FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Former Soccer Stand-Out Looks to Bring Back 'That Championship Feeling' to Broad & Vine
August 9, 2012, Philadelphia, Pa - It's been fifteen years since the boys from Broad and Vine called themselves Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) Soccer Champions. For many of those years in between, while the efforts were valiant and honest, the standings at the end of each season were not the desired result as is often said in soccer lingo. Still, the march of the Cahillites into a soccer prominent destination once again, has garnered renewed interest from around the PCL, not only from potential student - athletes, but from within the coaches ranks as well.
Matt Kelly last donned the purple and gold of Roman Catholic in the year 2000, his senior year at the venerable institution just north of center city. It's been twelve years but he is finally back home.
Head Coach, Ray DeStephanis announced today that Matt Kelly (RCHS '00) will join the Roman Catholic Soccer Coaching Staff as Goalkeepers Coach. "What can I say other than it's an absolute honor and pleasure to be able to be back at Broad and Vine."
Born and raised in Fishtown, and now residing with his family in Bridesburg, Kelly has a unique neighborhood perspective as these two geographical locations represent some of Roman's biggest enrollment feeds. Additionally, Kelly started his coaching career at Sts. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School in the heart of South Philadelphia soon after graduating Roman. He was credited with infusing a genuine interest in soccer in the neighborhood and at Neumann - Goretti, before moving onto Cardinal O'Hara in Springfield.
While at O'Hara, he was recognized throughout the PCL for managing well fit and prepared teams that would play tough and hard from whistle to whistle. Many of those games seemed to boil down to a testy rivalry with Roman. "It was easy to get my guys up to play Roman twice a season" he chuckles. "I would make a goofy bet to run laps or wind sprints based on their performance... needless to say, they were very lively matches."
Said Ray DeStephanis of Kelly, "it's really another solid building block to a strong soccer foundation here. We have two Roman alums on our staff now along with some of the most talented, passionate coaches I have had the pleasure to know." He continued, "we all want to win, but in the end, the boys that come out of here in a soccer sense will have been blessed with a truly outstanding coaching staff and be well prepared to take their talents to the next level should they so choose."
And for Kelly? With a coy smile and a confident stare, he simply says, "I remember that championship feeling, there's nothing like it in the world. I know these guys came close last year with a good, deep run... who says we can't get that championship feeling back at Broad and Vine again this year?"
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For more information: Mark Casasanto - 215.681.3031
Matt Kelly last donned the purple and gold of Roman Catholic in the year 2000, his senior year at the venerable institution just north of center city. It's been twelve years but he is finally back home.
Head Coach, Ray DeStephanis announced today that Matt Kelly (RCHS '00) will join the Roman Catholic Soccer Coaching Staff as Goalkeepers Coach. "What can I say other than it's an absolute honor and pleasure to be able to be back at Broad and Vine."
Born and raised in Fishtown, and now residing with his family in Bridesburg, Kelly has a unique neighborhood perspective as these two geographical locations represent some of Roman's biggest enrollment feeds. Additionally, Kelly started his coaching career at Sts. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School in the heart of South Philadelphia soon after graduating Roman. He was credited with infusing a genuine interest in soccer in the neighborhood and at Neumann - Goretti, before moving onto Cardinal O'Hara in Springfield.
While at O'Hara, he was recognized throughout the PCL for managing well fit and prepared teams that would play tough and hard from whistle to whistle. Many of those games seemed to boil down to a testy rivalry with Roman. "It was easy to get my guys up to play Roman twice a season" he chuckles. "I would make a goofy bet to run laps or wind sprints based on their performance... needless to say, they were very lively matches."
Said Ray DeStephanis of Kelly, "it's really another solid building block to a strong soccer foundation here. We have two Roman alums on our staff now along with some of the most talented, passionate coaches I have had the pleasure to know." He continued, "we all want to win, but in the end, the boys that come out of here in a soccer sense will have been blessed with a truly outstanding coaching staff and be well prepared to take their talents to the next level should they so choose."
And for Kelly? With a coy smile and a confident stare, he simply says, "I remember that championship feeling, there's nothing like it in the world. I know these guys came close last year with a good, deep run... who says we can't get that championship feeling back at Broad and Vine again this year?"
###
For more information: Mark Casasanto - 215.681.3031
