Good Time Had By All at Inaugural Jack Hynes Classic Soccer Tournament
New York Youth Soccer News: Jack Hynes is a legendary figure in New York soccer
The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), would like to thank the 14 teams in two age groups who participated in the First Annual Jack Hynes Classic Soccer Tournament on Saturday, April 14.
Over 200 youth players participated in the small-sided tourney on the turf field at Monsignor Farrell High School, with all proceeds going to the Jack Hynes Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The scholarship is awarded to a deserving young man who demonstrates the determination and spirit exemplified by Hynes throughout his life and will be applied to the student’s tuition after he enrolls at Farrell. The scholarship application states:
The Jack Hynes Memorial Scholarship has been established to honor the memory of Jack Hynes, who passed away in 2013.
Jack Hynes is an inspiring example of a young man who overcame tremendous obstacles to achieve his goals.
From his humble beginnings as a boy in Scotland, he showed promise as a soccer player.
After immigrating to America, he starred at Curtis High School and embarked on a 22-year professional soccer career that saw him playing against some of the top teams in the world including Liverpool, Manchester United and Inter Milan.
On Christmas Day 1944, while serving with the US Army in the Battle of the Bulge, Hynes was wounded in both legs by an exploding German artillery shell. After countless surgeries to repair the damage, Jack resurrected his soccer career and in 1949 starred for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the qualifying games for the 1950 World Cup. His remarkable story and accomplishments were recognized in 1977 when he was inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame. Jack Hynes was the first head coach of the Monsignor Farrell soccer team and held that position for 18 years, creating a dynasty second to none.
In the tourney’s Under-11 championship game, St. Joseph/St. Thomas edged Our Lady of Good Counsel, 2-1, and Petrides shut out Richmondtown, 4-0, in the Under-13 title game.
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.
