AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’d like to introduce a new guest voice to this blog. I’ve been looking for bloggers with interests in youth sports that I’m not involved in. Soccer was one of those topics. Marcia Griffith of Amherst has voluteered to share her experiences with you.

Hi there… My name is Marcia Griffith and I am a dedicated soccer fan (sounds like a rehab program admission!) We are a family of 4 and completely engrossed in the sport. My husband played soccer in high school and has always loved the sport. Other than seeing the footage of the great Pele in my younger days I didn’t pay much attention until I was in high school and liked one of the boys on the soccer team (not my husband, he was in a different state). My son’s, addiction to the sport started at age 3 and has never ceased. My daughter, who once came along for the ride, is now playing well herself. When the kids were just 4 and 6, we had the fortunate experience of moving to Europe and for 5 years our passion for the sport totally took hold. We flew to England for Premiership games, saw Champions League games, collected jerseys, and we even flew to Barcelona for the Tsunami Relief game where all the ‘greats’ came for the benefit game. My son was a member of a Swiss-league team that flourished despite the language barrier. When we moved back to the U.S. 3 years ago we settled in Amherst, went through a cultural adjustment, and have nicely settled the kids into Seacoast United where they are comfortable and we are amongst folks who are equally, if not more crazed, than we are. My son is 14 and my daughter is 12, and although encouraged to try other sports, they are, for the most part, single sport kids.

-Marcia Griffith, Amherst

Tags: amherst, blogger, introduction, Marcia Griffith, mom, new, seacoast united, Soccer, sports