The Polonia Hillsborough Soccer Club in Hillsborough, New Jersey was formed by a group of friends who, despite slightly greying hair, still held a love of soccer in their hearts. Since 1998, we started to systematically meet on various soccer fields of Hillsborough early on Sunday mornings.
In the beginning there were only a few of us, and we played with small goals which were made from steel pipe. After a year, our group grew and we were determined to play every week regardless of inclement weather or time of the year. In 1999, we took on the name Polonia-Hillsborough, due to the fact that a majority of our players are part of the Polish-American community in the Hillsborough, Manville, Bridgewater area. Players of other ethnic backgrounds were and are always enthusiastically accepted into our ranks. In addition to our Sunday matches, we started to take part in matches with teams from other towns, leagues and ethnic affiliations. Since 2000 we participate in leagues organized by the Somerset Soccer Center (SCC), and since 2003 in tournaments sponsored by the Association of Polish-American Soccer Clubs (ZPKP).
Our participation in the SSC "Over 30" indoor leagues, from October to April, brought us great achievement, as we took first place several times. Indoor soccer is a fine addition to our Sunday matches.
In August of 2002, as a team debuting in the XIII Kazimierz Deyna Tournament at the Polish Falcon Camp in Hillsborough, we took first place in the category of "Over 35". This was a tremendous success for us in such a prestigious tournament, and especially since it took place on our home turf where we felt like the home team. We play in this tournament every year. In 2003 and 2005 we came in second place. In 2006, participating in the "Over 40" group, we were champions again. This success we owe largely to our dedication and game condition, because in spite of our advancing age, we still play an average of twice a week.
Since 2005, we took part in the Tri-County Soccer League (TCSL) in the Over 30 category. Playing in the strongest Division "A" we finished in third place last year and this past year we qualified for the playoffs.
The year 2006 was also a big success for us. In addition to our victories in indoor matches in Somerset and Flemington, we took home the prestigious champions trophy in our age category in both the Kazimierz Deyna tournament and the TCSL tournament.
The year 2007 we also started successfully, as we took first place in the indoor tournament in Randolph, NJ in the "Over 40" group and second place in the "Over 30" group. In the following years, 2008 and 2009, we got second place in the "Over 40" category. Playing in the other polish indoor tournament at Yonkers NY in 2008, we took first place in the "Over 40" category.
Through the doors of our club passed over 50 devotees of the game of soccer. The persons who took part in the formation of our club and who, to this day, play and form the core of our team are: Roman Lyko, Marek Kot, Jurek Debski, Antoni Adamczyk, Darek Karczewski, Norbert Zaczynski, Stefan Bujalski, Irek Gnap, Mieczyslaw Lasota and Andrzej Kot.
The Polonia Hillsborough Soccer Club encourages and promotes teamwork and sportsmanship and gives all enthusiasts of soccer great recreation. We not only compete but, through involvement in the games, take a break from everyday problems and difficulties. Every year our membership has increased. Our club accepts all enthusiasts of soccer without restrictions of age or experience. We only have one requirement of membership - sportsmanship and sportsmanlike behavior.
In the beginning there were only a few of us, and we played with small goals which were made from steel pipe. After a year, our group grew and we were determined to play every week regardless of inclement weather or time of the year. In 1999, we took on the name Polonia-Hillsborough, due to the fact that a majority of our players are part of the Polish-American community in the Hillsborough, Manville, Bridgewater area. Players of other ethnic backgrounds were and are always enthusiastically accepted into our ranks. In addition to our Sunday matches, we started to take part in matches with teams from other towns, leagues and ethnic affiliations. Since 2000 we participate in leagues organized by the Somerset Soccer Center (SCC), and since 2003 in tournaments sponsored by the Association of Polish-American Soccer Clubs (ZPKP).
Our participation in the SSC "Over 30" indoor leagues, from October to April, brought us great achievement, as we took first place several times. Indoor soccer is a fine addition to our Sunday matches.
In August of 2002, as a team debuting in the XIII Kazimierz Deyna Tournament at the Polish Falcon Camp in Hillsborough, we took first place in the category of "Over 35". This was a tremendous success for us in such a prestigious tournament, and especially since it took place on our home turf where we felt like the home team. We play in this tournament every year. In 2003 and 2005 we came in second place. In 2006, participating in the "Over 40" group, we were champions again. This success we owe largely to our dedication and game condition, because in spite of our advancing age, we still play an average of twice a week.
Since 2005, we took part in the Tri-County Soccer League (TCSL) in the Over 30 category. Playing in the strongest Division "A" we finished in third place last year and this past year we qualified for the playoffs.
The year 2006 was also a big success for us. In addition to our victories in indoor matches in Somerset and Flemington, we took home the prestigious champions trophy in our age category in both the Kazimierz Deyna tournament and the TCSL tournament.
The year 2007 we also started successfully, as we took first place in the indoor tournament in Randolph, NJ in the "Over 40" group and second place in the "Over 30" group. In the following years, 2008 and 2009, we got second place in the "Over 40" category. Playing in the other polish indoor tournament at Yonkers NY in 2008, we took first place in the "Over 40" category.
Through the doors of our club passed over 50 devotees of the game of soccer. The persons who took part in the formation of our club and who, to this day, play and form the core of our team are: Roman Lyko, Marek Kot, Jurek Debski, Antoni Adamczyk, Darek Karczewski, Norbert Zaczynski, Stefan Bujalski, Irek Gnap, Mieczyslaw Lasota and Andrzej Kot.
The Polonia Hillsborough Soccer Club encourages and promotes teamwork and sportsmanship and gives all enthusiasts of soccer great recreation. We not only compete but, through involvement in the games, take a break from everyday problems and difficulties. Every year our membership has increased. Our club accepts all enthusiasts of soccer without restrictions of age or experience. We only have one requirement of membership - sportsmanship and sportsmanlike behavior.
