Lions Twin-State Soccer Association
New Hampshire - Vermont, USA
"Soccer for Sight"

1997 Lions Soccer Cup Games Completed
Vermont Sweeps! The weather was almost a repeat of last year's. Cool and windy, but at least there was some sunshine this year. The Vermont girls team was victorious over New Hampshire, 2-1, scoring the winning goal in the final two minutes of play. In the following boys game, the first half ended in a 1-1 tie, but Vermont scored twice in the second half.
The series now stands at NH-8, VT-5, ties-2, for the girls teams and NH-12, VT-8, ties-3.

History

What began as a dream of a few Vermont soccer coaches in 1973 was finally realized in 1975 with the playing of the first Lions Twin-State Soccer Cup Match. Nearly 2000 spectators came to Middlebury to see a game that had come about as a result of Vermont and New Hampshire coaches working together.

The coaches had initially set the first game for July of 1974, but NCAA rules would not allow the game to be held on a college campus. After this setback the coaches decided they would need two things - an outside sponsor, and a change in the NCAA bylaws.

Early in 1975, both were accomplished. The NCAA did change their rules and the Lions of New Hampshire and Vermont agreed to sponsor the game.

Recognizing that girls’ soccer was the fastest growing sport in New England, a girls’ match was added in 1983. Since the first game in 1975, the site of the game has rotated between locations in New Hampshire and Vermont.

The dream of a few coaches and Lions of the two states is a reality. Over 1400 graduating high school soccer players have been honored to play in the matches, and over $327,000 has been raised for Lions projects in Vermont and New Hampshire.

The Lions Twin-State Soccer Association, Inc.

The Lions Twin-State Soccer Association, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation under the control of the Lions of New Hampshire and Vermont. The board of directors of the association is made up of 18 Lions from each state serving three year terms. These directors in turn elect their officers. The directors all donate their time, travel, and expenses to attend association meetings , travel to local clubs in their state to promote the matches, and serve on association committees to administer the games.

The Board of Directors meets every other month, and the executive board meets on alternate months. All Lions are welcome to attend the Board of Directors meetings, which are usually held in White River Junction, Vermont.

The Role of the Lions

The Lions of both states pull together each year to make the matches a financial success for the projects in their states. The funds are raised in two ways. The first is through the sales of tickets to individual Lions and to the public. Each Lion in the two states is mailed two tickets and asked to purchase or sell them. Lions also make an effort to attend the games, bringing friends, family, youth from the community, and fellow Lions.

The second way funds are raised, accounting for a majority of the revenue for the games, is the sale of advertising space in the program book. The sale of ads requires the dedication and committment of each Lion in order to be successful. The directors will inform the local Lions regarding which ads have yet to be renewed, so the advertiser can be contacted. Just as important as renewal ads is the sale of new ads. This is how this program will grow to be an even larger success.

For more information about the Lions Twin-State Soccer Cup Matches and how YOU can become involved, contact the Twin-State Soccer Cup office at Rt. 4, Box 133, Danbury, NH, 03230, or call (603) 768-3617 and speak to Executive Secretary Lion Forrest Powers. If you are a New Hampshire or Vermont Lion and would like to become a part of the Board of Directors, contact your District Governor, or a current Soccer Director.

What’s up in 1997

The 23rd annual Lions Twin-State Soccer Cup matches will be held again this year at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire on Saturday, July 19, 1997.

Dartmouth has an outstanding campus and playing facility and has hosted our match for the last three years with great success and rave reviews from players and coaches.

We all look forward to outstanding matches this year and to active participation of all the Lions of New Hampshire and Vermont to make this the most successful game ever.

The Cause

The money raised from the games is evenly divided between the two states and goes to fund a variety of projects important to those states.

Vermont

The funds raised go primarily to fund a summer camp for hearing impaired children. This camp, run in cooperation with the Austine School in Brattleboro, Vermont, attracts hearing impaired children from all over the Northeast. Hearing impaired children come to camp for two weeks to enjoy activities such as swimming, canoeing, hiking, and a variety of other outdoor activities.

The Vermont proceeds also go to fund other special needs in the areas of Sight and Hearing, Diabetes Awareness, and Drug Awareness programs.

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire the funds go to the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation of New Hampshire, Inc., which uses them to support projects throughout the state. Major recipients of grants from the Foundation include the Low Vision Program of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, the Lions Multiple District 44 Health Van, and the MICE Program (a program to provide training and support services for blind and deaf-blind infants). The Foundation also awards grants to Lions and Lioness Clubs for sight and hearing projects they are unable to fund alone.

1996 Lions Soccer Cup Results

This is July? With temperatures in the low 60s (Fahrenheit), a fierce goal-to-goal wind blowing, and no sun, the girls' game was underway at 11:00am, Saturday, July 20, 1996. Vermont scored first, and New Hampshire answered, early in the first half. The score remained 1-1 until 35 minutes into the second half when Vermont scored the winning goal; final score, 2-1. The boys' game ended with the same scoring result, 2-1, except that it was the New Hampshire team that was victorious. Vermont's lone goal came in the final minute of play. The Lions Soccer Cup now stands with New Hampshire leading, 12-7-3 for the boys and 8-4-2 for the girls.

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