The Town of North Hempstead soccer fields were alive and kicking over this Columbus Day weekend, as the town hosted its first soccer tournament. North Hempstead was the venue for one of the largest soccer tournaments as more than 300 teams from as far as New Jersey and Massachusetts came to take part in the first North Hempstead Cup Tournament. An estimated 15,000 people came into town, players, coaches, parents and referees, added boost to the business in the town.

The Town of North Hempstead Soccer Advisory Committee, which was created less than a year ago with the help of Councilman Anthony D'Urso, worked tirelessly to put the tournament together." The tournament is something for future generations of children in the Town of North Hempstead to enjoy," stated Councilman D'Urso. "I have always been a great fan of the sport of soccer and have always been an advocate for the sport in the town." The North Hempstead Cup is geared to do just that, promote and preserve the game of soccer. The Town of North Hempstead Soccer Advisory Committee will set aside a portion of its proceeds from the tournament to help promote soccer through the purchase of new fields and equipment such as stadium lights for some existing fields.

The councilman, who used to play soccer in his youth, stated he felt a great sense of joy watching so many children enjoy the sport he once loved to play. Councilman D'Urso wanted to especially thank all of the volunteers, the North Hempstead Soccer Advisory Committee, John Davies, the tournament committee director; the staff of parks and recreation and especially Parks Commissioner Gerry Olsen and Deputy Commissioner Dan Nachbar for the wonderful job they did in monitoring the tournament preparing all of the fields.

We have finally put the Town of North Hempstead on the "soccer map" squarely in competition with many other soccer powerhouse communities on Long Island.