
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 26, 1990                   TAG: 9005260050
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SOCCER TOURNAMENT BEGINS TODAY

Some 2,500 young soccer players on 176 teams from 11 states will participate today and Sunday in the Crestar Festival Soccer Tournament in Roanoke.

The players are boys and girls ranging in age from 9 to 19. Some 288 games will be played on 20 soccer fields in the Roanoke Valley.

The River's Edge Sports Complex in Roanoke is the festival headquarters.

The tournament is coordinated by the Roanoke Valley Youth Soccer Club. About 6,000 people - coaches, parents and relatives - are expected to come to the valley for the event.

"They tell us it brings $1.5 million into the valley and uses over 1,700 hotel rooms," said Danny Beamer, the club's executive director. "People will stay as far away as Lynchburg, Blacksburg and Christiansburg.

The games will go on, rain or shine. Information about particular games can be obtained from the headquarters at River's Edge.

by CNB