Albano, Driscoll join forces to launch new league in Winthrop
By Cary Shuman
Pickleball League, is pictured at the entrance to the courts at
Ingleside Park.
Phil Albano wanted a place to play pickleball on a regular basis, so he made a phone call to his childhood friend, Sean Driscoll, director of Winthrop’s parks and recreation program.
“In true Winthrop fashion, Sean and I met at the Hong Kong, and we talked about my format for a league. He liked it and gave the go-ahead” related Albano.
From that meeting, the Winthrop Pickleball League was officially launched July 7, and it’s become so popular, that there is a waiting list of players wanting to join the fold, according to Albano, who is the league commissioner.
Pickleball is a sport similar to tennis but played on a smaller court. Players use paddles instead of racquets to hit a plastic ball over the net. Pickleball has caught on nationwide, and it is currently America’s fastest-growing sport.
Albano’s league is coed and plays its matches (best two-of-three) on the pickleball courts at Ingleside Park, adjacent to the tennis courts.
“We have 31 [two-person teams] in three divisions: the Center Division, the Highlands Division, and the Point Division,” related Albano. “Teams are placed by level of ability. Each team captain schedules a match at a time convenient for both teams. The captains will then call, email, or text me the results, and I compile the standings, just like a regular league. We’re going to have playoffs in August, and we’ll crown champions.”
Albano said the communication between teams has been excellent, and every match has taken place as scheduled.
“The best part of this league has been that there are people in the league that don’t even know each other, and they meet at the courts,” said Albano. “What happens is that they become friends.”
Albano, who now resides in New Hampshire, has been asked by players, “Why are you doing this – you don’t even live in Winthrop?”
“I tell them that I grew up in Winthrop, and I left when I was 21 years old after college and moved to New York City for 30 years to work in the restaurant industry. (He is currently the corporate development manager for Border Café restaurants in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Delaware).
“But once you’re from Winthrop – my father’s from Winthrop, my mother’s from Winthrop, my aunts and uncles, they’re all from Winthrop – and Winthrop’s been really good to me, and this [league] is my way of giving back. It’s a nice community, and this is a way I can stay connected to the town,” said Albano.
Albano and Driscoll couldn’t be happier with the incredible turnout for the league.
“The interest has blown up,” said Albano. “New players are already asking to participate in our fall league. It’s exciting.”
One of the players in the league is prominent attorney and former town counsel Robert E. Noonan Sr., who served on the former Winthrop Board of Selectmen with Robert A. DeLeo. Noonan was an avid tennis player for years and his family has produced a succession of outstanding Viking quarterbacks. Also making his pickleball debut in the league is triathlon champion and superb track coach Warren MacPhail.
“We have an unbelievable mix of people of all ages and from all parts of the town who are building a community, becoming friends, and having a nice time participating in a sport together,” said Albano.