Local coach asks council to reopen Long Branch fields to Pop Warner youth football

Luis Gordius, who said he started a youth football organization that includes many Long Branch children, asked the council on Sept. 24 to allow his Pop Warner team access to Long Branch fields. Gordius said that Long Branch’s youth program (AYF) previously objected to his use of the field, so he moved practices and games to Ocean Township and Neptune. He said his current roster includes many Long Branch children and that recent refusals by Long Branch officials were preventing those children from playing locally. He said the local fields are often unused at the times he requested and that his team would not require concessions or other facility services. Gordius asked the council to visit a practice or accept a roster to verify local participation and asked that council members “step up for the kids of Long Branch.” Council members acknowledged his request; Councilman Viera later stated he had inspected the fields and found them occupied by children on the days he visited. No formal scheduling changes or field-permit actions were recorded at the meeting. The request spotlights a dispute between youth-sports providers over field access and a policy that, according to Gordius, requires a high percentage of participants to be from the host municipality. Gordius said Pop Warner covers referees and other costs and asked the council to consider limited dates in the fall schedule.