On Sunday, February 20, the New York Red Bulls will host the Soccer Stop South Ward Football Challenge at the Harrison Soccer Courts beginning at 9:00 AM ET. The Harrison Soccer Courts are located at 15 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd in Harrison, NJ. Players and spectators are encouraged to bring youth soccer gear to donate. All soccer balls will be donated to Balls Without Borders, an organization that delivers soccer balls to children who have been affected by armed conflict or by natural or man-made disaster. All other soccer equipment and donations will go to the U.S. Soccer Foundation.
The tournament will consist of four teams, Empire Supporters Club (ESC), the Garden State Supporters (GSS), the Viking Army Supporters Club (VASC), and the Red Bull New York Front Office(RBNYFO), who will compete for the Spanish Pavillion Cup. Former Red Bulls great Mike Petke and current Assistant Coach Richie Williams will suit up for the Red Bull New York Front Office team.
Each team will play each other once, playing a 30-minute 7 vs. 7 game, followed by a 3rd place game as well as a championship game. The winner will be presented with the Spanish Pavillion Cup. The Spanish Pavillion, along with The Green Room, will be offering supporters a chance relax and hang out during the tournament. The Spanish Pavillion is located at 31 Harrison Avenue in Harrison, NJ, and The Green Room is located at 203 Frank E Rodgers Boulevard South in Harrison, NJ. Schedules and game times are listed below.
The South Ward is the supporters section at Red Bull Arena. Consisting of sections 101 (Empire Supporters Club), 133 (Garden State Supporters), and 102 (Viking Army Supporters Club), the supporters in South Ward fill Red Bull Arena with noise and atmosphere by standing and singing at all times along with the use of flags and banners. The idea for TheSouthWard.com was conceived during the New York Red Bulls' 2010 season when supporters from several supporters groups began talking about coordination between the clubs to pull off massive “tifo”, sync up on songs, and plan away trips and special events. For more information and for the official Soccer Stop South Ward Football Challenge Facebook page, CLICK HERE.
For more information on The South Ward, please go to the following websites for their respective groups:
http://www.gardenstatesupporters.com/ - Garden State Supporters
http://www.vikingarmy.com/ - Viking Army Supporters Club
http://www.empiresupportersclub.com/ - Empire Supporters Club
Soccer Stop South Ward Football Challenge schedule and game times:
Check in is at 9:00 PM
First game 9:45 PM
09:45 - ESC vs GSS
10:10 - VASC vs RBNYFO
10:45 - ESC vs VASC
11:15 - GSS vs RBNYFO
11:45 - ESC vs RBNYFO
12:15 - VASC vs GSS
12:45 - 3rd Place Game
01:15 - Championship Game
(Please note: all games will not start at times due to change in between games. Tournament with events should end around 02:15 PM)
