By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
October 22, 2026-BW Gottschee has won nearly as many State Cup championships (73) in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as the number of years it has been in existence (75). The renowned Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) club celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a festive party at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach on October 11.
Gottschee’s origins go back to the end of the 13th century as it was founded as a county for German speakers in mountain forests in what is today south-central Slovenia. During World War II, the Gottscheers lost their homeland when many of their towns were destroyed in battles between Yugoslavian partisans and Italian forces. At the end of the war, the Gottscheers were forced to flee into Austria but many emigrated instead to the United States and Canada, where they had relatives who had come to North America to live prior to World War II.
BW Gottschee got its start in 1951 after a group of immigrants who had settled in the Ridgewood and Glendale sections of Queens sought to recreate the spirit of their homeland by forming a soccer club. They did much more than that as BW Gottschee has won five national championships, 13 Regional titles and 167 league championships in its 75-year history.
Famous alumni who have worn the blue-and-white include US Soccer Hall of Famers Willy Schaller, Arnold Mausser and Michael Windischmann, who all played for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT). Current USMNT players from Gottschee are Tim Weah and Jack McGlynn plus the club has produced dozens of pro players. 400 boys and 50 girls are currently registered with BW Gottschee.
Miguel Brunengo played for BW Gottschee growing up, represented the US Youth National Team and is now the club’s Academy Director. He explained, “Our philosophy is we believe in the player. They must be comfortable and one with the ball. From six to eight years old, they dribble, dribble, dribble and then we introduce passing as it’s a team sport. We try to keep things simple as the game belongs to the players to express themselves.”
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/