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U.S. Soccer's main field will be dedicated to Glenn 'Mooch' Myernick.
© International Sports Images / isiphotos.com
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CHICAGO (June 1, 2007) – The U.S. Soccer Federation will dedicate the main training field at the organization’s National Training Center as the Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field in a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 5 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The commemoration ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. PT, and will be followed by the invitation-only
Drew Carey vs. U.S. Soccer fundraising event in the Stadium Club.
U.S. Soccer Secretary General Dan Flynn, U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley and members of the Myernick family will be on hand to speak, with members of the USA’s 2007 Gold Cup squad also in attendance.
“With Field No. 1 serving both literally and symbolically as the focal point of training and development for all of our national teams’ programs, from the senior teams of the men and women down to the U-14 boys, naming this field after Mooch is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the development of the sport in our country,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “There is no doubt his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who are so passionate about helping soccer succeed in the United States.”
Following the ceremony, U.S. Soccer will host a special VIP invitation-only fundraiser featuring Drew Carey and members of the Men’s and Women’s National Teams. The comedian and star of the upcoming CBS game show The Power of 10 will play five players from both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams in FIFA Soccer 07 on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and for every game he loses, he’s donating $10,000 to benefit the Mooch Myernick Memorial Fund. In the main event, Drew squares off against self-described EA Sports king and U.S. National Team star Landon Donovan with $50,000 up for grabs. All told, Drew is offering to donate up to $100,000 to the cause.
All of the proceeds from the Drew Carey event will be donated to the
Mooch Myernick Memorial Fund, in honor of former coach and MNT captain Glenn “Mooch” Myernick. The fund was established to help increase the number of children playing the sport in metropolitan communities nationwide, and to assist soccer clubs and organizations in urban areas to create and sustain soccer opportunities for local underserved children. Since the Fund was created, the Foundation has raised more than $100,000 from individual and corporate donors in Myernick’s honor to help support the growth of soccer in major metropolitan areas across the country.
Myernick passed away on Oct. 5, 2006, at the age of 51. An assistant coach for the U.S. MNT at both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, it was Myernick who coached the USA in their championship victory at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup after head coach Bruce Arena was suspended for the final. He had previously served as assistant coach for the U-20 MNT, and led the U-17s at the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Ecuador in 1993. Myernick took over as the head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team in 2002, guiding the team’s efforts to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.
Myernick played more games for the U.S. National Team than any other U.S. National Team coach, serving as team captain in 1978 and compiling 10 caps. He also started four games for the U.S. Olympic Team in qualifying for the 1976 Games. He had a standout collegiate career at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., winning the Hermann Trophy as the sport's outstanding player in 1976. He also starred in the NASL with numerous teams, earning MVP honors for the Portland Timbers in 1982.
Members of the media wishing to attend the field dedication and the Drew Carey vs. U.S. Soccer event should contact Michael Kammarman at
mkammarman@ussoccer.org. Donations to the Mooch Myernick Memorial Fund can be made at
ussoccerfoundation.org/myernick.
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