Burrill's dream is a reality; Lancaster hosts U.S. Youth Soccer Championships.

Byline: Brendan Hall

LANCASTER - John Burrill was posthumously honored during a tournament earlier this month at Citizens Bank Fields at Progin Park, a facility he helped get constructed. But in a lot of ways, the upcoming U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships here will have a memorial feel to it.

After all, this was Burrill's dream, the ultimate fruit of his labor.

The Westford resident was the executive director of Massachusetts Youth Soccer before he died suddenly on March 29. He was a man of many trades - a Vietnam veteran and an attorney for the city of Somerville - but his tireless work with soccer was legendary.

"He was very proud of this complex," said Skip Gorman, Burrill's predecessor and friend for 18 years. "As his wife would put it, soccer was his wife and she was his mistress. He spent a lot of time in this organization."

You might say all those long hours volunteering, those full days spent away from home, those efforts working with inner-city youths, came to a head when Citizens Bank Fields was awarded the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships last June. Burrill presented Lancaster's bid, which beat out Iowa, northern Texas and Kansas as host sites.

So when the tournament commences on Wednesday, there ought to be plenty of reminiscing.

"Oh my God, he was incredible," Mass Youth Soccer president Terri Fillipetti said. "I wish we were meeting in person so I could show it to him."

Gorman recalled a week-long trip with Burrill to California early last March, and thought Burrill was "the happiest I'd seen him in a long time."

"On a regular basis, I miss him a lot," Gorman said. "He kept a lot of history in his brain. We had some very good discussions about a lot of things, not always agreeing, which is great within any type of political organization. He had a lot to do with us building this complex."

When Citizens Bank Fields first opened in September 2007, Fillipetti admits now there was a bit of hesitation in submitting a bid for the national championships. But the place has plenty of amenities.

Conveniently located off of Route 70, the complex offers five FieldTurf fields and 11 grass fields, with on-site concessions and nearby hotels.

Sixty boys' and girls' teams in 12 age groups (14-19) will compete in round-robin play similar to the World Cup. The finals will be held next Sunday.

Each age group will have at least four teams, each won having won their respective regional tournament in West Virginia, South Dakota, Texas or California. In the 15-, 16- and 17-and-under age groups, two additional teams from US Youth Soccer's National League will compete.

Massachusetts is represented by one team - the 14-and-under Scorpions of Braintree, which won the State Cup here last month. Other top clubs here this week include the Dix Hills (N.Y.) Thunder, West Coast Football Club (Calif.), St. Louis (Mo.) Scott Gallagher, Casa Mia Bay (Md.), Dallas Texans and Colorado Rush.

Right now, though, it's round-the-clock work getting everything prepared, including sponsorships, travel arrangements and the event's kickoff luncheon on Tuesday. Trailers were brought on Tuesday and mesh fencing, signage and tents are being installed.

"The prep work there will be incredible," Fillipetti said.

All while keeping Burrill in mind. It's not a memorial tournament, but for the next week, it'll be hard to forget the man who helped this dream come true.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Citizens Bank Fields at Progin Park will host the upcoming U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. (2) Marc Balducci spreads mulch in preparation for the arrival of 60 teams from across the country.

PHOTOG: T&G Staff Photos/RICK CINCLAIR