Stephen Orr has been elected president of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League. He succeeds Jim Purdy, who will remain on the board of directors as past president for the next year to ensure a smooth transition.
A Walkill, N.Y. resident, Orr is the 15th president of the league that was founded in 1976 and the first to live west of the Hudson River. Much of the growth of the East Hudson league in recent years has occurred west of the Hudson.
Orr became involved in soccer like many other American adults, after he registered his daughter. Avery Orr started playing intramural soccer in Newburgh, N.Y. He started as a team parent, then became an assistant coach with Nicole Silva as the head coach. After Avery moved onto travel soccer, Orr served as assistant coach, then co-coached a few seasons with Jesse Morrill. Before the spring season was cancelled because of the virus, Avery played on the Washingtonville Blaze and the East Hudson Academy Girls Under-17 team.
“During this time, I had the opportunity to serve on the EHYSL bboard of directors as secretary for two terms,” Orr said. “While on the oard, I participated on multiple committees, volunteered for our Slater Indoor Tournament and Hudson Invitational Tournament, the Dinner of Champions and had the opportunity to experience our East Hudson Academy Program as a parent.”
It has become a very busy life as Orr’s “real job” is distinguished architect at Cisco Systems, working in the U.S. Public Sector. He works with a broad range of Public Sector customers such as the Department of Defense, other government groups as well as higher education on enterprise architecture designs.
“My near term goals for East Hudson are to carry on the great work that Jim Purdy has done for the past eight years as president, carry us through the current COVID crisis so that we can get our players, coaches and refs back on the field safely and provide a great environment for families to enjoy soccer,” Orr said. “Long term, represent East Hudson clubs within Eastern New York, with an increased focus on East Hudson Academy teams and lastly, develop some lessons learned from the current pandemic and enable East Hudson to adapt to these new situations.”
Added Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association president Richard Christiano: “We thank Jim Purdy for his lengthy service to the kids of East Hudson as a president, coach and referee and look forward to working with Stephen Orr.”
The EHYSL has 15,000 registered players in 60 clubs and eight counties.
