Massachusetts Adult Soccer

For the last 8 years, Bill Robertson of Boston United has gathered a self-described ‘All Star’ team from the Boston area to play at the Florida Classic Soccer Tournament in Orlando on the holiday weekend in January. Participating teams come from up and down the East Coast, the Caribbean and as far as Cincinnati and Chicago. All players come for the soccer only but others make an extended vacation away from the January chill of the north.

Originally, the tournament was hosted by Disney’s ESPN but some years ago Florida Soccer took it over and moved it to the orange groves of Lakeland, south of Kissimmee. The tournament has different age groups. BDS has moved up to match their advancing years. This year, the team included players from the OTHSL O50 Division from Boston United, The Mariners, Stoneham, South Shore Seniors and two ‘guests” from the UK and Denver.  
 
The competition is always intense and largely friendly with pool play on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and the final on the Monday. Over the years, BDS has had mixed results -winning the tournament once, runners up twice but always having a great time. This year, in the semifinal, BDS were edged out 2-1 by the eventual tournament winners. One thing for sure is that everyone always has a great time and makes new friends with players from all over.