While more than 1,000 people reenact the Siege of Niagara this weekend at Old Fort Niagara, just as many young athletes will seek to reenact the World Cup at nearby Fort Niagara State Park.
The Niagara Pioneer Football Club will hold its 24th annual Invitational tournament across more than 20 fields in Youngstown. Play runs all day today and continues through Sunday, when championship games will begin around 12:30 p.m.
More than 130 teams are set to participate, according to tournament director Kevin Krueger. That’s down from a record 155 teams last year.
“It was tough to get some teams to travel on the holiday,” Krueger said.
In addition to Niagara Pioneer, nearly one-third of the teams will represent local clubs, including the Lockport Lightning, Niagara PAL, Ken-Ton, Northtowns and Grand Island.
Canadian clubs will make up about another third of the tournament field, while the rest of the field will come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other parts of New York.
Clare Noce, an agent with A&B; Travel, said last year that the Niagara Pioneer Invitational drew 3,000 people to the area, and contributed to more than 600 hotel reservations in Niagara Falls, Lockport and Buffalo.
There is no cost to watch the games, but spectators must pay their way into Fort Niagara State Park.
The tournament funs most of Niagara Pioneer’s expenses throughout the season, including scholarships awards and charitable donations.
“This is our only fundraiser,” Krueger said. “We don’t want to put the burden on parents to pay for everything we need.”
Some of the proceeds will also go toward next years tournament. Krueger said Niagara Pioneer does not “cut corners” with this tournament, ensuring three referees on each field, the presence of athletic trainers from Mount. St. Mary’s Hospital, and an on-site ambulance.
Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.
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July 4, 2008
SOCCER: Niagara Pioneer International tourney kick starts in Youngstown
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