*** NO NEW YEARS DAY GAME ***

Due to the snow, the game has been called off. Happy New Year! We will see you on Saturday.

Special Matches - Monday & Tuesday

See out 2012 and usher in 2013 with 2 additional matches this coming week. Both will take place at 9am on the SMN field:

Monday, December 31
Tuesday, January 1

Hope to see you there!

Lost & Found - 12.24.2012

This was found on the field on Christmas Eve. Please let me know if it is yours or you know whose it is.

Christmas Eve Match - 9am

Special Match alert: Monday, December 24, 2012, 9am, SMN. Hope to see you there.

Fall Happenings

With the time change this coming Sunday, this will be the last week of Wednesday soccer at Maple Hills Park until spring.

Also, beginning this Saturday (November 3), we will be changing fields for our 9am Saturday games. Please see the right side of this page for the current location.

As always, the website will be updated. Check the site to view upcoming Special Matches.

Hope to see you there!

Labor Day match on Monday

On Monday, September 3, we will be playing at 9am at the Shawnee Mission North field. I hope you can make it!

Sundays Match - 3:30pm

Moving the game time for Sunday back to 3:30pm.

O30 Tournament - Aug 4 and 5

O30 Tournament - Aug 4 and 5

We are putting together a team for the tournament.  Several of you have said you were interested in playing, but your full team wasn't entering.  Here's your chance!

3 game guarantee - $40 per player (payable at the fields on Saturday)
1st game will be Saturday - 8am or 10am
2nd game will be Saturday - 630pm or 830pm
3rd game will be Sunday - 8am or 10am
Finals will be Sunday - 630pm or 830pm

If you are interested please email me. 
afnsoul@hotmail.com

Thanks!
- Tunde

ONE-TIME Change - 7pm Wednesday

We are going to move the start time of Wednesday's match back to 7pm in an attempt to beat some of the heat. While we realize this is a mostly futile effort, the shadows on the west side of the field will certainly help a bit.

Hope to see you out there!

Pictures from April

I took these shots back in April:

Mens Over-30 Update

Another update from the strangely Austrian manager of the Youngs Park SC Masters:

A no sub YPSC team pulled off another stunning victory. Playing in changed formation YPSC had control of the game in the beginning and soon were up by 1. The team was unlucky to concede an equalizer as the defense stopped for what they taught was a whistle.

But the team came out at half time with an inspiring formation change from Andrew. They absorbed the pressure by the much fresher legs team and hit on the counter with two goals that will contenders for goals of the week.

Zis is za way shampions play za game. Zis one was for za Youngs Park" said a very delighted manager after the game.

Team Demolition the club from the same city and the current league leaders also continued their impressive season and maintain their lead of the table. Will their be a season defining derby match? Only time will tell
.............Rueters

Well done, lads!

Players Needed for the Over-30 Team

This was sent by Jon to players who are over the age of 30:

We have been running into player shortages due to scheduling conflicts. We could use another 3-4 players to make up the gap, esp for this Friday's game where we have 5 players that will miss leaving us with only 11 to play. If any of you are interested in joining up let myself or Tunde know. Our game is this Friday at 9:30 PM.

Jonathan Moore
913-529-3100 x104

Please let him know if you can play.

YPSC Over-30 Update

I came across this story on the wire:

YPSC suffered its first loss of the season in a very hard fought and contentious match against Chilitos that was marred in referee controversy. The team had an uphill battle from the beginning as it was only able to field 9 players against a Chilitos side that had 5 subs.

Starting in a 4-3-1 formation, the YPSC showed a lot of discipline and tactical strength playing great counter attacking football and was able to go up 1-0 from a goal of the season contender from forward Simone, his free kick from 35 yards dipped over the wall and found the far post beating the goalkeeper. . The team was at full strength midway through the full first half but still played with no subs for the whole match.

The referee made numerous bad calls against YPSC, 7 offside calls that should not have been, a penalty that even the opposing team was surprised that it was given and several no calls against CHilitos, who hacked YPFC attacking midfielder Andrew every time he touched the ball. Even two bleeding arms and knees from Andrew could not convince the ref that he was being fouled. Yet the team held on to 1-0 lead.

Finally, 15 minutes to time, the Chilitos strategy of changing 3 players every 7 minutes finally paid off as a tired YPFC defense finally conceded. Truth be told, fatigue and not the other team was responsible for the team’s loss as players were unable to get back to cover in defense and all the Chilitos goals were from third chances after brilliant saves and hectic defending from the backline, but there was always 2 extra Chilitos players in the 18 yard box to get to the loose ball. When asked why he had not deployed a defensive strategy to maintain the lead, the feisty manager replied:

 “Zis is ridicoulous, ze boys play to win ze game always. Ze team is like a lion, ze attack and eat ze antelope”

“But Ze lion’s tail has been cut by ze machete, but zis is bad for ze ozer teams. Ze lion will devour all ze rest”

This reporter must concede that if the 9 men of YPSC were able to play so organized, other teams had better be wary of a full strength team, inside sources in the camp have already said the team is deploying a different formation from its normal 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Stay tuned for more……RUETERS

Go get'em, boys!

Lost & Found

XL Navy / grey reversible pants

Youngs Park Mens Over-30 Team

The first match for the team is on Friday, April 6 at 6:30pm. The game will take place at the Overland Park Soccer Complex, Field 6

One-Time Field Change - Saturday, March 31

Due to a track meet at SMN, we will be playing at 9am on the main field at Shawnee Mission East High School. If the field is unavailable, check the upper (grass) field first. If both fields are in use, Maple Hills Park is our reserve field, followed by Youngs Park.

Hope to see you there!

Lost & Found

M - white shirt & 3 soccer balls: Nike, adidas, and Umbro.

Lost & Found

Lost & Found - adidas and Umbro ball.

Sundays will continue

There were 16 votes to continue the Sunday match, so I believe the interest is there.

Hope to see you on the field soon!

Sunday soccer poll

With our Wednesday match set to kick off on Wednesday, March 14, we want to gauge interest in keeping the Sunday game going as we approach summer. Please vote to let us know you are interested in continuing the match as long as we have enough players.

*** Please note we will need to designate someone to transfer the goals to and from the game ***

Lost & Found

A large Texas sweatshirt and large Starter sleeveless shirt were left at SMN over the Presidents Day weekend. If either is yours, please let me know.

Who Are Ya!! - Ramiro Galvez

Where were you born?
My name is Ramiro Galvez, I'm from South America (Quito- Ecuador) - my first toy was a soccer ball. I grew up in a soccer family - my dad was the President of one of the leagues in the South Part of Quito (VillaFlora) and the name of the team was Liverpool. This league was Semi-professional Division C (Ligas Barriales) before it entered into the Professional Soccer Division for Quito, Ecuador. This organization, managed by my dad,  was sponsor by the "Concentration Deportiva de Pichincha" government organization to develop mind and spirit based on sports. I played for Liverpool for three years as a Striker and scored several goals. From my grade school to my high school and university I played soccer all my life. I played three times a week and on Saturday we played up to four games.. What a energy..!!   I was never tired. We play for pride and soda for the winner. Some of the players went on to play professionally - I was asked several times but I decided to finish my education and just play the game for fun. I played in the minor leagues for semi-professional team “Liga Deportiva Universitaria”   I won several medals in an International soccer tournament. So when I play soccer, I play with passion and intensity, it's in my blood and in my heart and always will be. Soccer brings me happiness and new friends in life - I play the game for fun ..

If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?

I came to the U.S. to forward my education and to get my “Master in Urban Development “ since I graduated with Architecture Degree in Ecuador. I was also newly married. First, we landed in Michigan, my wife at the time was from that area and her parents lived in Troy, (Suburbs of Detroit). I played in a summer league and we had players from all over the world except from Ecuador. Since they knew that I was from South America, the team Captain put me in right away. It was an important game to try advance to the second round. Eventually, I scored the only goal that allowed us to advance to the second round. To make the story short, we went to dispute the championship league scoring two goals and winning the tournament 3-1 against a team of Saudi players from Detroit. Since the economy was not the greatest in Michigan (plus was too cold) we decided to move to Kansas City, Missouri where I landed a great job as an Admission Counselor for Park University (at that time Park College). I was recruiting students who did not have financial resources (disadvantaged students) but they have the strive and passion to succeed in life. I helped them get scholarships academically or in sports. Also, I helped recruit the best players for the College with Ben Papoola one of the greatest Coaches that I have ever met. Ben even asked me if I want to play for the school since he saw my skills but instead I end up helping new players develop their skills. I won two indoor tournaments at the Blue Spring Soccer Complex and later I was banned from the complex for a fight that I did not initiate. I guess I learned my lesson. My family and my work put me away for awhile until I injured my knee. I was told that I needed to quit for a while.

What team(s) do you support as a fan?

I really don’t have a team. I may say that I support the Kansas City Soccer team. In Ecuador, I’m a really fan of Liga Deportiva Universitaria, my University team.

What is your earliest soccer memory?

My earliest Youngs Park soccer memory is the one where I put the ball between Tom Reynolds’ legs to score the winning goal .. I like to play against skillful players and challenge them. I like to dig gently into their heads until they cannot do anything when I’m in front of them. I have done that to Wasim and others several times by having them make mistakes or digging into their heads or telling them “five bucks if you go through me”. I learned by one soccer coach to apply psychology in their minds. I was taught by a soccer coach about the game in this way: the soccer ball is like women - you touch them gently and the ball always come back to you… something like that..

How did you find the Youngs Park game?

I was invited by John Vasquez when I was under the weather (going though divorce). Many thanks to John for being able to drag me to the field and kick my butt to regain confidence and happiness and especially to find a bunch of great friends.

Lost & Found

This was left at the field on Sunday, February 12, 2012. Please let me know if it is your shirt.

Who Are Ya!! - Orlando & Hugo Morales

Hey guys this is going to be a dual one for me and my brother . I, Sebastian... yeah...that's my first name (Orlando) and Hugo Morales

Where were you born?
We were both born in Quito, Ecuador our parents are of Spanish (Spain decent) and Brazilian

If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
We both came to the U.S. when we were small. I (Orlando) was eight and Hugo was four. We came as my dad got an opportunity to come play abroad in the US, but as you all know given the soccer popularity back then it was nothing and it died, and we stayed in the U.S.A., Apparently we chose the Midwest where we lived in Lake of the Ozarks as it was the closest body of water here that caught my dad's eye (since we grew up by the ocean). I (Orlando) got a scholarship to Mid America Nazarene and Hugo to Avila therefore we came to Kansas City and have established base here now

What team(s) do you support as a fan?
Sporting KC by far, it's been phenomenal being part of the cauldron and we love playing the drums during the chants and the atmosphere.  Not to mention we get a kick out of seeing Troy's face get redder and redder with every chant

What is your earliest soccer memory?
Wow, our first toy was a soccer ball, we both vividly remember before our dad's every game we would run out to the fields, stadiums and establishments and just start playing with the ball...the security/staff thought we were cute  (I know) and we would play on the same fields that many soccer greats got to set foot on

How did you find the Youngs Park game?
We wanted to play a lot more especially in the summer when we didn't have school and it was nice weather, I used to live behind Shawnee mission west. Troy and Wasim and Tom with his goals that he bought were extremely friendly really genuine individuals and invited us to play, letting us know the location changes and different days and reminding us, we felt welcome and not ousted, we have seen it grow when it was 7v7 maximum of people, to now playing with over 38 people at once! We both love that everyone has fun, and everyone has a tremendous love of the game or wants to truly learn to play.  No one plays dirty or plays like it's life or death as opposed to few other places we've played . So we really have to thank all of you for making the game truly beautiful as Wasim once said this is a "gentleman's game"

Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?
We both are hardcore Sporting KC Cauldron fans and go to as many Sporting Kc matches as possible wearing masks, wigs, etc and play the drums there. We should all organize a get together and catch a game and who knows some of you might become fanatics in the cauldron.

P.S. I forgot I extremely hate the no corner rule if you didn't know...

Who Are Ya!! - David Cooper

Where were you born?

I was born in Abilene, TX, but lived in Texan, California, Oregon, Washington, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Oklahoma and Kansas before settling down in the KC area.

If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?

I moved to KC in 1984 to work on finishing my college degree at MidAmerica Nazarene College (now University), but ended up working as a trim carpenter and getting married instead of finishing college.  We left KC in 1992 to serve as missionaries in Costa Rica and Guatemala until 2002.  That is when we moved back to KC.

What team(s) do you support as a fan?

I am a big KC Chiefs fan.  I know, the wrong football but I still enjoy watching.  I also love watching the World Cup and cheering for the US and the African teams that make it.  I also like to watch Manchester United, Arsenal and Madrid.

What is your earliest soccer memory?

I began playing soccer when my parents moved to Costa Rica when I was 12 years old.  I picked it up again in high school and played goalie in high school and college.

How did you find the Youngs Park game?

I found the game when we moved back to KC in 2002.  Nick Edinger introduced me to the game and I played until moving last July to South Africa.

Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?

Most know that I am now living in Johannesburg, South Africa working as a missionary in the Church of the Nazarene.  I am the Personnel Coordinator for all of our missionaries all over the continent of Africa, so I travel and communicate with people in various countries.

I still love playing soccer and started up a game at the condominium complex we live at.  It is usually only 3-5 per side, but it keeps me active and kicking shins from time to time.

Hope to play with you guys again when I am back for a visit later this year.  If you are ever in Johannesburg come on by.  Email:  dcooper@africa-region.org.za

Who Are Ya!! * Revisited *

It has been about a year since we last sent out a request for participation in this feature. The following is the original request - if you didn't send in a submission last time and want to participate, please let me know by clicking the link at the bottom of the post:

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Who Are Ya!!

This is a great idea suggested by Bob G:

We have played soccer together over the years, yet many of us don't know each other that well. In this section of the Youngs Park Blog, please share about yourself so others can get to know you. Keep in mind this is the Internet, so be careful posting sensitive information, but include as much as possible to let people know Who Are Ya!!.

You can use the following questions as a starting point, if you like, or just write whatever comes to mind:

1. Where were you born?
2. If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
3. What team(s) do you support as a fan?
4. What is your earliest soccer memory?
5. How did you find the Youngs Park game?
6. Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?

If you would like to participate, please send me an email. I will run them in the order they are sent, posting one a week.

Hope you find this interesting!

Here are some pics from one of the games over the holidays. Thank you, Ramiro, for the great shots!

Lost & found from Sunday, 01.01.2012

L white shirt & UnderArmour hat