LIJSL President Anthony Maresco announced his retirement from soccer to an assemblage of club presidents during the League’s recent (virtual) General Meeting on December 8th.
“I take this opportunity to advise you that I have retired from soccer. The board and I have put together a succession plan to ensure a smooth transition. I am pleased to announce that Andrew Seabury will assume the president’s position. I am confident that Andrew and the board will continue to move the league forward,” Maresco stated in his opening remarks. “I want to thank all of you for the support of the league. I also want to personally thank the board of directors, the office staff and my family for all of their support”, he added.
With his retirement from the League, as well as the State (ENYYSA) Board, Maresco encapsulates a 28-year volunteer calling, compiling an impressive resume at the Club, League and State levels. His efforts were appropriately recognized by his induction into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 2010, and subsequently into the ENYYSA Hall in 2018.
The South Setauket resident began volunteering for the Terryville Soccer Club in 1993. He went on to serve on the club’s Executive Board for 15 years, and as President from 2000 through 2009. In 2007, he was an assistant coach on the Terryville Fire, winners of the US Youth Soccer Boys Under 18 national championship.
After volunteering at the league level, including League Games Chairperson, Long Island Cup Girls Chairperson, as well as serving on the Supervisory, Rules and Arbitration committees, Maresco joined the League Board as a Trustee in 2010. He then was subsequently elected Treasurer, First Vice President, and then became President in 2015.
However, it is his stewardship as League President over the past six years that one might state has left his most indelible mark. “He’s been a really calm voice amongst the loud noise in our game of soccer”, remarked Andrew Seabury, who succeeds Maresco as LIJSL president. “Leader on our board, state board, most importantly for the whole soccer community on LI on a whole. Under his leadership we’ve seen LIJ move from an organization, to be fair that didn’t understand the modern game and its needs, to a league that now looks to lead and provide solutions and flexibility to our membership”, he added.
“Anthony was successful in fostering a much more customer-centric culture, while also creating a greater level of transparency to our membership”, commented the League’s Managing Director, Steve Padaetz. “His eagerness to promote ‘pilot programs’, as well as to facilitate rule changes, benefited our membership infinitely”.
“They say the measure of a person is in his or her actions, not their words. Anthony had looked to retire and discussed leaving the board maybe by the spring and wanted to create a plan to begin a transition”, Seabury noted. “However, faced with obviously the most difficult time our league and membership has encountered, instead of just walking away, he choose to stay alongside the board, providing the leadership so that collectively we as a soccer community could survive and get through these times”, he added.
“On behalf of the board and the LIJ team, thank you Anthony, for your untiring service to our soccer community. You’ve left your mark on this league and your council will be missed by all of us”, Seabury stated. A clear sentiment echoed by LIJSL member clubs, including Russ Bank, President of Plainview-Old Bethpage, “Anthony, the entire POB community thanks you for all of your hard work and dedication to the children of Long Island. Good luck and congratulations in your retirement!”