Honoring a Friend by Alan Maher March 2005
A dear friend of mine was just inducted into the Long Island Junior Soccer League Hall of Fame. He is a little over eighty and has coached soccer most of his life. He now lives in Florida and flew up to receive the honor. Thirty former players and coaches had a private dinner for him the night before the induction. My son was there as was Brian Kilmeade of Fox News.
I mention all of this because my friend Pat was not one to seek honors or glory. Typically, he trained young and inexperienced players. As they got better, he passed them on to other coaches. He never chased the trophy or banner. He worked in the trenches. He never allowed himself to be promoted. He enjoyed what he was doing. And the kids loved him. This is self evident by the fact that all those people showed up to honor him. My son played for him in about 1968!
He did start the Massapequa Soccer Club which rapidly grew to have over 3,000 players! That was his doing.
Pat was born and raised in Ireland. He told the young players stories about the old English players. They loved it. My own beginning in soccer was watching games that he coached.
His approach was simple. He placed plastic rods in coffee cans filled with cement. These served as goals and/or corner flags. Old tee shirts became “pinnies”. The cost was almost nothing. Pat felt that soccer should be inexpensive for coach and player.
He is upset that today players have personal trainers and registration can be over $400 per season. That bothers him. He also wants more American players on college rosters.
The main point is that he almost always trained young players. There is no glory in that and such coaches are seldom honored. But the impact of such a person comes to light when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
As stated, he was in the trenches his whole life and it is a delight to see such a person being rewarded.
This country is filled with such people. They start a team, train it and pass the players on to other coaches. As the players get older and better, good things happen. Trophies and ribbons are awarded. Articles appear in the papers and journal. And the current coach is honored.
We need to honor more people in the trenches. Not just once in a while to a person over eighty.