Under the Lights: Lansdown Yonkers FC

So who are you and how did you get involved with Landowne Yonkers?

I’m William McGrory, the President of the club, and have been involved for aprox 15 years. I started out as a player and coach then moved onto the board. 

What's the history of the club?

The club was formed in 1996 and started out in a local NY league, over the years we grew in the community and still play in the same location. We climbed up the ladder and have recently won 3 National titles along with leagues and state cups, we also have a youth system with 24 travel teams , aprox. 400 kids. We have had several of our teams travel to tournaments in Europe where they have competed well. We have a Director of football, Jim Kelly, a technical and marketing director, Johan Mauritzan, and around 20 coaches, The club is based in Yonkers,  it's a community supported club with a hard working youth board, adult board and executive board. We do many community and national events,  please visit our website and all social media outlets 

I saw a note online that Tommy Smyth is your honorary president, what's the story with that? Is he aware?

Yes Tommy is aware, he was the president of cops Ireland along with club legend Paul Doherty and we had quite a few players in the team and then Tommy began attending and supporting Lansdowne,  an absolute gentleman and soccer fanatic.

Your club has been very successful recently, with a solid run in the USOC and a couple of Amateur Cup Championships. What's the secret to the success?

Hardwork, club spirit,  family atmosphere,  community backing, a strong dedicated Board, and it helps we play in the ultra competitive Cosmopolitan soccer league 

Can you talk about the style of play of your club?

Our club has always tried to play football the right way, our coaches have all come up through the European system and run high tempo sessions,  but we can also carry a physical side and mix it up when needed 

Who are some players from your team we should know about?

We have had many top players, down through the years. Currently our Club captain Sean Kelly a former Arsenal youth and league of Ireland player, Darryl kavanagh a former league of Ireland winner, Andrew Sousa former New England revolution,  Kabo Danso, arguably the best amateur keeper in the country this past 6 years, Johan Mauritzan former pro in Sweden,  I could literally name them all, a great bunch of lads.

Aside from the similar crest and colors, your club has a connection with Celtic FC. What's the nature of that relationship?,

We have been a partner club with Celtic and our founding members were supporters, and we still have a strong Celtic supporter club in Yonkers, we have also sent youth teams to Glasgow and we were Lansdowne Bhoys Bhoys being the nickname for Celtic.

You've had massive success in the Cosmo League, with 4 titles in the last six years, including 3 back to back. The league looks incredibly competitive from the outside, what's the level of play like and why can't other clubs seem to match your success?

The league is very competitive,  we have done well recently but it has become stronger and almost any team could beat you on their day, Pancyprian Freedoms and Cedar stars academy are 2 of the stronger teams at present but all teams are competitive and professionally run.

Anything else we should know about your club?

We love Soccer and we love our Yonkers community,  We have recently joined the Eastern Premier soccer league,  which we hope will change the soccer landscape,  with a pro/rel and hopefully true path to pro in not to distant future, it's a model we are fully behind and hope many more amateur leagues come on board and allow us to build something special