It’s one thing to have the vision to build something, but it’s another to have the money to do it.
That’s the predicament the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) finds itself in as it gets set to break ground on its field of dreams, part of a six-acre tract of land in Oakwood Beach where four to six soccer fields — depending on the community’s needs — are expected to be built.
In August of 2019, the SIYSL, with the help of several Island politicians, took possession of the land which had been ravaged by Super Storm Sandy.
The loop has been in existence for decades but hasn’t had a home field to call its own, although they play the majority of games at Miller Field in New Dorp in addition to other sites.
The six acres of property are not on one continuous stretch of land. The purchased property is broken into four different areas bordered by Mill Rd., Aviston St., Dugdale St., Merkel Place and Riga St.
Last November, NYC Council member and SIYSL supporter David Carr (50th Council District) got the ball rolling on the construction phase of field No. 1 by putting a shovel into the ground on what was termed to be a soft opening by the league.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If you drove by Owl Hallow Fields in Arden Heights Saturday morning and thought you might have seen Patrick Mahomes dribbling a soccer ball past a Storm Trooper and a ninja with Pikachu coaching on the sidelines you don’t have to get your eyes checked — at least this time.
The Staten Island Youth Soccer League, which conducts its weekly clinics at Owl Hallow and Miller Field decided to encourage the kids to play in their Halloween costumes Saturday.
“This year, since we had to start late this season, we had a limited amount of dates to use to complete six weeks worth of play,” said league VP Rich Nellis. “Unfortunately, one of the days we needed to play this fall was Halloween. We decided to make the best of it.”
Additionally, the SIYSL in coordination with the Staten Soccer Club gave out candy-filled water bottles to the players.
“At a time where door to door trick or treating may be limited or non-existent this year, we hope to create an environment that can provide a Halloween experience within the game of soccer,” added Nellis.
“This was definitely something different that we wanted to do. With everything going on and these kids having very little normalcy in their lives, we hoped to do something that would provide just a little bit of normal for these little guys and girls,” added clinic director Victoria Libertelli.
The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) completed the purchase of six acres of property in Oakwood Beach on Tuesday and plans to turn it into a multiple-field facility that will benefit the approximately 4,500 children associated with the highly popular loop, the Advance has learned. SIYSL treasurer Fred Cipriani and first-vice president Rob Libertelli completed the purchase from the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR) during a closing at the Law Office of Menicucci Villa Cilmi PLLC in Westerleigh. The GOSR was created to address communities’ most urgent needs, while also encouraging the identification of innovative and enduring solutions to strengthen the State’s infrastructure and critical systems, according to its website. The league, which finally went into contract in August after it took almost three years to hammer out the details on the transaction, paid a total of $10.00 on the purchase. The transaction includes the possession of what amounts to 113 lots that previously had houses ravaged by Hurricane Sandy just over seven years ago. There’s still eight houses remaining on the land, but they’ll eventually be removed.
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 22, 2021-The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) was set to honor President Bill Smith at the Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis Senior Night on May 26 at the Owl Hollow Soccer Complex but it was rained out just as the ceremony started. Smith was also honored at a dinner on June 11 at Millie’s of Staten Island along with outgoing Secretary Maureen Motley.
Smith is retiring as SIYSL President at the end of June and he will be replaced by First Vice President Rob Libertelli on July 1. Libertelli has some big shoes to fill as the following highlights occurred during Smith’s 16 years as SIYSL President:
• A high enrollment of 6,000 players registered across the borough.
• Creation of the SIYSL Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner in 2007.
• Creation of the SIYSL’s Staten Island Soccer Club, the loop’s travel organization.
• Creation of a recreational summer league for high school players, which usually has an enrollment of 300 kids.
• Creation of the Beach Soccer Tournament.
• Creation of the Owl Hollow Soccer Complex, built in conjunction with NYC Parks thanks in part to a $450,000 grant by former Congressman Vito Fossella
• Creation of a permanent SIYSL office, located across the street from Miller Field at 704 New Dorp Lane.
• Incorporating independent soccer clubs into the league, including New World Prep, Markham Intermediate School and the Islamic Cultural Center.
“Obviously, Bill put in a tremendous amount of volunteer time to create and execute all of these things for the league,’’ SIYSL Third Vice President Rich Nellis told the Staten Island Advance. “He spent a lot of hours to make sure things came to fruition for the kids and I think it really says something that he’s had a tenure as long as he has and he was able to make so many things happen.’’
Smith, inducted into both the SIYSL Hall of Fame and Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2014, will continue as First Vice President of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). He will also remain active with the Richmondtown Soccer Club that his children used to play for and now it’s where his grandchildren play.
With approximately 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 nine 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/
