About the Long Island Rough Riders

The Rough Riders have been part of the Long Island soccer landscape since their inception in 1994.  In 1995 both the Rough Riders Men’s and Women’s teams won their first United Soccer League (USL) National Championship. Since their initial success, the Rough Riders Men’s team has gone on to win the 2nd Division National Championship in 2002 while the Rough Riders Women’s team qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008.

The Rough Riders are known for developing players including former US National Team members Chris Armas, Tony Meola, and MLS All Star Giovanni Savarese and Jimmy Rooney along with US Olympic Team Member and current Junior Rough Riders Coaching Director, John Diffley.

More recently the Rough Riders helped jumpstarted the careers of Mike Grella who is currently playing at Leeds United in England, Mike Palacio at FK Radnicki Obrenovac in Serbia, Gina DiMartino Philadelphia Independence in the Women’s Professional Soccer league and Sue Weber who has just returned to the Rough Riders after being drafted by the Boston Breakers in 2009.

The Rough Riders are also comprised of a Junior Rough Riders program, featuring elite level players from 8 to 17 years of age.  Junior Rough Riders teams compete in regional and national tournaments while teams from 13 to 17 years old participate in the Super Y-League (SYL), the youth component of the United Soccer Leagues (USL).

Men’s Team History

The Long Island Rough Riders Men's Team is one of the oldest soccer franchises in North America and the only soccer franchise on Long Island. Currently, the Rough Riders Men's Team plays in the Premier Development League (PDL) of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), designed to showcase the top collegiate and professional players in the nation. The PDL is the largest professional / amateur league in the United States, with teams competing for a National Championship each season.
 
This year, the Rough Riders organization will celebrate their 15th year in existance. The club has won National Championships in 1995 and 2002. Since their inception, the club has sent over 20 players to the US National Team since 1994 and had numerous players called up to play in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Men’s Team Stats

The Long Island Rough Riders Men’s Team is one of the oldest soccer franchises in North America and the only soccer franchise on Long Island. Currently, the Rough Riders Men’s Team plays in the Premier Development League (PDL) of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), designed to showcase the top collegiate and professional players in the nation. The PDL is the largest professional / amateur league in the United States, with teams competing for a National Championship each season.
 
This year, the Rough Riders organization will celebrate their 15th year in existance. The club has won National Championships in 1995 and 2002. Since their inception, the club has sent over 20 players to the US National Team since 1994 and had numerous players called up to play in Major League Soccer (MLS).