After reading a few of the submissions for the "What the WPS means to me?" writing contest it’s got me thinking back to some of my best memories of youth soccer as a player, then parent and coach.
I am going to ask this on Twitter and post the responses below in the comments as well. Some of my best memories included:
(Kapiolani Park, site of Rainbow Tournament)
- traveling to Hawaii as a U-13 player for the Rainbow Tournament
- my daughter and her team as player escorts for D.C. United
- my first ever sleep-away soccer camp at Univ. of California at Irvine
- watching Mia Hamm run a surprise practice session for my daughters team
- getting my first AYSO uniform at age 5 (I wore it around the house all night)
I’m sure to see some similar themes in your experiences but know that there will be others too.
So now it’s over to you. What Was Your Best Youth Soccer Memory?
My best youth soccer memory was as a 16 year old Tottenham Hotspur FC supporter in season 1968/69. I was selected to represent my County and play against the Tottenham U17's Youth team.
ReplyDeleteWe travelled to their training ground at Cheshunt, Herts. The game finished 1 - 1
and we expected to go straight home after the game. However, we was taken to watch Spurs first team play Burnley at White Hart Lane. A game they won 7 - 0!
Before the match we met the Spurs manager Bill Nicholson and some of the great players - Greaves, Venables, and Gilzean.
Some forty plus years later that memory lives with me!
@Pozz,
ReplyDeleteSounds like an amazing expeerience especially at the U17 level. Congrats on the draw by the way. Have you been back to White Hart Lane since then?
Yes many times both as a supporter and football scout where I carried out match reports against Chelsea and Newcastle.
ReplyDeleteI also worked as a coach for their Football in the Community Department for a couple of years.