Local Coaches Take On New York's Finest In Charity Soccer Match

A special group of soccer players met on the pitch at Southampton High School on Sunday evening, where the competition was secondary to honoring those in uniform.

On the 20th anniversary weekend of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a group of coaches from Colonial Sports Group — which provides coaching for Southampton Town United and North Fork United, two area youth soccer clubs — played a match against members of the New York’s Finest Soccer Club, a team made up of New York City police officers.

The Colonial Sports Group squad, coached by Southampton Town United Executive Director Andreas Lindberg, and captained by Gary Easlick, the director of youth development, came away with a 4-1 win, although the NYPD was competing without some of its top players who were unable to attend. Greg Fink, who serves as director of Southampton Town United and also runs South Fork United, a soccer training and service club, served as referee, mainly to avoid having to choose a side. In addition to working for the local soccer club, Fink, an East Quogue resident, has also worked as a New York City police officer for the last 20 years.

It marked the second time the teams met on the pitch for a friendly game. Their last meeting, held at Hampton Bays High School in 2019, ended in a 1-1 tie. Fink said both sides hope to make it an annual tradition.

Before the start of the game, Fink took time to conduct a short ceremony honoring the visiting team, particularly the officers who, 20 years ago, were at the World Trade Center when the twin towers fell. Sergeant Curtis Basch, police officer Jennifer Marino, police officer Sean McCaffrey, and retired Sergeant Bruce Adler all played in Sunday’s game, two decades and a day after responding to the scene on September 11.

There was no price of admission, but donations were accepted and benefit the New York’s Finest Soccer Club, which operates as a 501c3 charity.