Twenty years of history spilled into one room at Highmark Stadium.
As Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC honored its inaugural Hall of Fame class this past July, soccer greats mingled throughout the ceremony. During an event exuding Pittsburgh soccer history, it made no less than perfect sense for those who have seen its rise in the Steel City to be ingratiated with the festivities.
In the midst of Hall of Famers David Flavius, Justin Evans and John Kowalski, Izabella and Louis Youngmayer fit right in with the crowd.
“It was so nice to see all the players we used to know,” Izabella said. “It was so nice. I asked David Flavius, ‘Do you remember me?’ And he said, ‘oh sure, I’ll never forget you.’”
Since the inaugural 1999 season, Izabella has been a season ticket holder of Riverhounds SC. Through the past 20 years, she has seemingly attended and witnessed every twist and turn of the club since it played its first-ever match on May 1, 1999, at Bethel Park High School Stadium.
Like the organization’s Hall of Fame class, her memories are enshrined. Not on the pellucid glass panes of the Highmark Stadium club balcony, but in albums brimming at the seams with photographs.
From former Hound great Gary DePalma to current stalwart defender Tobi Adewole, Izabella has met hundreds of players and photographed action shots of hundreds more. All of whom are preserved within transparent panels of their own.
Love for the Game
Originally from a suburb of Budapest, Hungary, the Youngmayers did not move to the United States until 1957, following the Hungarian Revolution. Izabella was 22 years old at this time.
Immigrating with her and Louis was their love for soccer, a sport both cherished during their time in Europe. Their first taste of soccer in the United States came in 1967, not on a soccer pitch but a baseball diamond.
For one season, the Pittsburgh Phantoms of the National Professional Soccer League competed at Forbes Field in the Oakland neighborhood of the city. Izabella and her family, which included her young children, enjoyed the atmosphere it had to offer.
“It was exciting going to the city,” Izabella said. “I just started to drive.”
The Phantoms would last only one season before folding. It wasn’t until 1978 another team captured the interest of the Youngmayers and Pittsburgh soccer fanatics.
At July’s Hall of Fame ceremony, Izabella and Louis were rejoined with Pittsburgh Spirit indoor soccer legend and Riverhounds SC ambassador Paul Child. Since his playing days, Child has moved into the press box to call Riverhounds SC matches. Below his goal calls and color on the team’s broadcast, none other resides than two of the city’s longest soccer enthusiasts.
At the Core of the Club
Today, Izabella and Louis remain at the center of the action, owning season tickets at the center line of the Highmark Stadium pitch.
To their left on the home team bench, stands head coach Bob Lilley – someone who they were familiar with even before he was named the club’s head coach in November 2017.
Prior to taking the helm of Riverhounds SC, Lilley’s career had already intersected with the City of Bridges. And his presence had already crossed with the Youngmayers.
In 1994, the Fort Monmouth, New Jersey native suited up for the Pittsburgh Stingers. And no other than Izabella and Louis had seats in the Civic Arena to watch he and the Continental Indoor Soccer League squad compete.
Izabella said when the club announced Lilley as its head coach, she knew the name sounded familiar. Looking through her old memorabilia, she pulled out an old team photo of the Stingers. The artifact jogged her memory of his past contributions to soccer in the city.
“Our hometown is Pittsburgh,” Louis said. “That’s why we know all the coaches. We know Paul Child. We know Bob Lilley. We know many players. Many players were our guests. Some of the coaches were guests in our house.”
It is with the same hospitality the club continues to welcome Izabella and Louis, fans who are enshrined within its history.
