The outdoor Rochester Lancers are paying tribute to the team’s history by giving back to Rochester, team owner Salvatore “SoccerSam” Fantauzzo announced on the KickThis! radio show on Saturday morning.

The original Lancers won the North American Soccer League championship in 1970, 50 years ago.

So, the theme of the outdoor Lancers’ year is 50, called by the team, “Lancers Love Rochester.”

“Our goal is to help raise $50k for local charities and soccer clubs in honor of the legends of the game,” team president Ashley Maria King said.

Fans and soccer clubs attending each of the Lancers’ five National Premier Soccer League and five United Women’s Soccer regular-season games this spring and summer fans that make a small donation to local charities will receive free tickets to the game.

Tickets will be provided by the team’s sponsors. There is no minimum donation required and 50 tickets can be purchased per donation.

“If we can raise $50k for local charities would be truly special,” Lancers director of operations Kayla Klark Kent said.

Season tickets holders will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of tickets for an Inter Miami CF game this summer. They also will receive VIP seating, parking and concession vouchers, including Lancers Lager and Lancers wine.

“I hope all the pioneers of the game are smiling somewhere knowing their sacrifices and commitment to building this sport wasn’t forgotten,” Fantauzzo said. “Fifty-plus years later we are still giving back to soccer in the great city of Rochester.”

The teams will play their outdoor matches at Aqunias Institute.

The Lancers’ top 20 title and support sponsors who make “Lancers Love Rochester” possible:

* Ide Family of Dealers. Honda & VW

* New York State West Youth Soccer Association

* Salvatore’s Pizzeria

* Donuts Delite

* Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips

* iHeart Radio

* Palmers Foods

* Marathon Energy

* Pepsi Rochester

* RIT INN & Conference Center

* OTB & Batavia Downs

* Bill Grays

* Never Wet Basements

* Sahlen’s Hot Dogs

* Total Comfort Heating & Air

* Dr. Vincent Vella

* Microworks POS

* Todd Fritz Roofing & Siding

* Mr. Glass

* Cintas Rochester

Here’s another story you might be interested in:

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Lancers to kick off NPSL season May 16; home opener May 30

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.