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Aspen United Soccer Club names new directors

Aspen Times Staff

The Aspen United Soccer Club announces two new employees for the 2005 season: Roy Toomey is the new director of coaching, and Lynn Merriam has been appointed to the new position of executive director.These two additions, along with the recent move into a new clubhouse, represent significant changes for the club, which offers advanced and development programs for local boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18.”The addition of Roy and Lynn to our staff will give the board and Linda Bloomquist, club administrator, the opportunity to consolidate operations, focus on the coaching and offer better soccer programs for Aspen’s families,” said Steve Kropf, the club’s board president, in a press release. “We are excited and look for great things to come.”Toomey, originally from Portsmouth, England, began his soccer career at age 5. He has been playing, watching, and coaching ever since – the last nine years in Aspen. He was an assistant at Aspen High School before beginning his tenure with the club. The new coaching director is most looking forward to being an integral part in the growth of the AUSC. Aside from soccer, Toomey manages the Wild Fig Restaurant in downtown Aspen. “It is a real joy to see so many young people wanting to learn and improve at the game I love,” Toomey said.Merriam is originally from Saco, Maine. She’s lived in Aspen for the last four years and has been coaching with the Aspen United Soccer Club for the last three, mainly the under-14 advanced girls team and the under-10 boys team.Merriam has been involved with soccer since she was 9 years old. She was instrumental in creating a women’s team at her high school and was an all-state selection her senior year. Also, she began coaching with the local parks and recreation department while still in high school.Her playing career continued on a coed intramural team at Colorado State University. Merriam’s main focus will be in expanding the membership of the club.”Coaching is a passion for me,” Merriam said. “I want these kids to have the same but even better experiences then I had growing up. Some of my fondest memories were with my soccer team.”For more information about the club’s programs, call the clubhouse at 544-5588.