By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
September 30, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Richard Christiano has been given Life Membership, soccer’s equivalent of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The unanimous vote took place at the ENYYSA Annual General Meeting last Saturday, September 26 at the Sonesta Hotel in White Plains.
In his nomination letter, Ken Gulmi wrote that “I have worked with Rich for over 35 years. He is a tireless worker, a terrific advocate for the kids in our programs and is responsible for many of the positive changes that we have come to take for granted.”
Richie, who recently retired as ENYYSA President, volunteered an amazing 56 years in youth soccer. He served as a coach for the New Hyde Park Wildcats for 17 years and a decade as their Board member. He volunteered for over a decade as a Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Vice President, greatly improving the LIJSL Select Program during this time, and seven years as an ENYYSA Vice President. Richie served 11 years as Chairperson of the State Referee Committee and for five years as Director of the Olympic Development Program (ODP).
The Floral Park resident volunteered for 16 years as ENYYSA President, the second-longest tenure after Peter Masotto’s 22 years in charge. One of his major accomplishments as President is bringing more fiscal responsibility to the non-profit organization.
For all this volunteering, Richie was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 2010, the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2011 and was honored as the Region 1 Volunteer of the Year in 2016.
Richie commented to the office staff as well as the Board of Directors, “I want to thank you all for making my job as President fun and exciting over the years. As a group, we have accomplished a lot together for the membership. It’s been my honor to have the privilege to have worked with all of you and all the past Board members.”
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/