Pushing for E. Islip kids' football field

When youngsters who play for East Islip Youth Football travel to opponents' fields across Long Island, they marvel at the expansive, lush greens -- and wonder why they don't have the advantage of a home field, league organizers said.

"Everywhere has a field but East Islip," said Patricia Slawson, director of the league since its inception a decade ago.

Slawson has partnered with Islip Town Councilman Anthony S. Senft Jr. to try to secure a turf field for the league. The league plans to hold a fundraiser Sunday at 9 a.m. at East Islip Middle School to help pay for a field, which could cost $2 million.

"Football is one of those sports that brings pride to a community," Slawson said.

Organizers say the event will be the first in a series of fundraisers. The group is also applying for grants, Slawson said.

Senft, a coach in the league, said town officials are discussing putting the turf at Westbrook Field in East Islip, 4 acres the town leases from the state that is already home to East Islip Youth Soccer and the Little League of the Islips.

The league, with about 250 kids between 5 and 13 years old, practices and plays games on a field at East Islip Middle School, but officials fret about the long-term stability of the arrangement.