Boca U16 soccer team competing in Europe – Tri-Town News
July 28, 2005
Tri-Town News
Sports July 28, 2005
Boca U16 soccer team competing in Europe
Locals playing in Liverpool Knowsley International Tournament
TOMS RIVER — The Jersey Shore Boca U16 team is in the midst of a 12-day international summer soccer tour through Scotland and England that includes participation in the 10th annual Liverpool Knowsley International Youth Soccer Tournament in Liverpool, England.
Under the direction of Boca head coach Walt Pericciuoli, the team departed from New York on July 20 to travel to Glasgow, Scotland, and then to historic Edinburgh University to stay for four nights.
During their time in Edinburgh, the Boca U16s participated in daily morning training sessions conducted by Scottish F.A. coaches and competed in two international friendly games against local Scottish clubs Leith Athletic and Polbeth United.
The team also had some free time to experience some of the fabled Scottish culture, food and landmarks such as Celtic Park, St. Giles Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle, home of the early Scottish kings from the time of Macbeth, as well as take in a Scottish first-division professional game between Celtic F.C. and Leeds United.
On Monday, the Boca U16 team left Edinburgh and headed south to Liverpool, where they began participating in the Liverpool Knowsley International Youth Soccer Tournament during the remainder of their stay. The Liverpool Knowsley International Youth Soccer Tournament, in its 10th year of competition, is becoming one of the top international youth soccer tournaments in Europe.
The tournament is approved by FIFA and the English Football Association and is played under English F.A. rules. The tournament is also a full member of the British Isles Soccer Tournament Association.
The Boca U16s are one of three teams from the United States in the tournament field of 24. The two other U.S. representatives are the Dallas Inter Soccer Club from Texas and the Central Massachusetts Soccer Club from New England.
The remainder of the tournament field includes powerhouse international club teams from Blyth Town F.C. (England), Dundela F.C. (Northern Ireland), Stellamaris F.C. (Republic of Ireland), Keflavik (Iceland), Dijon F.C.O. (France), Mgarr F.N. (Malta), Mei Long (China) and the Rangers J.F.C. (Scotland), among others.
Preliminary-round tournament games commenced on Tuesday and continue through today with semifinals played on Saturday, July 30, and the finals on July 31.
The Boca U16 team will return to the United States on Aug. 1.
Members of the Jersey Shore Boca U16 team making the 12-day European trip are: Gregory Anderson (Point Pleasant), Richie Baiata (Point Pleasant Beach), Timothy Brady (Howell), Eric Bravo (Lakewood), Charles Cunliffe (Lakewood), Mark Darocki (Wall), Vincent Darpino (Manchester), Shane Ferguson (Point Pleasant Beach), John Gutierrez (Lakewood), Steven Jozwicki (Jackson), Theodore MacConchie (Lakewood), John McGeehan (Howell), Ervin Olivas (Lakewood), Mark Siehl (Jackson), Ryan Spill (Howell), Joshua Stanwick (Lakewood), Craig Thompson (Jackson) and Robert Wilson (Point Pleasant).
To help defray some of the cost of the trip, the Boca U16 team performed numerous fundraising activities during the past year. The team also received support from some private donors as well as Shogun of Toms River, Applebee’s, Johnny Carina’s Italian Restaurant, and Jenkinson’s, who all helped sponsor the trip.
In addition to Pericciuoli, the team’s official travel party includes Boca assistant coach Joe Baiata and player chaperone Mike Baiata, a longtime member of the Jersey Shore Boca youth program who will begin his junior year with the William Paterson University men’s soccer team, Wayne, in September.
Parents, friends and family are also traveling with the team.