Pat
McBride Retirement
The HSSRA presented Pat McBride
a plaque for his retirement at the 2007 St Louis Soccer Hall
of Fame Game.
Included above are Pat; Ken Clifton, HSSRA President; Chris
Kelly and Dick Meismann (St Louis Soccer Hall Of Fame)
Starting in 1967 in the National Professional Soccer
League, he played ten seasons in the NPSL-NASL all with the St. Louis
Stars, and was one of the first American-born players to win a regular
spot in an NASL line up.
Personal Information:
Pat is a graduate of St. Louis
University, where he won All-American honors in 1965 and 1967, he played
for local clubs Holy Rosary and White Star, before turning professional
in 1967. Started playing soccer at the age of eight and before appearing
in the NASL he played three times for the U.S. Olympic team in 1964.
He made his full international debut in 1969, against Haiti, and won
a total of six full caps for the U.S., being selected to the World
Cup team in 1968 and 1974. A midfield player who could also play in
attack, he scored his share of goals and was named to the NASL's Second
All-Star team in 1973. His playing days over, he coached St. Louis
Steamers in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 to 1981 and again
from 1985 to 1987.
Blast
from the Past!!!
The
picture above is from the archives of our own HSSRA Referee, Ray
Puricelli. Seems a few years ago, when he was a tad younger, he
was a referee in the NASL (North American Soccer League). Above
is a picture of a game between the NY Cosmos and the Washington
Diplomats at Yankee Stadium, in 1975. Ray is indicating
direction after a foul against the NY Cosmos. The Brazilian
player for the Cosmos in the foreground??? Pele! By
the way, Ray still works a lot of high school games. He is
also a Hall of Fame member, inducted as an official several years
ago. |
