About the Matt Dudon Memorial Cup

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WHEN:	Aug 04 - 05, 2007
WHERE:	Englewood, Ohio
FEES:	U08 - U9 $250.00; U10 - U11 $300.00; U12 - U14 $350.00
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, Jul 15, 2007
PAY TO:	Matt Dudon Memorial Cup; Matt Dudon Memorial Cup, PO Box 248, Englewood, OH 45322

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The Matt Dudon Memorial Cup is a late summer soccer tournament hosted by the Northern United Soccer Alliance (NUSA). NUSA and the friends and family of Matt Dudon have partnered to host the this year's tournament on August 4 & 5, 2007 at Ward Field in Englewood, Ohio. The tournament is open to boys and girls competitive soccer teams from ages U8 to U14.


Matt Dudon

Matt Dudon was a man with endless enthusiasm for life, especially the game of soccer. He began playing soccer at the age of 7 and continued to play at Northmont High School, earning four varsity letters, and at Wright State University. Upon graduation from Wright State, Matt became the assistant coach for the University of Dayton women’s team. Matt was also the head coach for Chaminade-Julienne High School men’s varsity team from 1987-1991. On September 19, 1992, at the age of 29, Matt died as the result of a go-cart racing accident.

This year, the former Northmont Bolt Cup soccer tournament was officially changed to the Matt Dudon Memorial Cup. The Matt Dudon Memorial Fund discontinued its annual fish fry fundraiser this year, but wanted to continue to remember Matt and his love for the game of soccer. The tournament is the product of this joint effort. NUSA is honored to work with the friends and family members of Matt to dedicate this soccer tournament in his memory to assure that his love for soccer would continue.


History

The tournament is in its eighth year having first taken place in 1998. A local tournament hosted by the club had been discussed over a number of years and finally, in late 1997, a group headed by Greg Dawson started developing plans for the event. The first year, as with any new venture, was quite the learning experience.

Gathering as much information as possible from other local tournament committees who were willing to share some of their experience allowed the club to sidestep several of the more common pitfalls in planning something of this magnitude. Although each and every club volunteer working the event that year was exhausted at the end of the weekend, the great weather and positive comments from all of the teams enforced the club’s belief that this event would continue to get better and better each year.

The tournament attracts more than 70 teams each year and as many as 5,000 people to the communities of Englewood and Clayton. Many of the teams are from around the Miami Valley area, but from year to year teams from Cincinnati, Columbus, Northern Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois also participate. The timing of the tournament presents a perfect opportunity for teams to gear up for the fall soccer season.

Community Support

NUSA is fortunate to receive outstanding support from the local SAY organization in terms of fields and resources. In addition, the club works closely with the high school soccer coaches and parents organization to coordinate field usage and arrangements as they hold their own tournament right before the Matt Dudon Memorial Cup.

The tournament is a community event with many local business sponsors and the support of the Englewood and Clayton city officials and police and fire departments. Bolts Sports Café in Englewood is this year’s tournament sponsor. Samaritan North Sports Medicine will provide on-site medical coverage to athletes participating in this year’s tournament.

And, of course, there is the endless support and participation from the members of the club including parents, guardians, grandparents, friends and even players without whose hard work, effort and determination this event would not be possible.

NUSA looks to other local tournaments and is confident that some day the 20th annual Matt Dudon Memorial Cup will be coming to a soccer field near you. Thanks for your interest and we hope to see you on the pitch!