The LIJSL will induct three new members to the LIJSL Hall of Fame on April 2 during a brunch at the Huntington Hilton. The three volunteers to be honored are Jim Magyar, Louis Pepe, and Tim Stalker.
Magyar has played a pivotal role for youth soccer in New Hyde Park. He founded the New Hyde Park Wildcats Soccer Club in 1978 and later helped establish the club’s intramural program as well as the New Hyde Park Wildcats Instructional Program, which was for girls and boys aged five to six years old.
He also served as the club’s president for eight years and coached several NHP travel teams as well as within the LIJSL Select (now LIJSL Academy) program.
Pepe has been involved with the East Islip Soccer Club for over 20 years and currently serves on the club’s Board of Directors as the Director of Finance and Auditing. During his time with the club, he established the Just For Kicks program, which is designed for children on the Autism spectrum. The program now includes 100 players from five to 14 years old. He has also previously been awarded the New York State TopSoccer Volunteer Of The Year.
Stalker has made an impact within the Terryville Soccer Club, where he’s taken on a variety of roles. He’s served as the Vice President of Intramurals, Referee Coordinator, and as Club President. Stalker is also a Long Island Soccer Referee Association (LISRA) ref. He is also currently the Coaches Arbitration Committee Chairperson as well as Games Chairman for LIJSL.