Barrington soccer official inducted into hall of fame

Willie Gempp has served as youth soccer association director

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA
Posted 4/14/19

Barrington’s Willie Gempp, a permanent fixture in youth soccer in this town for a number of years, received the ultimate honor recently when he was inducted into the Soccer Rhode Island Hall of …

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Barrington soccer official inducted into hall of fame

Willie Gempp has served as youth soccer association director

Posted

Barrington’s Willie Gempp, a permanent fixture in youth soccer in this town for a number of years, received the ultimate honor recently when he was inducted into the Soccer Rhode Island Hall of Fame.

Mr. Gempp, who joined Barrington Youth Soccer in July of 2005 as the club’s director, has done much during his time to further Barrington’s reputation as one of the finest youth soccer programs anywhere in the state. 

He has been responsible for the administration of their programs and its nearly 1,000 players, and has thoroughly engaged himself with the operation of the association’s various components, which included an in-house recreational league, spring and fall travel teams, winter indoor programs, and numerous clinics.

In addition, Mr. Gempp undertook a revamping of the operations to improve their efficiency and instituted standard business practices. Over time, he was asked to take on added responsibilities, including being the club’s liaison with Soccer Rhode Island, Super Liga, and the Town of Barrington and its officials and departments.

Furthermore, he has become the club’s Spring and Fall Travel Coordinator, plus the Field Supervisor, responsible for field layouts, set-up/breakdown and field painting.

For the past 11 years, Mr. Gempp has been a U.S. Soccer certified referee assignor, responsible for assigning referee crews for all of Barrington’s recreational and travel matches, recruiting, overseeing training, and retention of the town’s referees.

One of Mr. Gempp’s biggest triumphs, along with the countless number of local committee people involved, has been the overwhelming success of the Barrington Invitational Tournament, regarded as one of the largest and most renowned tournaments of its type in the northeast.

The tournament usually attracts 120 teams or more from across New England, and because of Mr. Gempp’s leadership, the tournament has grown by leaps and bounds. He joined the organizational committee in 2005,and a few years later, assumed overall management of the event, which he continues to run today.

Historically, Mr. Gempp has always been a person who shuns the limelight. He would rather others take the credit.

“I would have thought that after so many years, you would know that I was different,” he told this reporter. “I do nothing for myself, I only want others to look good, and I hope to just blend into the background.”

This time, however, it was all about Willie Gempp and the positive effect he’s had on youth soccer over the years.

Away from the soccer field, Mr. Gempp worked in the toy and jewelry industry for 25 years, then owned and operated a marketing and trade show management company. He was also active in local Boy Scout troops for nearly 25 years.

Married to the former Diane Abbruzzi of Warren for 46 years, Mr. Gempp is the father of three children.

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