Long Island Soccer Teams Play Friendlies Against England’s Rotherham College
New York Youth Soccer News: 2010 World Cup Final ref Howard Webb officiated the friendlies this year
The Massapequa Soccer Club is a longtime member of both the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL). Every summer for the past decade, Massapequa has hosted Rotherham College from England and the club’s Director of Coaching, Richard Nuttall, made the original connection as he is a native of northern England.
Besides playing against some excellent local competition, the annual trip gives the British boys the chance to tour New York City and Long Island.
Rotherham has played friendly games during the past decade against LIJSL Boys-Under-19 teams on the turf fields of John Burns Park and Field of Dreams in Massapequa.
For a change, the friendlies were played on the plush grass at Park Stadium in Franklin Square this past Sunday, July 8.
An added treat before the barbeque last weekend was the first two games were officiated by Howard Webb, who refereed the 2010 World Cup Final between Spain and the Netherlands.
Howard’s son, Jack Webb, is the Rotherham captain and he scored two goals as Rotherham defeated New York Hota, 3-1. In the second game, Hota topped Massapequa, 2-1, and Rotherham won the last game, shutting out Massapequa, 3-0.
Howard graciously posed for photos throughout the day with anybody who wanted to meet one of the very few select people who was part of a World Cup Final.
“I would not have missed meeting and being able to officiate with Howard for anything,” said LIJSL ref Sean McPhillips.
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: 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) reaches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 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.
