The First Night Soccer Games

Before the late 1960’s, all soccer games were typically played around 3:30-4:00PM, right after school. Wayne was in the Wayne County League back then, and Clyde-Savannah or Red Creek were the teams that came from the farthest distance. In those days, daylight savings ended in late October, so usually the games needed to end by 6:15 or so, because it may be too dark. Most likely the away team may have had to leave school a little before regular dismissal to get to the home schools field in time to finish before dark.

I don’t know who was behind the idea of first night game. I’d assume Al Gentile was involved. I wish I could pinpoint the first night game at Wayne. I recall being in 6th grade in the fall of 1967 and watching a night game at the field southeast of the school. It seems like I remember it being the first night game at Wayne, but maybe there were some earlier. If anyone knows for sure, please comment below. It was probably the next year, they moved to the field inside of the old cinder 1/4 mile track, right behind D-Wing.

Whichever soccer field, for several years the fields were lighted with temporary lighting. A diesel generator running behind one of the goals was supplying the power, with cables running to light stands, usually four-legged supports with telescopic poles for the lights. These could not be very tall without some type of support such as guy wires, which would be in the way so in order to see a soccer ball that was kicked high in the air, some of the individual lights were pointed upward. Not all home games were at night. I still remember some games in the early 70s being played in the afternoon.

The diesel generator was a constant drone down at one end of the field, which was OK as long as it was running. I do recall a couple of instances where the generator quit, and the game had to be stopped while it was being repaired. Luckily, they were always to get it back running without postponing the remainder of the game.

I was in Junior High in those first few years, and ended up being a ballboy (after being recruited by Glen Cone), usually down at the end of the field where the generator was. Those were the years that Tom Gentile was on his way to setting a national scoring record, but I was so fixated in my responsibility of being a ballboy, I don’t recall too many details of the games.

The first permanent lighting system was installed in 1975. A committee was formed that included Bernie Porray, Joe Molino, Alan Brasser, Richard Amelee, John Aman, Ronald Loucks, and Thomas Johnson. From what I remember, the funding was privately acquired via fund raising in the community and private donations, and they worked with the school board and Superintendent to make it happen. These lights were installed at the soccer field inside the track.

I think Wayne was one of the first schools to have night games in the area, and probably one of the first to have permanent lighting installed. Wayne had won a good number of sectional titles and was a soccer powerhouse for many years. The fall of 1974 was the last time Wayne Boys have a sectional title (though shared with North Rose-Wolcott after a tie in regulation and several OTs. No penalty kicks to decide a winner back then).

Wayne has had the lights replaced/upgraded once or twice since then, as well as several new lighted fields built for football, softball and other sports with more seating capacity/artificial turf, etc. The capital projects seem to come every few years with more and more improvements.

Wayne has also had some very excellent teams over the years. Wayne Girls won a sectional title in 1991 Wayne boys have had good success, albeit without a sectional title, though they have played in several championship games.

There is a separate web page for Wayne Soccer History. Though a good amount of information has been accumulated there, much more is needed. If you have any additional info that could be added, please get in touch.

Here is a copy of a letter from 1975 after the permanent lights were approved, from the President of the school board, Edward Tobin, and the Superintendent, William Crombe.
(Note: Edward Tobin just recently passed away – January 2026)