| Full name | Ukrainian Sports Educational Association "Chornomorska Sitch" Newark |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Ukrainians |
| Founded | 1924 |
Newark Ukrainian Sitch also known as "Newark Ukrainians" (Ukrainian Sports Educational Association "Chornomorska Sitch" Newark, Ukrainian: УСВТ (Українське спортивно-виховне товариство) «Чорноморська січ» (Ньюарк), USVT (Ukrainske Sportyvno-Vykhovne Tovarystvo) "Chornomorska Sitch" (Newark)) is an American soccer club based in Newark, New Jersey that was a member of the American Soccer League. Currently, the club participates in the Garden State Soccer League's top amateur "Super Division" under the name, "Union Ukrainians SC".
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The club has had a very storied history, considering it was formed by such the Ukrainian diaspora group. The club was founded in 21 December 1924.
The team first debuted on August 19, 1956, and promptly entered the American soccer scene by competing in the "B" Division of the New Jersey State Soccer League for the 1956/57 season. The team continued to play in the NJJSL until it joined the German-American Soccer League, and later the American Soccer League. For the 1964/65 season, the team joined the "Super-League" Eastern Professional Soccer Conference, and after the EPSC folded at the end of its only season, the team returned to the ASL where it competed until the 1970/71 season when it joined the Schaefer League. After the Schaefer League disbanded in the late 70's the team joined the Garden State Soccer League where it has competed in various divisions and continues to do so today.
Throughout the clubs early tenure, the "Newark Ukrainians" won several competitions, tournaments, & titles, the most notable being the Lewis Cup in 1962/63 & the Schaefer League in 1970/71.
During the same time, the team also played a number of friendly matches against visiting international clubs including "Legia", Warsaw, Poland, "Dirmersheim", Karlsrhue, Germany, "Skelmersdale United", West Lancashire, England, "TUS", Sennelager, Germany, and "Arminian", Bielefeld, Germany.
The Union Ukrainians most recent GSSL success came in the 2008/2009 season where it captured both the GSSL Semi-Pro Elite North League Title, and the GSSL League Cup.
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962/63 | N/A | ASL | 5th | No playoff | ? |
| 1963/64 | N/A | ASL | 3rd | No playoff | ? |
| 1964/65 | N/A | EPSC | 6th, North | No playoff | ? |
| 1965/66 | N/A | ASL | 2nd | No playoff | Quarterfinals |
| 1966/67 | 2 | ASL | 1st, North | Finals | Did not enter |
| 1967/68 | 2 | ASL | 7th, First | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1968 | 2 | ASL | 7th | No playoff | Did not enter |
| 1969 | 2 | ASL | 4th, South | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1970 | 2 | ASL | 5th | No playoff | Did not enter |
U.S. National & Olympic Team Members: Zenon Snylyk an accompolished Sitch star played on three U.S. Olympic teams (1956, 1960, 1964) as well as on the U.S. National & Pan American where he represented the U.S. in 99 total matches. In 1959 he was named captain of the U.S. Pan-American Team, and in 1960 was named he captain of the U.S. Olympic Team which defeated Brazil 5-3, and which won a bronze medal at the Games. (Volodymyr) Walter Chyzowych top scorer, and MVP of the ASL in the 1965/66 season, was selected to the U.S. National Team in 1965, as was (Volodymyr) Walter Kazdoba. Between 1965 and 1967 Chyzowych made 48 appearances on the U.S National team, and in 1976 was U.S National Team's coach. Myron Worobec was part of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1966.
League All-Star Team Members: Zenon Shpon, Myron Hura, Vasyl Koval, Danylo Chromowsky, Oleh Dutkevych, Ivan Savicky, Volodomyr Kazdoba, Andy Bakun, Walter Tkach, Markian Hamulak, Roman Solchanyk, Myron Worobec.
College "All Americans": Andy Bakun, Myron Bakun, Lev Hura, Myron Hura, Vasyl Kazdoba, Walt Manning.