NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS | March 3, 2017 8:00 pm | Mark Miskin

Don Brock & TOPSoccer Director Stacey Keenan Honored At Coach Appreciation Dinner

We may be gearing up for the coming season, but Wednesday March 1st saw an opportunity to celebrate the past, present and future coaches of the Needham Soccer Club, with… View Article

We may be gearing up for the coming season, but Wednesday March 1st saw an opportunity to celebrate the past, present and future coaches of the Needham Soccer Club, with our club Coach Appreciation Dinner at Needham Golf Club. Attended by almost 100 NSC coaches, volunteers and special guests, the evening was a great event, and a welcome opportunity for us to give a little something back to those that make our program possible and give so much to the players in our club.

The evening, kicking off with cocktail hour and dinner, featured special guest speaker; New England Revolution goalkeeper Cody Cropper talking about his career to date and fielding questions from our guests and handing out Revolution raffle prizes.

Also in attendance was Needham Soccer legend Don Brock, presented with a special award for his contributions to Needham Soccer and the Needham Soccer Club. Don Brock is a key figure in the history of Needham Soccer having started the High School Varsity program program in 1961, and later a founder of the Needham Soccer Club in 1969. Don continued with the High School program up until 2015, signing off with a 5th state title spanning 48 years.

In addition to current NSC coaches, Don was joined for the evening by other special guests including Arnie Almquist (long time JV coach under Brock’s tenure), current and past Needham Girls Varsity Head Coaches: Carl Tarabelli and Jackson Foster, Don’s successor on the boys side – Jimmy Odierna, and Dave Wainwright (Needham Boys varsity alumni, Dover Sherborn Girls Varsity Head Coach, and Director of Runners Soccer Academy).

It was fitting to have Don in attendance for the presentations of the 1st ‘Don Brock Award – For Outstanding Contribution To The Needham Soccer Club and The Youth Of Needham‘, to TOPSoccer Program Director Stacey Keenan. TOPSoccer is the club’s newest program, aimed at players from 1st to 8th grade with physical and mental disabilities, and is in it’s third year with NSC. Stacey initally brought the idea to NSC and has since, with the great support of volunteers, created and grown a fantastic program that makes soccer truly accessible to all Needham children. The program has since grown to involve over 20 players, and around 40 volunteers including a small army of ‘buddies’ – other Needham kids, many of whom play for the club, volunteering their time to help participants in the program enjoy the physical and social aspects of soccer.

Our coaches and volunteers continue to be one of the most important aspects of our club. Thank you again to all who attended on Wednesday night, and for those that have coached, continue to coach and have an impact on our players.

Special thanks to Tom Roach and Jill Cotter for organizing a fantastic event.