Lancaster County’s Lanco League received the D’Anjolell Award, during Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s Annual Award Reception, Saturday, March 8th.
The D'Anjolell Award has been presented since 1986 to an outstanding Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer club or league. The award recognizes that organization's contribution to the game and to the youth who play it. All aspects of the organization's activities are evaluated. These activities include, but are not limited to, the development of both recreational and competitive players through the club or league's dedicated administrators, creative coaching, tournament play, foreign travel, and support of the Olympic Development Program.
The D’Anjolell Award is named for the late Ron and Betty D’Anjolell, who were instrumental in the growth of youth soccer, in particular, the growth of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. The D’Anjolell ’s devoted much of their time and effort to grow soccer from a grassroots level in Pennsylvania, helping to form Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer in 1972, as well as active roles in amateur and professional soccer in the United States and internationally. Both were inducted into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000.
The Lanco League was established in 1980 to serve the local soccer clubs of Lancaster County, and now serves nearly 200 teams annually. The Lanco League started the "Red Rose Classic" soccer tournament in 1990, an annual tradition that has continued through the present day. Current Lanco League president Lennie Brown will accept the award Saturday night on behalf of the Lanco League.
Past recipients of the D’Anjolell Award include Yardley Makefield Soccer Club (2012); Upper Moreland Soccer Club (2011); and Council Rock United Soccer Association (2004).