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Hall of Fame Honors Anson Dorrance and Hugo Perez

In front of a standing room only audience in the National Soccer Museum, Builder Anson Dorrance and Veteran Player Hugo Perez were inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Ike Kuhns, formerly of the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger, was also honored as the recipient of the Colin Jose Media Award. As the culmination of a fabulous weekend, the ceremony was very special, Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. It captured all the values that we believe is the best of sport, hard work and perseverance, balance in life and dedication to success. We hope our audience left inspired as we celebrated the achievements of these extraordinary people.

Kuhns highlighted his reporting on the Cosmos in his acceptance address, saying in the stroke of a pen, everything changed referring to Peles signing with the team, a landmark event in American soccer history. Suddenly soccer was an easier story to get into print, he added. I thank the Hall of Fame for this honor, he said in conclusion.

Nelson Perez, who presented his brother, Hugo, stated, As the younger brother I had to do all the cleaning and picking up in the house because Hugo was always playing soccer. Today it was all worth it! In return Hugo thanked his family for their love and support as he pursued his soccer dream. It was what I wanted, to play soccer like my grandfather. To be honored by the Hall of Fame for doing that is overwhelming. I am most grateful.

Anson Dorrance was presented by his most famous star player, Mia Hamm. The two reversed roles at Induction 2007 when Anson presented Mia for her induction into the Hall of Fame. Mia was asked which was harder. By far this one! She said. I had the responsibility to represent all the players whom Anson has touched; whom Anson has helped become mature, intelligent, competitive, dedicated, and confident women. and, after a pause to gather herself also emotional. In rejoinder Dorrance recognized that growing up in household where the athletes were the women of the family had uniquely prepared him for his coaching role. My sister was by far the best athlete and she delighted in demonstrating that fact. And my Mother regularly beat the pants of my Dad in any athletic contest. About his star pupil, Mia, he said he was most thankful for, her big sister role to my two daughters and all her congratulatory calls over the years. He concluded by thanking his family and noting his wifes encouragement as he pursued a life that has exceeded my dreams.

Induction photography is available at http://www.isiphoto.com/

Peg and George Brown, who have provided invaluable service to the Hall of Fame for the past eight years, have decided to enjoy their first retirement more. George served as a member of the Board of Directors and as Assistant Archive Manager. He worked with his wife Peg, the Archive Manager, to inventory the Halls collection and to place the archive in an order so materials can more easily be located. Their combined efforts were critical to managing the never ending process of accepting donations and loans and of creating new exhibits.

We wish Peg and George more time to enjoy their grandchildren and the other delights of their lives. We will miss their everyday wise counsel and hard work on the Museums behalf.

Why I Return
Clay Berling , Hall of Fame Class of 1995  

First and foremost, I come to honor the new members of the Hall of Fame family. I am thrilled to hear my name announced with the roll of Hall of Famers present and I walk with a sense of pride in accomplishment as I make my way to the seating section reserved for the red jackets. We are indeed a special family! This past year added two people, Anson Dorrance and Hugo Perez, that I have respected for ages and I was honored to think I am among a group of select individuals that includes them. 

Secondly, there is something special about welcoming each years class while attending the Liars Retreat. Hearing new stories that blend with the stories I recall or are retold from our senior members like Gene Olaff, Jackie Hynes, Walter Bahr, Harry Keough, and Clarkie Souza, all true American soccer heroes. Although they were given their honor in most cases before the national news services were even aware of their contributions, they were the pioneers who made our present status even possible. The new stories from Carla and Mia, Julie and Alexi, and now Anson and Hugo, have made the affair a fun afternoon. 

Lastly, I believe we, the elected members of the Hall of Fame, have an obligation to show our support for the Hall of Fame and all that it represents. The Halls mission, in part, of Celebrating the History and Honoring the Heroes of American Soccer is no better accomplished in one event than by the Induction ceremony.

The Hall of Fame had another tremendous Legends of Summer Tournament season, hosting 100s of teams ranging in age from U-10 boys and girls teams to the Mens Over-50 in 8 weekend tournaments. Teams from throughout the Atlantic Seaboard, from Canada to Virginia competed for the coveted Hall of Fame Trophy.

Each weekends play included group games and a knockout round, so every team entering a Hall of Fame tournament has a full slate of games for the weekend. The two teams competing in the championship final on Sunday afternoon may have played as many as 6 highly competitive matches, testing the teams mettle under the stress and strain of competition.

It is never too early to sign up for the 2009 tournaments: space fills up quickly, so go to http://www.soccerhall.org/ to see the schedule and to sign-up on line!

The 2008 championship teams are:

Boys U-11 Club Boys U-11 Premier Boys U-12 Club Boys U-13 Premier Boys U-14 Club Boys U-14 Premier Boys U-15 Club Boys U-15 Premier Boys U-17 Gold Boys U-17 Platinum Boys U-17 Showcase Girls U-12 Platinum Girls U-12 Gold Girls U-13 Premier Girls U-14 Club Girls U-15 Club Girls U-16 Club Girls U-16 Premier Girls U-17 Club Girls U-17 Premier Girls U-18 Club Girls U-18 Premier Mens Open Mens O-30 Mens O-40 Mens O-50

Odyssey (NY) SC South Central (CT) Premier Wallkill (NY) Flames Syracuse (NY) Blitz Beekman (NY) Demons Syracuse (NY) Blitz Magic Erzebirge (PA) Syracuse (NY) Blitz Boca West Hartford (CT) CNY United Force Select Dragons (NY) East Fishkill (NY) Hornets East Hudson (NY) 96 East Hudson (NY) 95 ESA Rotterdam (NY) CDYSL (NY) Blue Ottawa (ON) Internationals Montgomery (PA) United Black Pittsford (NY) Mustangs United Pittsgrove (NJ) Irish 91 Green Irondequoit (NY) SC St. Thomas More Lehigh (PA) Strikers Arsenal (NY) The Kick (NY) Kosmos (NY) Brockport (NY) Alumni

Visit our website: http://www.soccerhall.org/ and see photos of the winning teams standing on the Hall of Fame crest balcony, and picture your team hosting the trophy in 2009- sign up today! 

You can help the Hall of Fame meet the challenge of building a bigger and better museum complex and introducing more people to the beautiful game! And now it is easier than ever to support your Hall of Fame as our new website can process donations through a secure server. We invite you to visit the Support and Giving section of our website.

There are many ways you can help build the Museum: from sending a donation that will help us expand our educational programs that currently reach 1000's of rural kids, to purchasing Players Goals for your soccer fields, and everything in between. We know you love soccer, so help your Hall of Fame and Museum share the love.

Big 3 Enshrinement Ceremony

On Saturday, August 2nd, following a superb Hall of Fame Banquet, over 200 people filled the Hall of Fame’s Atrium to honor six individuals for their contributions to soccer. The American Youth Soccer Organization enshrined former president Joel Marks and, posthumously, Marilyn MacDonald of Section 715 in Rhode Island, for their volunteer work and the passion they brought to the task of promoting kids opportunities to play.

The National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association recognized two long-time mentors to younger referees, Dr. John Buckley of Eastern Massachusetts and Don Dennison of the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Each donned the navy blue NISOA Hall of Fame blazer proudly and recounted significant game experiences and the learning opportunities those games presented.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America recognized Paul Sanderson posthumously for his work in building the ranks of its high school members during the 50s, 60s, and 70s as well as for his stellar career as a coach at Suffield (CT) Academy, where the boys’ varsity field is named in his honor. NSCAA also enshrined Indiana University coaching legend Jerry Yeagley, the winningest coach in NCAA Men’s Division I soccer. With six national championships, including one in his final season, Jerry epitomizes the Hall of Fame coach. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989.

YES, you too can have your name at the Hall of Fame! You can honor yourself, your coach, your mentor, and/or your team soccer mom at the National Soccer Hall of Fame by purchasing a brick that is placed at the Bursting Ball sculpture patio.

This is the photo op spot on campus where every team, family, and group of friends gets their photo taken, so everyone will see your brick. You will also receive a certificate suitable for framing and your brick is placed on our website for people around the globe to see. So honor that cousin in Scotland with a brick here in the USA. What a great Holiday gift, and you don’t need to mail it or wrap it!

For just $150 you can honor anyone, and the Hall is a non-profit institution, so it is a tax-deductible contribution. Your donation will be used to further the goal of reaching out to more soccer enthusiasts, to let them know about the great history and stories of the sport of soccer, and to improve our educational programming.

So help us pave the way to growth by buying a brick today! You can order them here, and thank you in advance for your support!

With U.S. National Team star forward, Abby Wambach, appearing for the first time at the Hall on September 27 and 28, the fall season continues to be full of great events that fans have come to expect from the Hall of Fame.

US National team Abby Wambach WOWed the participants in the first ever Glenn Mooch Myernick Middle School Soccer Jamboree on Saturday and Sunday with awe-inspiring motivational words to get out there and play!  She answered hundreds of questions from her favorite color (red, that day)  to when she started to play soccer (age 5, scored 27 goals in her first three games).  Her message came through loud and clear: do your best, work hard for yourself, play by the rules, have fun and go out there and play!  The crowd Saturday night was equally impressed and could really feel her passion for life.  Thanks Abby for an incredible weekend here at the Hall. 

Also in September we hosted 3 weekends of great high school competition in the 9th annual High School Hall of Fame Cup - over 90 teams, both boys and girls vying for the bragging rights of the best in their section. Click here to see the winners.

The Fall events actually begin in August as the two Oneonta State squads use the Hall of Fame fields daily for training. In addition, the Oneonta High School boy’s and girl’s varsity squads play their full regular season schedule at the Hall of Fame.

The post-season tournament competition begins on the final weekend of October and the first weekend of November. The Hall of Fame will host New York State’s Section IV and many Regional NY State qualifying tournament matches, with the schedule determined as the regular season concludes. Prior to the sectional and regional play, the Tri-Valley Conference and the Delaware Conference Boy’s and Girl’s Champions will be determined on October 18. Check the Hall's Calendar for teams, times and dates.

On November 7th and 8th the State University Championships, featuring the top four men’s and women’s teams from the SUNY Athletic Conference, will take to the Hall of Fame fields. Each tournament champion is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Division III National Tournament, so the competition is intense.

Finally, on November 15 and 16 the Hall of Fame will host New York State’s Boys’ High School Soccer Championship weekend, featuring the top 20 high school teams in the State. With ten semifinal games on Saturday and five championship matches on Sunday, this final tournament weekend of the year is every soccer fan’s seventh heaven.

Follow all the action and find the updated schedules on the Hall of Fame’s website, http://www.soccerhall.org/.