Right: Local kids were drilled in the fundamentals of passing, dribbling, and shooting during four pre-game soccer clinics this season.

(Lexington, Ky.)- Since the Bandits began playing in Lexington back in 1994, the organization has annually conducted instructional soccer clinics for children from ages 6 to 14. The Bandits held four pre-game clinics during the 2000 season.

During those free clinics, children got first hand training tips from Bandits’ Coach Tim Turney as well as players Moises Drumond, Wendell Collymore, Nick Donaldson, and Keita Placide. The athletic instruction was interspersed with messages regarding responsible decision-making, sportsmanship, and the dangers of mixing sports with illegal drugs, under-age drinking, and drinking and driving.

Each clinic participant was also admitted free with a paying adult to the Bandits game on that particular night.

Note: A principal sponsor of the Bluegrass Bandits is the Malt Beverage Education Corporation, a state-mandated program that makes Kentucky’s children aware of the dangers of under-age drinking, driving under the influence, and alcohol abuse in general. MBEC annually provides grants to schools and youth organizations to complete the mission set forth by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

VIEW PHOTOS FROM BANDITS FIRST INSTRUCTIONAL CLINIC...click here..

Latest news release from the Bluegrass Bandits...

• Monday, July 31, 2000

Bluegrass Bandits complete tough 5-13 season, ready for rebound in 2001

(Lexington, Ky.)- Going into last weekend’s final stretch of regular season games in the USL’s Premier Development League, 18 teams were alive for conference playoff spots. The Bluegrass Bandits Soccer Club was not one of those teams.

What began as a promising season this year for Lexington turned into one of many missed opportunities and concluded last weekend with a 5-13 record in the Central Conference’s Great Lakes Division.

At what point did the 2000 season turn sour? The Bandits were 4-6 following a three-game winning streak in late June and heading into a key battle with Kalamazoo on July 1. However, a tough 1-0 setback to the Kingdom, followed by a 3-2 overtime loss the following week to West Michigan sent the Bandits reeling.

All told, Lexington lost seven of its last eight regular season games, including 3-0 and 5-0 setbacks at West Michigan and Mid Michigan on July 21 and 22, respectively, and a 4-1 loss at Dayton in last Sunday’s season finale. The only win during that stretch came against Alabama, which forfeited on July 29.

Scott Deopere (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) scored his sixth goal of the season against the Gems on Sunday. The team leader in goals scored this season was Moises Drumond (Bryan College, Tenn.), who tallied seven.

Bandits’ Coach Rob Miller agreed that the key stretch came during early July, when the Bandits allowed seven second-half goals over a span of four consecutive home games against Kalamazoo, West Michigan, Mid Michigan, and West Michigan again. Lexington had leads or was tied at the half in three of those four games, only to come out on the short end in all four.

"I think that loss to West Michigan really deflated our guys," said Miller. "We were really starting to play well. If we hadn’t had such a long stretch of road games to start the season, I think things could’ve been quite different. We had a lot of ups and downs this year, but I thought the travel schedule was the toughest to deal with."

Miller added, "I think the Bandits have a lot of potential to grow and expand. I really learned a lot this season about coaching and myself. I enjoyed the teaching aspect, and I enjoyed the players and being around the game."

Bandits' Sponsors for 2000...

The principal sponsors of the Bluegrass Bandits this year include Jack Kain Ford and area Central Kentucky Ford Dealers, the Malt Beverage Education Corporation, Southcreek Properties, and Jackson and Kelly Attorneys at Law, with help from Regal Cinemas. The Bandits' organization is also thankful to The Lexington Herald-Leader, Lynn Blueprint, Lane's End Farm, Shamrock Glen Farm, Commonwealth Cardiology, as well as Tony Gaughan and Eric Drane.

Bluegrass Bandits' background...

(Lexington, Ky.)- The Bluegrass Bandit Soccer Club, LLC is a non-profit corporation formed in 1994 by Bill Hoskins (Counsel to the Malt Beverage Education Corp.), John Boardman (a bank President), and Mike Cline (Manager of Lane’s End Farm). The mission of the group is to promote youth development through athletics.

Since inception, the Bandits have annually conducted instructional soccer camps and clinics for children from ages 6 through 14. In 2000, the Bandits are expecting to hold five pre-game camps for children. The clinics are typically held in conjunction with the YMCA or local youth soccer associations.

A principal sponsor of the Bluegrass Bandits is the Malt Beverage Education Corporation, a state-mandated program that makes children aware of the dangers of under-age drinking, driving under the influence, and alcohol abuse in general. MBEC annually provides grants to schools and youth organizations to complete that mission, which was set forth by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Each youth clinic will be free to all participants between the ages of 6 and 14, and athletic instruction will be interspersed with messages regarding responsible decision-making, sportsmanship, and the dangers of mixing sports and illegal drugs, under-age drinking, and drinking and driving.

Other Soccer Archives, Web Sites:

GAME 14: Lexington lets lead slip away again, falls to Edge (7-15-00) read more..
GAMES 12 & 13: Bandits suffer tough losses to Edge and Bucks (7-7, 7-8-00) read more..
GAMES 10 & 11: Lexington shuts out Dayton, falls to Kalamazoo (6-30, 7-1-00) read more..
GAME 9: BANDITS RALLY PAST INDIANA INVADERS, 3-2 (6-24-00) read more..
GAMES 7 & 8: Lexington breaks skid at Alabama (6-17 & 6-18-00) read more..
GAMES 5 & 6: Bandits fall at West Michigan, Mid Michigan (6-9 & 6-10-00) read more..
GAMES 3 & 4: Bandits drop road games at Indiana, Kalamazoo (6-2 & 6-3-00) read more..
GAME 2: Kalamazoo holds off second-half rally by Bandits (5-27-00) read more..
GAME 1: Bandits suffocate Saints with 3 first half goals (5-20-00) read more..
Lexington Bluegrass Bandits' 2000 season preview (5-19-00), read more..
View 1999 Premier Development League Standings, click here..

For all the latest scores and news from the United Soccer Leagues, log on to www.SoccerGameNight.com and www.unitedsoccerleagues.com.

For information on Lexington's newest W-League women's squad, log on to www.kyfillies.com.

Final 2000 Regular Season Division standings...

Great Lakes Division....................................GP.....W.....L.....T.....GF.....GA.....BP.....PTS
Mid Michigan Bucks.......................................18......14......3.....1.....64...... 21......14......71
Dayton Gems................................................18....... 9......8......1.....37......35.......7.......44
Kalamazoo Kingdom......................................18....... 9..... 9......0.... 37......37...... 7.......43
West Michigan Edge......................................18....... 9......9......0.....32......38...... 7.......43
Indiana Invaders.............................................18....... 8.....10.....0.....35......43.......5.......37
Lexington Bluegrass Bandits.......................18....... 5.....13.....0.....26......47...... 5.......25

Note: 4 points awarded for regulation or overtime win, one point for tie, and one bonus point for scoring 3 or more goals in a game.