Kingston Stockade Debuts with Players From Hudson Valley Area

From the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association:

Major League Soccer, now in its 21st season, had record attendance last year and the high level of fan support continues in 2016. The passion to watch pro soccer has even extended to the minor leagues––the North American Soccer League, United Soccer League and National Premier Soccer League—as some of those teams also had record attendance.

Looking to take advantage of all this passion is expansion NPSL franchise Kingston Stockade FC, playing its home games at 1,500-seat Dietz Stadium. The NPSL represents the 4th Division in the US Soccer pyramid, three levels below MLS, and these players truly remain amateurs as they are not being paid.

The kids in the local East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) can easily find role models to identify with on the Stockade, especially since an amazing 85% of the new team played in the EHYSL as kids.

Kingston is a Hudson River city rich in history, stemming from the original Dutch settlers of the 17th Century. This history can be found in the stone homes lining the streets of uptown Kingston and within the Stockade District, named for the wooden fortification built to protect the Dutch settlement. Hence, the team name and the club colors of basic black-and-white with orange trim since the Dutch national team wears orange uniforms.

But Kingston’s head coach is not from The Netherlands but from Hungary and is now an iconic coaching figure in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). George Vizvary emigrated to the US in 1956, leaving behind a promising soccer career as a player for Tatabanya FC and even the Hungarian National Team during the magical years when Hungary was a world power. They were so good that Vizvary could only earn one cap for Hungary, playing left defender in a 1955 game, one year after his native country played in the World Cup final. He has gone on to coach countless teams in Eastern New York, received the 2015 Walter Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award and is now in charge of the Kingston Stockade.

“George was hired to be our coach because of his outstanding experience and longstanding dedication to the game. He’s also very well connected with local coaches and players and is very well organized. A local soccer legend in the Hudson Valley,” commented Kingston General Manager Randy Kim. “We believe our team will have a level of play that will make the Hudson Valley proud.“

“Our team has a good representation of Hudson Valley soccer,” said Coach Vizvary. “A fast-playing style offensively and defensively, bounded together with effectiveness and attractiveness. We possess a hard-to-beat core of players.”

Kingston plays its inaugural match this Sunday, May 8 in Massachusetts against Greater Lowell United FC. After a Friday, May 13 encounter in Brooklyn against the Brooklyn Italians, Kingston plays its first home game at Dietz Stadium, vs. the Rhode Island Reds on Saturday, May 21.

For more info about Kingston Stockade FC, log on here.

(Photo of Kingston Stockade FC, courtesy of the team.)