By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
December 3, 2024-Although many Americans associate Thanksgiving with football, it’s that other version of the sport that receives as much love that day on the soccer hotbed of Long Island. Turkey Bowl alumni soccer games were played on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 28, before the players joined their families to eat turkey with all the trimmings.
Thanksgiving is utilized as people are home for the holidays, providing ample proof that the friendships started on the soccer fields of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) last a lifetime.
The 37th Annual Brentwood Turkey Bowl was played by the alumni of Brentwood High School at the school’s new soccer stadium, home of the five-time state champions.
Ron Eden has been the head coach of this powerhouse team for the past 30 years. He said, “Thanks for such a great turnout on such a lousy weather day. This is one of my favorite days of the year as I see all of you guys again.”
The 20th Annual Chaminade Turkey Bowl was played at Gold Star Stadium on the campus of the Catholic boys high school in Mineola, home of the nine-time state champions. It kicked off in 2004 and took a year off in 2020 because of the pandemic. The Flyers alumni game was organized this year by Matt Chicavich, an assistant coach on the varsity team.
Baldwin’s Turkey Bowl started when Doug Lyn began a pick-up game for the players he coached in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL). One of those players in the original game was 11-year-old Jimmy Walther, who has not missed a Turkey Bowl in the past 46 years, went on to play for the Long Island Rough Riders and currently organizes the Turkey Bowl at the Brookside Elementary School. Doug could not make the Turkey Bowl this year as he was working on a soccer project in Ghana.
“Whoever wanted to play always has a home with Doug,” Walther said. “The Turkey Bowl has gone from the players that Doug coached, we have added their kids and anybody who wants to play.”
Walther now coaches numerous teams in the Commack Youth Soccer League and started Commack’s Turkey Bowl in 2022. The 3rd Annual Commack Turkey Bowl was played at the Burr Road Soccer Complex. He did double-duty on Thanksgiving Day as he left his home in Copiague for the 9 am kick-off in Commack, then drove nearly 30 miles in the pouring rain to Baldwin, going from the youngest Turkey Bowl to the oldest.
Oceanside United, where two dozen former professional players cut their teeth as kids, held their 35th Annual Turkey Bowl at Oceanside Park.
“What kind of turnout would we get was the question. Oceanside Park is notorious for being windy, and the rain was becoming more intense,” explained Oceanside United’s Steve Evans. “Some old faces that I had not seen in a while, then Max from Promowear handed us a bag of 2024 Oceanside Turkey Bowl t-shirts. The rain continued to fall, drenched to the bone and enjoying every moment. Memories of our friend Alfredo D’Antonio, who played in many Turkey Bowls and passed at 91 earlier this year. And the youthful faces returning from college. Our Thanksgiving tradition continues.”
Additionally, two other LIJSL clubs, Garden City Centennial and Rockville Centre, played their annual alumni games on Saturday, November 30, two days after Thanksgiving. The friendships made on soccer fields as kids can last forever.
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. Members are affiliated with 10 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. 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 the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/