By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
September 11, 2026-Architect Minoru Yamasaki once said this about his most famous work:
“I feel this way about it. World trade means world peace and, consequently, the World Trade Center buildings in New York…had a bigger purpose than just to provide room for tenants. The World Trade Center is a living symbol of man’s dedication to world peace…Beyond the compelling need to make this a monument to world peace, the World Trade Center should, because of its importance, become a representation of man’s belief in humanity, his need for individual dignity, his beliefs in the cooperation of men, and through cooperation, his ability to find greatness.”
September 11, 2001 changed all that and the world we live in.
2,753 innocent people were killed at the World Trade Center exactly 25 years ago, including 36 from the New York soccer community:
Coaches
Joseph Angelini, coach, Lindenhurst Soccer Club
Scott Bart, son of Danny Bart, past president of the Valley Stream Soccer Club and Long Island Junior Soccer League supervisor
Jim Cove, coach, Rockville Centre Soccer Club
Vincent D’Amadeo, coach, Bellport Soccer Club
Andrew Desperito, FDNY, coach of the Bellport Tigers (Boys-Under-11)
Andrew Friedman, coach, Syosset Soccer Club
Bill Gardner, coach, Lynbrook Soccer Club
Edward Geraghty, coach, Rockville Centre Soccer Club
Jim Geyes, coach of the Rockville Centre Lightning (Girls-Under-14)
Thomas Hobbs, coach, Baldwin Scorpions (Boys-Under-11)
Rudy Mastrocinque, coach of the Kings Park Celtic (Boys-Under-12), past president of the club
Kevin Murphy, coach, Northport Youth Center
Gerald Olcott, coach of the Albertson Lightning Bolts (Boys-Under-19)
Adam Ruhalter, coach Plainview/OB (Boys-Under-10)
Howard Selwyn, coach of the Hewlett/Lawrence Blue Blast (Boys-Under-10)
Lonnie Stone, coach, Bellmore PAL
Steve Tighe, coach of the Rockville Centre Revolution (Boys-Under-12)
Danny Trant, former coach of the Northport/Cow Harbor Bandits (Girls-Under-19)
Paul Zols, coach, Oceanside United Soccer Club
Players, parents
Ezra Aviles, Commack
Erwin Ecker, Farmingdale
Craig Gibson, Barnstonworth Rovers FC (Cosmopolitan Soccer League)
Gary Herold, Farmingdale
Billy Johnston, FDNY, played originally for the North Babylon Patriots
Mrs. James Kenworthy, wife of Downtown United Soccer Club coach Farrell Lynch
Joseph Maloney, Sachem Youth Soccer League
Peter Nelson, South Huntington
Patrick O’Shea, Farmingdale
John Paolillo, North Shore Soccer Club
Christopher Quackenbush, Manhasset Soccer Club
Paul Sarle, North Babylon
Tommy Schubert, New York Hota
Chris Sullivan, Farmingdale
Tim Suozzo, Hauppauge
John Tipping II, Smithtown
Sergio Villanueva, FDNY, player, College Point Flames (Long Island Soccer Football League)
A non-profit organization, the 9/11 New York Soccer Foundation, was created to help the families of the above victims. A fundraiser was held at Farmingdale State College on November 23, 2001 with three friendly games being played that day in front of a large crowd. FDNY played NYPD in the opener, the New York Cosmos Alumni took on the Legends team with the Greens vs. the Blues competing with professional players on both teams.
“We soccer volunteers all know people who died on 9/11, including dozens from the soccer community,” stated ENYYSA President Richard Christiano. “None of our current youth players were alive then so I hope that what they have read and learned in school will lead them to ask questions to find out more about the heroism shown on that tragic day and the months that followed.”
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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/