parish and he served in various positions for the Staten Island Youth Soccer League, including Vice President.
Don Garber has served as Major League Soccer Commissioner since 1999, leading MLS to unprecedented popularity.
Norma Gorman was President of the Brentwood Soccer Club for a decade and saw to it that the Pilgrim State Soccer Complex, now Brentwood State Park, was preserved.
Pat Grecco volunteered as Director of the Exceptional Senior Games, the College-Bound Player Program and the Scholarship Program, all organized by the LIJSL.
Richard Groff served as President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association, was Commissioner of the A-League and promoted US Soccer’s international games.
Sunil Gulati, the US Soccer President since 2006, has been involved in player development since the 1980s and his kids have played in Eastern New York.
Ken Gulmi volunteered as EHYSL President for an amazing 22 years and has been on the Board of Directors of Eastern New York for the past two decades. A longtime coach who directed his teams to 60 tournament championships.
Jack Hahn played for Brooklyn Sport Club of the CJSL, then volunteered as Secretary and Vice President of New York Hota. Refereed for a decade, then served Eastern New York as State Youth Referee Administrator.
Herbert Heilpern played local amateur soccer, was President of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and co-founded both the New York Cosmos and original North American Soccer League. The CJSL indoor tourney is named after him.
Jack Hynes played for Curtis High School and professionally in the American Soccer League while still a teenager. Also played on the US National Team in 1949.
Dinos Iordanou is the CEO of Arch Capital Group who has donated nearly $500,000 to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association within a decade. His three daughters all played for our ODP.
Klaus Kleinstauber played local soccer but is best known as a top referee and then he became an assessor, which he has been doing for decades.
Gregg Knight coached for the LIJSL’s Merrick PAL for two decades, serving as club President and starting its Sportsmanship Program. Served on the Board of Directors of both the LIJSL and Eastern New York.
Bessie and Phil Lamonica founded Oceanside United’s girls program in 1972 and have supported the Oceanside indoor tournament named after their son Rudy for the past five decades.
Steve LaRosa became the second President of Eastern New York in 1976. A longtime coach, he founded both the indoor and outdoor tournaments of the North Babylon Patriot Soccer Club.
Boris Lazari became a referee in 1975 after playing local soccer. Served as State Referee Administrator and is currently State Adult Referee Administrator.
Joe Licata developed a love of soccer early on in life in his hometown of Porte Empedocle, in Agrigento, Sicily. Joe immigrated to America at the age of 26. His love of soccer continued in Brooklyn on the Italian-American Soccer League team Fiorentina. In 1976, he founded the St. Patrick’s Soccer Club located in Staten Island, NY. St. Pat's became the first league to initiate an all-girls team. He held ref certification badges for the New York State Public and Catholic Schools as well as for US Soccer.
Marco Malusa founded the Glen Cove Soccer Club in 1953, Glen Cove Junior Soccer in 1964 and was a LIJSL Board member for six years. Player, coach, referee, assessor and administrator.
Cesar Maniccia was one of the Founding Fathers of the CDYSL in 1976 and served as President plus Director of its Select Program. Also founded the Rotterdam Youth Soccer Club. A longtime player, coach and referee.
Anthony Maresco began his soccer career in 1993 with Terryville Soccer Club by volunteering in its intramural program. He then became the Terryville President in 2000 and got the club back on its feet. Not stopping at the club level, Anthony started volunteering for the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) by holding various positions in their committees. In 2015, Anthony became LIJSL President (with its 60,000 players) and also began serving on the ENYYSA Board of Directors.
Patricia Louise Masotto played on the Massapequa Falcons team that won the Girls-Under-19 national championship. Scored a record 120 goals in two seasons at Massapequa High School before her life was tragically cut short by a drunk driver.
Peter Masotto volunteered as President of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association from 1984 to 2006. Coached the Massapequa Falcons to the Girls-Under-19 national championship, honored as Youth Coach of the Year in both 1984 and 1996.
Addie Mattei-Iaia served the LIJSL as its President for a decade. Volunteered as LIJSL Convention Chairperson, co-founded the Smithtown Kickers Soccer Club and directed its international tournament for over a decade.
Jack McCabe served on the committee that helped bring the 1994 World Cup to the United States but is best known as a pro ref, serving as State Referee Administrator, Region 1 Referee Director and National Referee Director.
Ian McDougall played professionally in the American Soccer League, co-founded the Oceanside United Soccer Club in 1962 and coached Oceanside teams for 35 years.
George Mellis played for the youth teams of Greek-Americans, then for the adult team. Coached Greek-American Atlas to many championships. Served on the Board of Directors of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and Eastern New York adults.
Glenn Mernone, heavily involved with New York Hota for many years, has volunteered on the Board of Directors of the Eastern New York adults as well as serving as Long Island Soccer Football League Treasurer.
Rocco Morelli scored in the NCAA Final, then served as a top coach in both the LIJSL and Eastern New York’s ODP.
Lloyd Monsen played for Gjoa of the CJSL, professionally in the American Soccer League and represented the United States in both World Cup qualifying and the Olympics. Also served as a referee for 30 years.
Luis Montoya founded the Big Apple Youth Soccer League in 1997 to serve the growing Latino community and is the only President the league has ever known. Served as Trustee for both the Eastern New York youth and adult associations as well as a longtime member of US Soccer’s Diversity Committee
Dr. Gabriel Nigrin founded the Silver Lake Soccer Club in 1970. Silver Lake was the first soccer club on Staten Island and entered its first team in the CJSL.
Bob Palmeiro served as Region 1 Director for over two decades and has been a long-standing member of both the US Youth Soccer and US Soccer Board of Directors.
Lincoln Page served as President, Treasurer and coach of the Massapequa Soccer Club and Director of the Massapequa Memorial Day Tournament that now bears his name.
Al Pastore, a longtime coach, was the founder, President and head coach of FC Westchester.
Pelé greatly helped the youth soccer boom by signing with the New York Cosmos in 1975. Won three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Giulio Petruccelli has been honored as Coach of the Year in both the Auburndale Soccer Club and entire LIJSL. Co-founded both the Auburndale TOPSoccer Program plus SS Cosma e Damiano of the Italian-American Soccer League.
Peter Pinori has served as Eastern District Soccer League president, increasing membership an amazing 7x in the past two decades. Works with the Eastern New York youth to improve local soccer.
John Palumbo founded the Yorktown Soccer Club, serving as a player and coach, plus co-founded the Joe Palumbo Soccer Academy in 1997 in the Putnam Valley.
James Purdy served as Wappinger United club President for six years, on the EHYSL Board of Directors for the past 18 years and as the league’s president, increasing the league’s registration numbers during this time as over 17,000 players now call the EHYSL home. Jim also currently serves on Eastern New York committees including Field Maintenance and Membership.
Kevin Reardon played in the Hicksville Americans Soccer Club as a boy, then served as club President as an adult. Played local amateur soccer and served as Director of the Peter Collins Soccer Park and on the Long Island Soccer Football League Board of Directors.
Abraham Rochester played for the West Indian American Soccer Club, played for the Wembly Soccer Club and became club President, plus founded the Caribbean Soccer Club.
Barbara Rodriguez volunteered as Northport/Cow Harbor Soccer Club President, girls coordinator of Liberty Cup USA and as State Cup Chairperson, a title she held for an amazing two decades.
Frank Rottenbucher was the longtime coach in the Clarkstown Soccer Club and with the Rockland Rowdies.
Barry Salter volunteered as President of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association from 2006 to 2010. The Westchester Youth Soccer League tripled in size when he served as President for 18 seasons, in addition to him being a Board member with the New Rochelle Soccer Club.
Willy Schaller played for Schwaben and BW Gottschee of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, played for the US at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, then coached youth soccer.
Peter Sedlmair coached in the EHYSL, founded the Northern Westchester Soccer League in 1990 and also played locally.
Stu Serota, volunteered as Eastern New York ODP Administrator from 1994 to 2002. Volunteered as Chairperson of the Rockville Centre Soccer Club’s intramural program from 1979 to 1991.
Philip Slone, played for Manhattan’s High School of Commerce, competed for the US National Team that finished in third place in the inaugural 1930 World Cup and played professionally in the American Soccer League during the 1930s.
Bill Smith, the Staten Island Youth Soccer League President, started coaching in the Richmondtown Soccer Club, then soon became the Director of the club, growing membership by 71%.
George Snizek won a national championship as the goalkeeper of the Lynbrook Over-30 team in 1994 and has also served the game as coach, referee and West Hempstead Chiefs’ travel team program founder. Also in the National Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
John Steigerwald grew up playing for Eintracht of the CJSL, played as an adult for local clubs and served as Arbiter of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League plus as Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association Trustee.
Hank Steinbrecher played local youth soccer with the Kollsman Footbal Club and the German Brooklyn soccer team and eventually had leadership positions with US Soccer, the 1994 World Cup and the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
Lewis Stewart has been a Trustee of the Eastern New York adults for three decades and served as President of the Five Boro Soccer League.
Peter Strumpf played for the Eintracht Soccer Club in the CJSL, then served on the Eintracht Board, then on the Board of Directors of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, becoming President in 2004. Currently the league’s Treasurer.
Jimmy Svendsen became CJSL President as well as SC Gjøa President in 1998, then went back to being Gjøa’s Youth Director. 2005 was Jimmy’s year as he received Lifetime Membership, soccer’s version of the Lifetime Achievement Award, for both the CJSL and Gjøa. In 2013, he was inducted into the CJSL Hall of Fame and received the same honor from Gjøa last year.
Lynne Thibdeau volunteered as Bethlehem Soccer Club President, Director of the Bethlehem Off the Wall Tournament, CDYSL Games Committee Chairperson as well as on Eastern New York’s Board of Directors for over a decade.
Carlo Tramontozzi played at LIU Brooklyn, coached the St. Francis College men for over two decades and served as the liaison for the Italian National Team during the 1994 World Cup.
Mario Treglia played in goal for New York Hota youth teams in the CJSL, then played for the men’s team. Served as Italian-American Soccer League President, founding its youth program in 1999. Co-founded SS Cosma e Damiano Soccer Club, serves as the Treasurer of the Eastern New York adults today.
Galo Trujillo founded the Mount Kisco Soccer League in 1997 and served as its President for nearly two decades. Referees and coaches at many levels.
Consalvo Turchi, the State Director of Assessment, was State Assigning Chairperson for two decades. Italian-American Soccer League President from 1987 to 1994, he coached Frosinone in the Northeast Super Soccer League.
Nicola Turchi co-founded the Mailla Soccer Club and Roma Soccer Club, which both played in the Italian-American Soccer League. Served as club President of Roma.
Fred Valenti served on the Mahopac Soccer Club’s Board of Directors for 15 years as well as EHYSL’s Hall of Fame and Supervisory committees. A top coach and referee for many years.
Vincenzo Valente played for Mount Carmelo’s CYO Program in the Bronx, he founded soccer club Associazione Sportiva Bisceglie that played in the Italian-American Soccer League plus he became President of the Northeast Super Soccer League.
Jerry Valerio served as President of the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club for over a decade, emphasizing its youth soccer programs.
Enrico Varani, the 2003 National Amateur Coach of the Year, served for many years as a coach in both the LIJSL and Eastern New York ODP.
John Varas played soccer, then became a coach of both boys and girls as well as a top referee and national assessor.
Jose Vargas, a man of many hats, was a coach, East Fishkill Soccer Club President, EHYSL President, referee, State Director of Instruction, State Youth Referee Administrator and State Referee Administrator.
Ray Ward served as President of the Catskill Soccer Club, CDYSL Vice President plus Eastern New York Vice President, Trustee and State Cup chairperson.
Roth Werner played for Brooklyn Technical High School, was the Cosmos captain and had a starring role in the movie “Victory.” After his professional career, became a LIJSL volunteer.
Jeff Wexler has served on the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club’s Executive Board for over 25 years and counting. He has done virtually every job in the management of the club from running the refreshment stand to managing the fields and participating in the tryouts. In addition to his large contributions at the club and league level, Jeff also served four years on the Eastern New York Executive Board as a Trustee.
Burt Wilkes, the Vice Chair of Region 1, has continued moving up the youth soccer ladder, from President of the Silver Lake Soccer Club to CJSL President to Eastern New York Vice President. Has volunteered on many committees.
Hilda Wolfe has been an extraordinary presence in youth soccer for four decades, serving as Eastern New York’s office manager during this time and helping it grow into one of the largest state associations in the United States.
Ray Wolfe, Eastern New York’s State Youth Referee Administrator, played in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, coached his sons with B/W Gottschee of the CJSL and then became a top referee, officiating pro games.
John Wolyniec grew up playing in ENYYSA for Silver Lake of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League and Northport/Cow Harbor Celtic of the Long Island Junior Soccer League. It was then on to Fordham University where he was the NCAA leading scorer in both 1998 and ’99 plus became the Rams’ all-time scorer. He serves as the Red Bulls II head coach, led the team to the United Soccer League (USL) championship in 2016, the same year that he was honored as the USL Coach of the Year.