By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
January 31, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Lawrence (Pete) Sand has been inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place at the Eastern New York Hall of Fame Banquet on January 27 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.
Pete is a referee icon in the Albany area and there is no one currently alive in the state who has been a referee as long as him (64 years) and he is still refereeing at the age of 88. We have no idea how many games Pete has officiated but over the years, he has refereed at the scholastic and college level plus the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL). Additionally, he also was a referee in the professional American Soccer League (ASL), and even refereed in Scotland in 1983.
Pete has been inducted into the Halls of Fame of both of the CDYSL and CD-Ref, the Capital District’s soccer ref association. Other awards include the 1981 Section 2 Golden Thread Award as the outstanding high school referee and the 2002 New York State College Referee of the Year. Way back when, he was one of the co-founders of the CDYSL in 1978.
Pete was a good soccer player first, then became a good referee, and eventually became a good youth coach of his own children. He always seemed to have an understanding that soccer was only a game and not a ‘life or death’ matter. As he became older, he developed hearing issues and instead of giving up on the sport that he loved, he continued to officiate.
As a youngster, Pete played soccer for the Albany Sports Club, then was MVP and All-American at Ithaca College before he started refereeing and coaching.
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 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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/