On November 12, 1988 the first World's Largest Soccer Game took place on the SUNY Oneonta Campus. The event hoped to set a world record with 1, 000 players participating in the game. Although they were not successful in achieving this goal, the game still attracted 752 people, half wearing red shirts and half wearing white. Taking place on the lower soccer field on the SUNY Oneonta campus, some participants even showed up from as far as Binghamton and Utica, New York. Along with attempting to set a world record, the event was dedicated to former SUNY Oneonta student, Lance Tucker, who had passed away just a week prior in an automobile accident.
Despite concerns about the weather, participants enjoyed the sun and mud that came along with the game. Oneonta's Mayor at the time, David Brenner, was the goalie for the white team. Alan B. Donovan, in his first year as President for SUNY Oneonta, was goalie for the red team. Most of the players on the two 376 member teams could barely kick the ball once or twice. The final score of the game with two 45 minute halves was 5-3 with the Red team taking the win. When the event first took place, President Donovan hoped that it would become an annual event. This year, in tribute and commemoration of the 1st World's Largest Soccer Game and President Donovan's 1st year here at SUNY Oneonta we'd like to attempt this world record again and reach that goal of 1, 000 players.
Arciheved Documents-
Daily Star Article - November 13th, 1988
State Times Article- November 17th, 1988 |
