Brooklyn Italian Soccer Club still growing after 60 years

Over six decades young and still going strong, the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club has a rich history.

The organization started as a league for immigrant adults. Over 60 years later, it remains an integral part of the borough for local soccer players.

“The club was born in 1949, thanks to Italian immigrants that came over after World War II and formed this social club,” said Ludovico Masucci, director of Scuola Calcio, which is Italian for Soccer School, a program for children. “Italians have passion for soccer. Within the club, they created a team. Over the next decade, they formed a professional men’s soccer league.” The soccer team was one of the first in New York City.

The newly formed club competed in local leagues in the area against rival social clubs, then traveled around the country. The club became so successful that the Brooklyn Italians won the U.S. Open Cup, the oldest ongoing competition in American soccer, in 1979, then again in 1991.

In the early nineties, the club expanded to provide a variety of children’s programs as a result of increased interest in soccer for youngsters in the states.

“Youth soccer grew in this country tremendously then. Girls and boys played lots of soccer,” said Masucci. Since including programs for kids, the club has grown rapidly. “In the early ‘90s, we had a couple of teams. Now we have 17 teams that travel and 500 players.” The club offers programs for children ranging from four to 19 years-old, in which coaches teach them basic fundamentals of the game.

Developing interest in soccer at an early age is crucial to the club’s continued success. “The goal is to get kids into the game as much as possible,” he said. “It serves to build character and self-esteem, as they learn the game and stay fit. It’s also to help them become good individuals. And it’s a way they stay out of trouble.” Masucci credits Director of Coaching Dominick Casciato for his dedication.

Despite it being called the Italian Soccer Club, the programs cater to all soccer players, stressed Masucci. “It’s a multi-ethnic club. We have every ethnic background playing in our club. It’s as diversified as New York City,” he said.

According to Masucci, the club has been able to thrive “thanks to the passion and dedication for the game, board members, coaches that put in a lot of time and effort to make sure the program and club succeeds,” he said. “The parents get involved and want to teach the children. All the coaches are licensed.”

For more information on the Italian Soccer Club and its programs, visit www.brooklynitalians.org.