Event Held in Memory of Cleveland Grimes, Former TSSA Board Member and Executive Vice President
The Tennessee State Soccer Association (TSSA) is excited to announce that it will be hosting the 2024 Cleveland Grimes Friendship Cup during the weekend of November 9-10. The recreation soccer festival will be held at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, and the event is open to all Division 4 Recreational Teams that are registered with TSSA.
“We are excited to host this event again in memory of our friend, Cleveland Grimes,” said Hans Hobson, CEO of the Tennessee State Soccer Association. “He embodied the passion and volunteerism within our recreational soccer community.”
The TSSA Friendship Cup is held in memory of Cleveland Grimes, who previously served as a TSSA Board Member and Executive Vice President. Grimes made countless contributions to soccer throughout his lifetime, coaching and refereeing at all stages of the game in addition to his various leadership roles. However, it was at the recreation level that he truly found his love for the sport.
The Cleveland Grimes Friendship Cup will host age groups ranging from 6U to 18U, but all teams and players must be registered with the Tennessee State Soccer Association as a Division 4 Recreation Team. Each team will play a minimum of three games over the weekend with boys, girls and coed sides all being invited to participate. The games will also be used as an opportunity for young referees to receive exposure to an event outside of their hometown club. Further, 13U to 18U teams with limited rosters will be offered a small-sided playing format (6v6 or 7v7) on a reduced-sized pitch.
The theme of the Cleveland Grimes Friendship Cup will be “all about having fun” and celebrating grassroots soccer, the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship. In addition to the soccer activity, there will be various forms of entertainment throughout the weekend to provide a full festival atmosphere.
