Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 27, 1993 TAG: 9305270399
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY WALKER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Roanoke Valley Soccer League has players from more than 15 countries, including Guyana, England, Ireland, Germany, France, Iran, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Australia, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Jamaica, Canada and Yugoslavia.
Foreign-born players comprise about 40 percent of the league, says league President Terry McGreevey. That percentage has held steady since the league's start in 1981.
However, the younger players are now mostly native-born Americans - a reflection of soccer's increasing popularity in this country.
The league was founded by and for soccer players over the age of 30. However, the age limit was lowered to 25 in 1989, and this year there are a few 18-year-olds. "That's about the minimum age," McGreevey said.
The average age is 25 to 28, and the oldest players are in their 40s.
There are two divisions. The first division is more competitive - "you more or less have to make the team," McGreevey said. There are four teams: from the New River Valley, Roanoke, Vinton and Lynchburg. The second division is more recreational. It has five teams from the Roanoke Valley and one from Lynchburg.
A few of the teams have sponsors, such as the Sgt. Pepper's British Pub team, which won the State Challenge Cup in Richmond in 1992.
Most teams carry about 20 players, and the league as a whole has nearly 200 players, McGreevey said. The foreign-born players learned soccer as children before coming to the United States to take jobs. The American natives either played in high school or in a recreational league, or come from parts of this country where soccer is more popular.
"I think everybody got some experience before they came here," McGreevey said.
The league operates year-round. In the spring and fall, games are played on the VA field under international rules with 11 men per side.
In the summer, a field behind East Salem Elementary School is used. Games are shorter, rules are relaxed and teams are reduced to seven per side.
In the winter, five-man teams play in the YWCA gym at the Elizabeth College campus of Roanoke College.
Sunday is game day except during the summer, when games are held Monday through Thursday in the evenings.
While the league is grateful to the VA for the free use of its field, more and better facilities are needed, said Larry Manning, league treasurer.
There is only one field at the VA, and it isn't quite level. "We could probably get other fields, but we would have to raise the funds" to pay usage fees, Manning said. That would mean raising dues, which are about $30 per player. Most of the dues go to paying the referees.
Having more fields would make it easier to expand the league. "We could have two games going at the same time," Manning said.
There are enough potential players to add another three or four teams. "The headache is finding the one guy who wants to organize the teams," McGreevey said.
McGreevey would also like to add an over-35 division, as well as a women's division. No women now participate, although women have played on men's teams in the past.
"We would like to provide an opportunity for everybody - the good players, the average and the less than average," McGreevey said.
Most of the organizational work falls to McGreevey. "Terry's the backbone of the league," Manning said.
"Since I quit playing because of old age, it's the only way I can keep involved," said McGreevey, 53.
Born in Ireland and raised in England, McGreevey learned to play soccer - or football, as it is called in Europe - at the age of 6 and has been involved in the sport ever since.
"We just love the game and want to see it continue," he said.
If you are interested in joining or organizing a team, call Terry McGreevey, 774-4586 or 989-8230.
by CNB