| |
|
The new sign at the former Field 1 at The Home Depot Center is unveiled during the Glenn 'Mooch' Myernick Field Dedication.
© Don Feria / isiphotos.com
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
CARSON, Calif. (June 5, 2007) – The U.S. Soccer Federation commemorated the main training field at the organization’s National Training Center as the Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field in an emotional ceremony on June 5 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The dedication ceremony was attended by a dozen Myernick family members, including wife Nancy, daughter Kelly and son Travis, as well as the entire U.S. Men’s National Team and head coach Bob Bradley.
The short ceremony featured a moving speech by Bradley, another coaching legend from New Jersey, and was followed by an emotional unveiling of the sign by his wife and children. The double-side sign feature a U.S. Soccer crest and the words Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field.
"Anytime I spent anytime with Mooch, I was motivated, uplifted, reminded of so many different things; of what a privilege it is to be involved with this game, reminded of what it is to try to be a good father, good son, good husband, good man,” Bradley said. “He reminded you of that without ever talking about it - because that's what he was."
The event was followed by a 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 played 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 eventually helped raise more than $165,000.
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.
Donations to the Mooch Myernick Memorial Fund can be made at www.ussoccerfoundation.org/myernick.
Did you know?