New York City FC Unveils Mini-Pitch in the Bronx

NEWS FROM NEW YORK CITY FC 

Wednesday afternoon, New York City FC, alongside MLS WORKS, the US Soccer Foundation, SNHU and Adidas unveiled a new mini-pitch at Public School 049 Willis Avenue School as part of the league-wide 20 for 20 initiative. The mini-pitch will offer the kids in this Bronx community a safe place to play, while providing a soccer environment that encourages unstructured play to continue the growth of the game.

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New York City FC, MLS WORKS, The US Soccer Foundation, SNHU and adidas Unveil New Soccer Mini-Pitch. Photo credit: NYCFC.

At the event, New York City FC’s Supporters Group, Third Rail, donated school supplies to the kids of PS 049 and Club President Jon Patricof gave all of the kids in attendance tickets to Saturday’s home game at Yankee Stadium.

Additionally, SNHU awarded a full college scholarship to a New York City FC young leader from one the Club’s youth affiliates, South Bronx United. This young leader will support the delivery of afterschool programs at PS 049 with City in the Community Foundation.

To close out the event, New York City FC players – Mehdi Ballouchy and Shannon Gomez – played small-sided games with the kids from the school.

New Soccer Mini-Pitch. Credit: NYCFC.

New Soccer Mini-Pitch. Credit: NYCFC.

The 20 for 20 initiative is another way for New York City FC to help increase access to free soccer in underserved communities throughout the five boroughs. Earlier this summer, New York City FC launched the New York City Soccer Initiative with Mayor de Blasio, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC, the US Soccer Foundation and adidas to bring 50 new soccer fields to underserved neighborhoods in New York City. Over the next five years, this separate public-private partnership will invest $3 million in fields across the city and provide after school programming for 10,000 kids.

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