East Harlem School Gets New Rooftop Soccer Field - NY1.com

East Harlem School Gets New Rooftop Soccer Field

By: Roger Clark

The Manchester City Football Club unveiled a new rooftop soccer field that it funded for P.S. 72 Lexington Academy in East Harlem.

The six-story high turf soccer pitch is the result of partnership between the football club and the City Soccer Initiative and will give kids across the city access to coaching and education programs.

"We want to leave a legacy for kids in New York and what better program that building a rooftop soccer pitch for kids to play, all year round eventually, on top of here," said Gary Hopkins of Manchester City Football.

Manchester City Football Club plays in England's Premier League and is touring the states preparing for the upcoming season.

"Back in England we do a lot of community work with our kids in Manchester, so we are just thrilled to come to New York to do the same,” said Hopkins.

The field makes it easier for students to learn the finer points of the game, since there aren't many places to play nearby.

"This is a dream that's been in the making, in my mind anyway, for years," said the school principal Tony Hernandez. "I'm still waiting to get pinched and woken up. Manchester City Football Club and the City Soccer Initiative have been incredibly generous to our school, to our community. Our children, our families are going to benefit from this for years to come."

"We use the game to promote healthy active lifestyles, and use the opportunity to introduce important life skills, such as how to cooperate, how to develop friendships and how to work together as a team,” said Paul Jeffries of City Soccer Initiative.

Members of the Manchester City club, who are in town for a tournament in New Jersey this weekend, paid a visit to the kids Thursday and helped break in the new pitch.

"I know Manhattan's got a lot of built up areas you know, so it's a fantastic idea to have a pitch on top of the school here,” said Manchester City player Shay Given. “As you can see, it's great for the kids."

"It's great, I've never seen something like this before,” said teammate Vladimir Weiss.

As part of the next phase of the project, a dome will be built above the field to protect it from the elements. It is set to be complete by winter.

East Harlem School Gets New Rooftop Soccer Field - NY1.com.