HODDESDON ITALIAN YOUTH ASSOCIATION – 
A Brief History

In the early 1980’s Hoddesdon was invited to form an athletics team and participate in the biennial OGI games organised by St Peter’s Church Italian Club, Islington.  Alf Cuffaro, a Hoddesdonian and a regular visitor to St Peter’s Church Social and Music Club, took on the challenge and together with Angelo Russo, also from Hoddesdon, established the Hoddesdon Italian Youth Association (HIYA) specifically for the OGI. 

Initially and understandably, it was difficult to build up a team as it was the first time anyone had done anything like this before for the Italian youth in Hoddesdon. But this changed once the initial small team took part in the first games and they experienced the fun and friendly competitiveness, the meticulous organisation, the coming together of so many Italians near and far, and the memories and friendship they took away as well as the medals! Indeed some of the team members met their future husband or wife at these games. 

The HIYA gathered a momentum that was unstoppable and over the following decade the HIYA grew in numbers and strength and so did the HIYA organising committee with Mima Lomonaco, Nino Cuffaro and Angelo Baio. The first time HIYA took part the squad travelled to the OGI stadium in a small mini-bus. But, in the games that followed two double-decker buses were needed.  Over this time HIYA won many medals including the first team to win the Best Sportsmanship Team Shield. In 1982, (I think?)  the HIYA were voted the best dressed team in the games too! (White tracksuit with the tricolori running down the sides of the arms and legs and I think we wore a red cap). 

All of this was made possible by the generosity of our initial sponsor Vince Abello and subsequently Mr Joe Martorana of Mr Unique’s Tyre and Exhaust Centres. Joe’s children took part in the games and his son Stephen, who was about 5 years old at the time, was our mascot!.