For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

GLTS Partners with Beyond Soccer for Gateway Cities Soccer Festival

ANDOVER — Superintendent John Lavoie is pleased to announce that this summer, Greater Lawrence Technical School will be hosting a first-of-its kind soccer festival to bring suburban and urban players together for a friendly competition.

Occurring just days after the kickoff of the 2018 World Cup, the Gateway Soccer Festival will be held on June 16, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at GLTS, 57 River Road, Andover.

Because rising tournament and sports participation fees are often pricing kids out of sports, especially in Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities, this all day event offers a low-cost tournament-style atmosphere for players to create lasting memories around a healthy activity they love.

Put on in partnership with Beyond Soccer — a sports-based youth organization — the event will also give students the opportunity to play against peers they wouldn’t normally meet in the regular season.

“We’re excited to be a part of this event, which will foster relationships between students from throughout the state who are united by their love for soccer,” Superintendent Lavoie said. “This is sure to be a fun event for players and spectators alike.”

Every participating team will play in three games, and can partake in additional interactive activities, meet professional athletes and sample a wide range of different foods on site.

The mission of what organizers hope will be the first of an annual occurrence is to provide a fun and supportive team soccer experience where players recognize their potential and celebrate the diversity of those who live and work in Massachusetts Gateway Cities.

“This collaborative effort with Greater Lawrence Technical School will allow us to offer a quality, festival-type soccer experience to hundreds of young people at a fraction of the cost,” said Stephanie McArdle, Beyond Soccer Executive Director. “At the same time, it also presents incredible opportunity for further collaboration between local businesses, schools and community groups as we work together to bring more opportunities and attention to this region.”

Registration for the tournament is now open. Those who would like to participate can do so by signing up here.

About Massachusetts Gateway Cities:

Massachusetts Gateway Cities are urban communities that are leading areas for providing residents with jobs. As industries changed over the last several decades, these communities face social and economic challenges, but boast untapped resources in the form of transportation networks, existing infrastructure, hospitals and more. The state’s 26 Gateway Cities are Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield and Worcester.

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