Back when I was starting to coach at LMSC, players and coaches did not have many opportunities to see top level soccer.
There had been professional soccer in Philadelphia in the 1970s with the Philadelphia Atoms (1973 - 1976) and then the
Philadelphia Fury (1978 - 1981). Both of these teams played in the old North American Soccer League which featured the
legendary New York Cosmos, led by Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and many other over the hill world superstars.
Unfortunately the league was not well received in Philadelphia and by the early 1980s, there was no professional team in
the area. The NASL league folded in 1984.
There was barely any soccer on TV. One of the very few times that people in this area could see high level soccer was a
TV program called "Soccer Made In Germany." This show aired on Public Broadcasting TV from 1976-1988. The show was one
hour long and aired weekly highlights of play from the top German professional league. The commentators were the
legendary Toby Charles and Alan Fountain. Aside from this show, there was no regular high level soccer for people
to see in the 1980s.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, there would be several professional exhibition games in Philadelphia, enabling
people to get a glimpse of what high level soccer was. I remember seeing a great game between Brazil and England
at the old Veterans Stadium and another game featuring John Harkes and his team Sheffield Wednesday, then a part of
England's top professional league.
Our country was blessed to host the World Cup in 1994, giving the sport some great exposure. Unlike the friendly games
that were occasionally played in Philadelphia, these games would be meaningful games with the entire soccer world watching.
Unfortunately, back then, Philadelphia's stadium situation was rather dismal. Veterans Stadium was not designed for
soccer games and the turf was terrible. As a result, Philadelphia did not get to host any World Cup games. Fortunately,
we were close enough to New York and Washington D.C. Each of those cities hosted five World Cup games. I was
fortunate to be able to get tickets for nine of the 10 games played at those two sites. Three of those games stand
out the most in my mind:
- Morocco vs. Holland was a great game with Holland scoring a late goal to win. I remember staring at over
20,000 delirious Holland fans, all dressed only in orange, dancing and signing in the upper deck long after the
game ended, having the time of their lives. After awhile, a security guard asked us to start leaving the stadium
at which time I asked him if they were going to ask the 20,000 Holland people to leave as well. He laughed and
said that he didn't think it would be possible to get them out of the stadium for quite awhile.
- In a quarterfinal game in New York, Bulgaria (led by Hristo Stoichkov) defeated Germany, featuring Jurgen Klinsmann,
now the head coach for the USA National Team, to advance to the semifinals. This was a huge upset and the thousands
of German fans in the crowd were devastated. Walking out of the stadium after that game, the fans dressed in German
jerseys were in total shock, knowing that their team had just been eliminated. The emotion on their faces showed
just how much soccer meant in their country.
- I was able to get tickets to the semifinal game in Washington DC between Bulgaria and Italy. I had fifth row
seats behind one of the goals and got to see Italy warmup before the game, about 30 yards from where I was sitting.
It was an awesome experience having Roberto Baggio, Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Donadoni and others warming
up so close to where we were sitting. I took my camera to the game, but when I got there, I found that my batteries
were dead so I couldn't get any pictures of the players or of the game. Still, it was a great game and the tens of
thousands of Italian fans joyously celebrated after the game, knowing their team would be advancing to the
World Cup final.
In 1996, the new MLS (Major League Soccer) began operations. Unfortunately, when the league started, there was
no Philadelphia team, primarily because of stadium issues. As a result, the MLS got very little attention in the
Philadelphia area until it was announced that Philadelphia would get an expansion team in 2010. With a great stadium
in PPL Park, Philadelphia now has a team that sells out almost every game and has a great fan following. The huge
success of the Union team has earned them the right to host the 2011 MLS All Star game.
Before the Union arrived, the Philadelphia Charge of the Women's Professional Soccer League played their home games
at Villanova University. This league featured many of the best female players in the world. The Charge were very
successful in their three years of play. But, while the Charge were very popular, the league had a lot of financial
problems and ceased operations after three years. Several years later, the Philadelphia Independence would bring
women's soccer back to the area, but their games were played at West Chester University and thus not as popular for
LMSC people as the Charge was when they played at Villanova University. To compound matters, their league has suspended
operations for the 2012 season. Hopefully the Independence and the league will return stronger in 2013.
The biggest factor in enabling LMSC players to see professional soccer has been the growth of cable television,
most notably Fox Soccer Channel and Gol TV. With so many familles able to access Fox Soccer Channel, local area
people can now see many games each week from the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A (Italy's top league)
and top professional leagues from other countries. Gol TV regularly carries games from Spain, Germany and other
countries. Today people from all over the area each have their own favorite international team to root for. It is
now common place to see youngsters wearing replica jerseys from Manchester United, Barcelona, Arsenal and other top
international teams, as well as national team jerseys from the USA, Spain, England, Italy and other countries. Of
course, many people in this area can be seen in Union jerseys as well as USA National team jerseys.
With the popularity in professional soccer (both in the USA and in other countries), players and coaches now can
see how the game should be played. Hopefully youth soccer will continue to grow and improve with everyone now
having so many opportunities to watch soccer played at the highest levels possible.
|
|
|
