“Grémio Lusitano” of Ludlow, MA to celebrate its Centennial June 10 th

The Grémio Lusitano Club is celebrating 100 years of fellowship in the Portuguese community of Ludlow, and they welcome everyone to join them for the festivities, June 10-12.

On Friday, June 10, the Pioneers mens soccer team will play at 7 p.m., followed by entertainment by the Great Escape band.

Events include the Mutiny women’s soccer team and two well-loved Portuguese musical groups, Rick Tereso and Mil e Quatro followed by the Mauricio Band.The celebration continues on Sunday with DJ Dave Costa from 12 to 9 pm. Everyone is welcome to come to enjoy sports and entertainment.

A variety of food will be offered all three days with some traditional Portuguese fare, including churrasco (chicken on the grill), bifanas (pork sandwiches), sardines, and dobrada (bean stew).

The Grémio Lusitano Club, founded in 1922, is a fixture in Ludlow’s Portuguese community. Club member Joao Bernardo is part of the 100th committee formed to honor its history and future.

“Lusitano is a nickname given to the Portuguese,” Bernardo said. “Grémio means union or together. So the club brings us together.” Many Portuguese immigrated to Ludlow in the 1920s and ‘30s to work in the linen factories during the industrial revolution.

Grémio Lusitano, originally established on Franklin Street, began as a cultural center to promote recreation and common ground for the mill workers.

Across the street, Franklin Park hosted Sunday soccer and softball games between the Polish, Italian and Irish settlers of Ludlow’s villages. In 1924, Grémio Lusitano relocated to the property at 385 Windsor Street, and, in 1938, the club purchased Franklin Park across the street. The park’s name officially changed to Lusitano Stadium in 1997.

Soccer is a passion within the Portuguese culture, so Grémio Lusitano and its longtime president Celso Correia are proud to continue this tradition.

Grémio created the Western Mass Pioneers soccer team in 1997 in hopes of bringing together all nationalities through the sport. In 1998 the team began to participate in the United Soccer League 2nd American division and was crowned champion in 1999.

The Pioneers remain one of the most prestigious teams in the second and third divisions and are one of three soccer clubs in the official Soccer Hall of fame.

Antonio Salvador’s dedication to renovating the stadium and having artificial grass laid in 2013 extended the playing season during cold weather.

More recently, the women’s New England Mutiny team began to compete in the United Women’s Soccer League and play their matches at Lusitano Stadium.

Grémio hosts the Western United Pioneers youth soccer program providing opportunities for more than six hundred boys and girls from ages 5 to 18.

Grémio also offers other recreational leagues for members, including an awarding-winning bocci team. In addition, Gus Crespo and José Larouco captained the billiards team, winning regional tournaments and competing in Las Vegas for the World Billiards Championship.

Over the years, Grémio has been known for promoting Portuguese culture, education, and civic improvement. Night of Portugal honors students of Portuguese nationality who achieve higher grades in the high schools in the area and awards scholarships for continuing education.

Grémio Lusitano prides itself on keeping Portuguese culture and traditions alive.

João (John) Bernardo stated, “Our club began with Portuguese immigrants who had their homeland at heart but in their minds the Portuguese spirit of always moving forward to make a better path and create better opportunities for their children”.