Clay Berling began publishing Soccer West in 1971 and after the first editions gained national attention, changed it to Soccer America. Upon our golden anniversary, Soccer America looks back on some of coverage from our first year of magazines.
Many of the names that appeared in Soccer America during its first year appeared consistently in the following decades. A 1971 UCLA vs. University of San Francisco game included UCLA freshman Sigi Schmid, who went on to coach the Bruins to national titles and the LA Galaxy and the Columbus Crew to MLS Cup titles.
Ron Newman won his first of a slew of championships in 1971 amid an era when he and the Dallas Tornado planted the seeds for Texas’ youth soccer boom.
I.M. Ibrahim went on to guide Clemson to NCAA Division I titles in 1984 and 1987.
Soccer America’s June 9, 1971 issue doubled as a game program for San Francisco-hosted international tournament. West Ham’s roster included Bobby Howe, who later the settled in the USA after playing for the Seattle Sounders. He coached the USA to the quarterfinals at the 1993 U-20 World Cup and has had a long and influential career in American youth soccer. Several of his West Ham teammates also played the NASL, including Bobby Moore, Ade Coker, 1966 World Cup hero Geoff Hurst and Clyde Best. The son of Frank Lampard, Sr., finished his career in MLS.
Soccer America covered women’s soccer from Year 1.
A 1971 letter to the editor from John McDermott, now renowned as one the world’s greatest soccer photographers.
Mike, very cool! The study of history is often maligned, usually at our own peril if we don’t understand or care to understand how we got to where we are today, including the right and wrong turns. 50 years is a long time but not so long ago that many of your readers still know the legends or know of the legends you highlighted from those early, inaugural issues. One such for me is Edgar Sagastume on the USF roster. His brother, Lou, also a USF graduate (and 1966 national champion) was my coach at Air Force and remains my long time mentor. Edgar used to come join Lou at Air Force soccer camps each summer. Like Lou, unbelieveable person and player. Keep writing. You are a blessing.
What MEMORIES! Loved reading the article on Clemson’s Ibrahim, also mentioning Erskine and Warren Wilson college that later was coached by Hank Steinbrecher, ACC soccer…These were such exciting times for American Soccer. Also realize that a whole separate Subculture was being created in American culture which involved soccer, our soccer community and see how it has grown over the years….Just think of the friendships that were and still is being created all over our country . Great article ,Mike
Bingo! Thanks for the memories.
I have subscribed to Soccer America since it was Soccet West. So many great memories. Reading John Lynch’s comments – refereed many of Sags games at Air Force and we came away as friends. I only wish I had kept my collection of the SA’s that I decided took up to much room. Stupid! I was brand new to soccer in the 60’s and SW/SA contributed greatly to my knowledge of the game. Thanks again SA for a great 50 year ride.
Wonderful
I bought my first Soccer West from the late Clay Berling at Sequoia High School during halftime at a Peninsujla Monarchs match, became a subscriber soon after it morphed into Soccer America,and have continued ever since. Great trip!! Clay himself became a dear friend during and after a shared experience on the San Francisco Bay Area 1994 World Cup Bid and then Host Committee.
Beautiful memories. I remember, in 1971, Clay Berling and I had a half hour program on the San Francisco Channel 20, called Soccer Report. We gave scores from aroud the world, interviews of local soccer people and San Jose Earthquake players. I don’t want to forget, Leo Wienstein, our third backup. Clay went on to start his local soccer news paper and I have been a subscriber ever since. Also his wonderful daughter and family, that were so supportive. All those leagues, teams, and individuals, which were the foundation of what we have today, in the San Francisco ay Area!
What a wonderful article. The loyalty of long-time readers still amazes me. Thanks, Mike, for a timely reminder.
The names are memorable. Negoesco, Sagastume, Al Bettucchi, Cal’s Bob DiGrazia, St. Louis U’s Harry Keough, photographer extraordinaire Echeverria, our East Coast guru Paul Gardner – and Ron Newman, whom I assigned to cover the World Cup in West Germany in 1974, a huge step up for the magazine.
Clay Berling brought me in as an editor in late 1970 for Volume 1, Number 2 as I finished college. A great mentor, he made me a minority partner and then Executive Editor when we soon went from bi-monthly to weekly, re-named the magazine Soccer America and I became Executive Editor for several years before moving into the NASL.
The pioneers whom we covered and those we cherished as reporters are unforgettable. Readers and their feedback kept us committed. Soccer America’s coverage of amateur, college, pro, and youth leagues played a big hand in the growth of the game in the U.S. and continues to do so to this day.
Many years ago I sat next to John McDermott, incidentally right at the stadium in the photo above his letter. He and I pronounce our names similarly and we kept turning around when our friends would call either of us by name. After finding out we had the same name, we chuckled and I asked what he did for a living and he said he was a soccer photographer. Weeks later I received a soccer calendar in the mail, with photography by John McDermott. A nice gesture by a very nice man, not forgotten even to this day. (must be something in the name)
Great stuff from the guys who helped start SA. I am very lucky to still have my SA mags from the early 80,s.
Great Memories! Soccer America was the only media which covered our US Olympic Soccer Team when we played Mexico for the 1972 Olympic qualifying match at Balboa Stadium. I became a loyal follower of SA since then!
My brother’s name, Hector, is featured in this edition when UCLA played against USF.
Thank you, keep doing it for at least 50 more years!