Reds Ready for Breakers' Visit

Boston Travels to Connecticut for Friendly

By Mark Goodman

May 24, 2009

Who: SoccerPlus CT Reds vs. Boston Breakers
What: Women's Friendly
Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium - New Britain, Conn.
When: Monday, 6:30 p.m.

It was March 9, 1993, when Chris Bart-Williams and Tony DiCicco first crossed paths.

DiCicco was an assistant coach for the U.S. U-20 men’s national team at the World Youth Championship in Australia; Bart-Williams was a midfield standout for the English team at the same competition.

Chris Bart-Williams

Chris Bart-Williams will lead the Reds into action against the Boston Breakers. (Photo courtesy of SoccerPlus CT Reds)

On that day, in group stage play, Bart-Williams scored the only goal in England’s 1-0 win over the Americans. Nearly 15 years later, the two met again, and DiCicco - then head coach for the SoccerPlus CT Reds of the WPSL - offered Bart-Williams a position on his staff.

After the 2008 campaign, with DiCicco off to coach the Boston Breakers in WPS, Bart-Williams took the reins of the Reds.

Monday night, over 16 years after they squared off as player and coach, the two will square off again as coaches for their respective sides in a friendly at Veterans Memorial Stadium in New Britain, Conn. The game will kick off at 6:30 p.m.

It will be the second friendly in five days for the Breakers, as they defeated Boston Aztec 4-0 Thursday night. The Reds, meanwhile, opened their WPSL season with a 1-0 win over the New England Mutiny Friday night.

Bart-Williams said the experience of playing a professional side can only help his players in their development.

“Most of our players are collegiate players, and this is a great opportunity to see and experience that professional environment playing the Breakers,” he said. “[WPS] is a great league. It’s a great standard for our players to look up to as they continue in their journeys.”

Bart-Williams said two Connecticut players to look out for are midfielders Leah Blayney and Becky Ryan. Blayney, a senior at Central Connecticut State, has played for the Australian national team. Ryan is entering her senior season at Marquette and is in her third year with the Reds.

The Reds’ coach praises his team’s work ethic, but hopes it will pick up even more after Monday’s game.

“The experience of playing such quality players will give them an idea of how hard they need to practice,” Bart-Williams said. “It will give them a reality of where they are and where they need to get to.”

Bart-Williams says his players have been inquisitive in asking him about the professional game and what it takes to get there. He would know, too, having played in England’s Premier League with Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and Charlton after breaking into the pro ranks with Leyton Orient at the age of just 16.

Bart-Williams got his coaching start in Malta - where he also finished his playing days - and admits he would like to return to Europe as a manager at some point in his career. He says he’s also fond, however, of coaching young players.

“I’d like to get involved in a youth national set-up, and hopefully share some of my experiences,” said the 34-year old. “I love teaching young players how to play the game.”

Mark Goodman can be reached at newsdesk@soccernewengland.com.