New York Ramblers

Ramblers

New York Ramblers Logo
Full name New York Ramblers Soccer Club
Founded 1980
Website Club home page

The New York Ramblers were founded in 1980 when an ad was placed in the Village Voice looking for gay men interested in playing soccer in an area of Central Park, known as the Rambles. This was the birth of the New York Ramblers, the very first organized openly gay soccer club. The Ramblers provided a space for gay men, who enjoyed the sport, to meet and socialize outside of the traditional settings of bars and clubs.

Shortly after the beginning of the Ramblers, more gay soccer clubs began forming around the country. In conjunction with this, the original members of these first clubs organized the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA),[1] which today has over twenty women’s teams and thirty men’s teams in its membership.

The Ramblers have traveled the country and globe participating in various soccer tournaments, from the Philadelphia Pumpkin Patch and Provincetown Classic to the Munich Oktoberfest Tournament and many IGLFA World Championships [2] and Gay Games [3] held throughout the world...and not to forget its own annual New York Indoor Classic[4] held every winter. We have weekly practices throughout the year and participate in outdoor and indoor leagues in the New York metropolitan area.

In addition to a very full year of soccer activities, the Ramblers meet for social events. Bowling, movies, theater, house parties and our yearly Annual Awards Dinner, where we honor and congratulate all team members for their skills, dedication and commitment to keep the Ramblers thriving for yet another year.

The principal agenda of the Ramblers is still today as it was when it began over twenty years ago: to provide a comfortable and fun space for all people, regardless of their skill, sexual orientation, gender, race or religion; to come together and enjoy the competition and sport of soccer, good friends and to be a part of the ongoing Ramblers family.

Recent Honors

References

  1. ↑ International Gay and Lesbian Football Association
  2. ↑ IGLFA World Cup 2009
  3. ↑ Gay Games
  4. ↑ Cheer NY at NY Indoor Classic
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