His dream began way back in 1978.
Tony Martelli, in his first year as Section 9’s boys’ soccer chairman, hoped to bring the boys’ state soccer semifinals and championship games to Orange, Sullivan or Ulster counties.
Thirty years passed and the best boys’ futbol in the state never made it here.
However, this fall, Martelli’s dream – the dream of many other coaches, players and administrators – will be fulfilled.
Middletown High School’s Faller Field is expected to host the 2010 and 2011 boys’ soccer state semifinals and championships after the state soccer committee on Thursday voted and unanimously approved Section 9’s bid at a meeting in Albany.
The 22-member executive committee, comprised of two members from every section in the state, must approve Middletown as the host. That move could come as early as Jan. 21, but it could be a mere formality, since no other section put in a bid.
“Middletown was a great venue for our boys’ lacrosse semifinals this past spring,” said Nina Van Erk, executive director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. “The professionalism and support the association received for the event was outstanding. I’m certain the efforts to host the soccer this fall will be the same if not better.”
“This is a proud moment for all of us in Section 9,” said Martelli, who went 249-54-25 as Washingtonville’s boys’ varsity coach from 1968-84. “This is tremendous, a dream come true. We did a lot of work and it all just came together.”
Middletown’s final four will be held on Nov. 20-21 at FIFA-approved Faller Field on turf, a new grass field next to Faller and at Twin Towers Middle School. Middletown will continue to host the Section 9 boys’ and girls’ soccer championships and some opening-round state tournament contests.
The boys’ soccer state semifinals and finals have been held at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta for the last nine seasons. However, with the museum closing in September due to financial problems, the biggest games of the year will be moved.
Martelli is part of a group that has been planning a run at the semifinals and a championship for a year. The group includes former Washingtonville coach Pete Ferguson, now the Section 9 boys’ soccer co-chairman with Martelli, Middletown athletic director David Coates, Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association coordinator Jim Osborne and Section 9 girls’ soccer chairperson Diane Wanser.
Ferguson and Martelli put in Middletown’s bid to state officials on Nov. 20 in Oneonta on the weekend of the state final four. Osborne estimated that at least 2,500 fans will visit Middletown for the two-day tournament.
“This all happened so fast, but we’re ecstatic,” Coates said. “We’re going to start working on this tomorrow. We have a lot of people extremely proud to show off our facilities, to make people feel welcome. We will do a great job.”
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Middletown gets boys’ state soccer semifinals and championship for 2010-11
His dream began way back in 1978.
Tony Martelli, in his first year as Section 9’s boys’ soccer chairman, hoped to bring the boys’ state soccer semifinals and championship games to Orange, Sullivan or Ulster counties.
Thirty years passed and the best boys’ futbol in the state never made it here.
However, this fall, Martelli’s dream – the dream of many other coaches, players and administrators – will be fulfilled.
Middletown High School’s Faller Field is expected to host the 2010 and 2011 boys’ soccer state semifinals and championships after the state soccer committee on Thursday voted and unanimously approved Section 9’s bid at a meeting in Albany.
The 22-member executive committee, comprised of two members from every section in the state, must approve Middletown as the host. That move could come as early as Jan. 21, but it could be a mere formality, since no other section put in a bid.
“Middletown was a great venue for our boys’ lacrosse semifinals this past spring,” said Nina Van Erk, executive director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. “The professionalism and support the association received for the event was outstanding. I’m certain the efforts to host the soccer this fall will be the same if not better.”
“This is a proud moment for all of us in Section 9,” said Martelli, who went 249-54-25 as Washingtonville’s boys’ varsity coach from 1968-84. “This is tremendous, a dream come true. We did a lot of work and it all just came together.”
Middletown’s final four will be held on Nov. 20-21 at FIFA-approved Faller Field on turf, a new grass field next to Faller and at Twin Towers Middle School. Middletown will continue to host the Section 9 boys’ and girls’ soccer championships and some opening-round state tournament contests.
The boys’ soccer state semifinals and finals have been held at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta for the last nine seasons. However, with the museum closing in September due to financial problems, the biggest games of the year will be moved.
Martelli is part of a group that has been planning a run at the semifinals and a championship for a year. The group includes former Washingtonville coach Pete Ferguson, now the Section 9 boys’ soccer co-chairman with Martelli, Middletown athletic director David Coates, Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association coordinator Jim Osborne and Section 9 girls’ soccer chairperson Diane Wanser.
Ferguson and Martelli put in Middletown’s bid to state officials on Nov. 20 in Oneonta on the weekend of the state final four. Osborne estimated that at least 2,500 fans will visit Middletown for the two-day tournament.
“This all happened so fast, but we’re ecstatic,” Coates said. “We’re going to start working on this tomorrow. We have a lot of people extremely proud to show off our facilities, to make people feel welcome. We will do a great job.”