Don Droege 1982

Donald "Don" T. Droege was born January 21st, 1955 in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Christian Brothers College High School where he was the soccer team’s 1971 and 1972 defensive MVP. He was also co-captain of the 1972 team. In addition to playing soccer, he was also a baseball letterman his senior year. He nearly opted to join his father and older brother in pro baseball; both played in the Chicago Cubs organization.

After graduating from high school, Don attended St. Louis University, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1973 to 1976. Where hegarnered All-American and All-Midwest honors.

In 1977, he was selected by the Rochester Lancers in the first round of the NASL Draft. He made his NASL debut for the Lancers against the New York Cosmos, on April 17th, 1977 in a 0-2 loss, but was relegated to the second string for the next five games. But returned for the Lancers' seventh game due to an injury to Nick Mijatovic, and remained in the starting lineup for the remainder of the season. He was honored at one point during the 1977 season as the NASL 's Defensive Player of the Week. He appeared in 25 games and scored 1 goal with 1 assist.

In 1978, Don would appear in 24 games for Rochester. In December '78, the Lancers traded him to the Washington Diplomats. Playing in 22 games during 1979 for the Diplomats, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist.

In 1980, he signed with the Chicago Horizon of the MISL. The Horizon lasted only one season before folding.

Don then moved to the Atlanta Chiefs for the 1981 season. However, by that time the NASL’s decline was accelerating and the Chiefs folded at the end of the season, he had made 31 appearances, and scored 2 goals. He moved again, this time to the Tulsa Roughnecks. However, after 18 games and 2 goals, the Roughnecks traded him to the Rowdies.

He would make his Rowdies' debut at Tampa Stadium, against the Jacksonville Tea Men, on July 4th, 1982, in a 2-0 win. He would only make 7 appearances, and scored 1 goal in his last Rowdies game against the Toronto Blizzard, in a 2-9 defeat.

In 1983, Don finished his NASL career with the Chicago Sting, appeared in 25 games, and scored 2 goals with 1 assist.

That fall, he returned to St. Louis to sign with the St. Louis Steamers. He spent two seasons with the Steamers before retiring from playing professionally in 1985.

Don’s first game with the national team came in a 3-1 loss to Guatemala on September 18th, 1977. Nine days later, he came on as a substitute in a 3-0 loss to Mexico national football team. From that point on, he played the rest of the U.S. games in 1977. He played in only one of the three U.S. games in 1978, then earned his last cap on May 2nd, 1979 in a 6-0 loss to France.

Today, Don still lives in St. Louis, he is now working in the Mortgage Business. He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005.

Can anyone help me with a photo of Don in a Rowdies jersey? - If so please email me.