Rowdies Press Photos - Jan Van Der Veen

Jan Van Der Veen rounding Detroit Express goalkeeper Jim Brown to score, in the 3-2 win on August 13th, 1980 at Tampa Stadium.

Rowdies Press Photos - Barry Kitchener and Farrukh Quraishi

Barry Kitchener tries to calm down Farrukh Quraishi, in 1979 at Tampa Stadium.

Rowdies Memorabilia - 1979 Ticket Stub

This ticket is from the game against the Philadelphia Fury, April 21st, 1979, the Rowdies would win 2-1, in front of 25,434 fans.

Thanks to Pete McNulty.

Bob Bolitho 1984

Robert "Bob" Bolitho was born on July 20th, 1952 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He was a member of the Olympic team at the 1976 Summer Olympics, playing against the Soviet Union in Montreal and North Korea in Toronto. Bob played a defensive midfield role in the early days of his first class career before settling down at right back. He scored an impressive equalizing goal against the United States in Vancouver in 1976, one of a number of important goals he scored during his career.

Bob played as a teenager of Pacific Coast Soccer League side Victoria O'Keefe S.C. before joining the soccer team of the London Boxing Club in Victoria, for whom he won a Canadian Club Championship national title in 1975.

In 1977, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps, making his debut on April 8th, at home to the Portland Timbers ina 0-1 loss. Was a rookie surprise, he started in 15 games, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists. He excelled on the road, where he scored three of his four goals. Was certainly the most under-rated North American and overall one of the most unnoticed defensive stars in the NASL.

1978, he would appear in 29 games, he tied a league record when he recorded 4 assists in the game against the Dallas Tornado in Vancouver.

As one of the Whitecaps' best crosser of the ball, and certainly one of the strongest runners, he moved up from his right fullback postition in 1979 to record eight assists, including a beauty that set up the overtime goal in Vancouver's tense 2-1 win over the Rochester Lancers. He appeared for the LA Aztecs during the 1979 indoor season. He helped the Whitecaps to Soccer Bowl '78, coming on as a substitute in the game against the Rowdies.

In 1980, he would see his time with the Whitecaps on rare occasions, was traded to the Tulsa Roughnecks, where he would make his debut at home, against the Minnesota Kicks on September 13th, in a 1-2 loss. He would go on to make 14 appearances and scoring 1 goal with 2 assists.

1981, would see him on the move again, this time it was the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, where he would play in every game that season, a total of 38 games and 2 goals with 4 assists. He would continue in the same vein in 1982, missing only 10 games, starting in 28 games, scoring 5 goals and 5 assists.

1983, would see him start the opening game against his old team the Whitecaps on April 24th, in Vancouver, losing 0-3. He would be injured and would miss the next 5 games, but would return on June 1st, against the Chicago Sting and stay in the team until the end of the playoffs. Starting in 27 games and scoring 1 goal, and assisting with 11.

In 1984, the Strikers moved their franchise to Minnesota, Bob went along and started in the first 6 games, but then he played more as a substitute. His last appearance for the Strikers would be against the Rowdies at Tampa Stadium on July 18th. The Rowdies must have liked what they had seen as Bob made his debut on July 21st against the Roughnecks in a 0-2 loss. He would only make 6 appearances, but scored 1 goal. This would be his last year in the NASL.

He then played one season for
Visons of VIC West Past O30's in 1988 (as pictured above, front row, 5th for left) and then Victoria Vistas in the CSL in 1989.

Today, Bob lives in Victoria, Canada where he has worked with local charities.
I cannot find anyother information after this.

Signed Cards - 1986 Rowdies Robbie James

The late Robbie James' signed Rowdies card.

Mirandinha 1978, 1979; 1979 (id)

Sebastião Miranda da Silva, "Mirandinha", was born 26th February, 1952 in Bebedouro, Sao Paulo, Brazil. He started his soccer career with Corinthians of Sao Paulo in July 1971, scoring 50 goals in two years. Made the Move to Sao Paulo in 1973, where he scored 97 goals.

He played on the 1974 Brazilian World Cup team in West Germany, he appeared in 4 games. They finished fourth, after being beaten in the Match for third place, 0-1 by Poland.

Joined the Rowdies mid season in 1978 from Sao Paulo, making his debut against the Minnesota Kicks at Tampa Stadium, May 24th as a substitute in a 2-3 loss. His first year in the NASL was a frustrating one. He was unable to put the ball in the back of the net for twelve games, he caught a defender's elbow in the face, only minutes after finally scoring. A fractured cheekbone required surgery that kept him from playing at full strength, until Soccer Bowl '78. Coming on as a second-half substitute, he scored the Rowdies' only goal in a 1-3 loss to the New York Cosmos at Giants Stadium, on August 27th. Appeared in 20 games and scored 2 goals.

Was the Rowdies' second leading scorer in 1979 pre-season action, he scored 5 goals during the 1979 indoor season in 5 games, He would appear in only 6 outdoor games and scored 2 goals, he would be traded to the Memphis Rogues mid-season, where he would make 12 starts and scored 5 goals with 3 assists. This would be his final year in the NASL.

He then went onto play for many teams, 1979-1980 with Tigres of Mexico, and then back to Brazil: 1980-1981 with Atlético Mineiro, 1981 with Taubaté of Sao Paulo, 1981 with ABC of Natal, 1982 with Suzano of Sao Paulo, 1983 with Independente of Sao Paulo, 1984 with Ginasio Pinhalense of Sao Paulo, 1985 with União Mogi das Cruzes of Sao Paulo, 1985 with Douradense-MS, then finally 1986 with SAAD FC of Sao Paulo, he would finally retire after this team.

Today, Mirandinha is involved with soccer schools with his old club Sao Paulo, in Brazil.

1993 Rowdies Card Set

#12 Perry Van Der Beck.

Rowdies Memorabilia - Pepsi-Cola Bottle

These were produced to commemorate the Rowdies 1975 NASL Championship, there are two versions, one has a NASL soccer ball on the reverse with the Rowdies 1975 stats, and the other is without the ball.

Signed Cards - 1982 Rowdies Paul Roe

Paul Roe's signed Rowdies card.

Rowdies Press Photos - The Wowdies

The Wowdies enjoy the moment at Tampa Stadium in 1979.

Many thanks to Dave Morrison.

Dan Donigan 1993

Dan Donigan was born August 3rd, 1966 in Trenton, New Jersey. He grew up in Trenton, New Jersey and attended Steinert High School in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Dan scored 34 goals in his senior year, leading Steinert to the Group 3 state championship. In 1999, he was named by The Star-Ledger as one of the top ten New Jersey high school soccer players of the 1980's.

After graduating from high school in 1984, Dan attended the University of Connecticut (UConn) where he played as a forward on the men's soccer team from 1985 to 1988. During his four season with the Huskies, he was three-time second and third team All-American. In 1988, he received the Adidas Adi Dasslar Award as the nation's "Most Outstanding Senior Soccer Player" in 1988. He finished his collegiate career with 35 goals and 40 assists for 110 points. While he left college without completing his degree, he later returned and earned a B.S. in Business Administration in 1998.

After finishing his collegiate career, he embarked on a life as a soccer journeyman. Like many U.S. soccer players in the 1980s and early 1990s, his was an itinerant life, moving from one failing indoor and outdoor club to another. In 1989, he played with the Boston Bolts of the American Soccer League. He scored four goals, adding seven assists, as the Bolts went to the ASL championship game only to fall to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In 1990 and 1991, moved to the Penn-Jersey Spirit of the American Professional Soccer League, successor league to the ASL. He earned APSL All Star recognition in 1990. In 1991, he played in 11 games, but scored no goals. That winter he joined the St. Louis Storm of Major Indoor Soccer League for the 1991-1992 sesaon. The Storm traded Dan to the Wichita Wings towards the end of the season and he scored a goal for the Wings over the Dallas Sidekicks in a March 1992 game. From Wichita, he moved to the Milwaukee Wave of the National Professional Soccer League for two seasons, 1992-1994.

In 1993, while with the Wave, he spent one more outdoor season, this time with the Rowdies in the APSL. He appeared in 22 games and scored 8 goals.

He spent time with the Washington Warthogs before returning to the Wave for two more seasons. In 1997, he moved to the St. Louis Ambush for two seasons. He finished his playing career with the St. Louis Steamers of the World Indoor Soccer League.
Dan also spent time with the Rockford Raptors (USISL).

On September 15th, 1990, he earned his only cap with the U.S. national team in a 3-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1988, Dan earned 4 caps for the U.S. futsal team.

In 1994, Dan was splitting his playing time between the indoor Milwaukee Wave and the outdoor Rockford Raptors, when he began his coaching career as assistant men's soccer coach at UConn. He would go on to serve as an assistant for three seasons. Then in 1997, St Louis University hired him as their assistant coach. On February 5th, 2001, the University hired him as its current, and fifth, head soccer coach.

Dan Donigan won the title of Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

Can anyone help me with a photo of Dan in a Rowdies jersey - if so please email me.

Signed Cards - 1976 Rowdies Dennis Wit

Dennis Wit's signed Rowdies card.

Billy Sweetzer 1981

William "Billy" Sweetzer was born February 15th, 1958 in Toronto, Canada. Although born in Toronto, Billy was raised in England. A member of a soccer family, he has two brothers that played professional, Jimmy with Oxford United and Millwall, and Gordon with Brentford, Cambridge United and the Toronto Blizzard. Billy started playing as a schoolboy at the age of 15 with second division side Oxford United. But, at the age of 17 he signed with first division Queens Park Rangers as an apprentice for two years. He then joined Brentford of the third division for three seasons, where he signed a professional contract. He was adapt at either sweeper or a denfensive midfield position.
Joined the Rowdies from non-league side Bracknell Town just before the 1981 season. Billy made his debut at home to the Tulsa Roughnecks, in a 0-2 defeat, playing full-back, on March 29th. He continued in this position for the next 2 games. He returned to the side as a substitute in the home game against the Washington Diplomats on May 1st, losing 1-4. Started the next game, away to the Chicago Sting (as pictured above), on May 3rd, again losing 1-3. This would be the last time Billy appeared in a Rowdies jersey. In total he appeared in 5 games with 1 assist.
After this, I cannot find any information.
Billy is now living in Canada.
Many thanks to Billy's nephew Darren Weeks for this photo showing Billy with Darren's son Charlie.

Rowdies Memorabilia - 1979 Ticket Stub

Another ticket from the game played at Tampa Stadium against the Toronto Blizzard in 1979.

Thanks to Pete McNulty.

Signed Cards - 1988 Rowdies Pete McNulty

Today, I received a signed card from Pete McNulty, who guested in some pre-season exhibition games in 1988.

Rowdies Memorabilia - Pocket Schedules

This is part of my Rowdies pocket schedules collection, pictured is the front and back of the 1979 schedule.

The center of the schedule.

Derek Smethurst 1975 - 1978, 1985; 1976 (id) - 1978 (id)

Derek John Smethurst was born October 24th, 1947 in Durban, South Africa. He started his career with amateur clubs Glenwood, Berea Park and Addington, before signing as a professional with Durban City, had a reputation as a sharp finisher, scoring 20 goals with City, which caught the eye of Chelsea Football Club. Joined Chelsea in December 1968, and served two years' residential qualification as a permit player along with another Durban City player, Richard Gomes. Made an appearance in a pre-season friendly for the Chelsea first-team, in a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on July 28th, 1969. Derek was leading scorer in the Chelsea Reserve side of 1969-70 with 11 goals in 28 appearances (after 9 goals in 14 games the previous season), but missed part of the '69-70 season through injury. These figures earned him a place on the end-of-season tour of Portugal, Brazil and Barbados, where he made 3 substitute appearances and scoring 1 goal.
Made his full debut for Chelsea at Burnley in a 0-0 draw, on September 1st, 1970, and appeared to have established himself as a valued member of manager Dave Sexton's squad, signing a professional contract in January 1971. Everyone at Chelsea thought he had the ability to be a bright prospect and had a great future with The Blues.
Derek made 17 appearances and scored 5 goals during the 1970-71 season, the most important one being in the European Cup Winners' Cup Semi-Final against Manchester City, in a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge on April 14th, 1971. When he slid the ball neatly past goalkeeper Joe Corrigan, from a pass from stand-in centre-forward David Webb. Onto the Final in Athens, Greece against the mighty Real Madrid. Derek would make a substitute appearance in the replay, after both teams had drawn 1-1. The replay, saw Chelsea win 2-1, as Derek collected his winners medal, he must have felt that he could look forward to the new season with enthusiam, and be a main contender for a place in the first-team.
It was therefore something of a surprise when, having played in the first two games of the 1971-72 season in place of Keith Weller, Derek was transfered to Millwall for a fee of £35,000 in the September, where he would remain for four years, making 71 appearances and scoring 9 goals, before trying his luck in America.
Derek joined the Rowdies in 1975, and scored the first Rowdies outdoor goal in history against the Rochester Lancers at Tampa Stadium, on April 26th. Led the team in minutes played (223:41), shots (159), goals (19) and points (42). Was twice a member of the Weekly NASL All-Star Team, and was voted Exchange Bank player of the Week once. Was a member of the Soccer Bowl '75 winning team.
In 1976, was the fourth leading scorer for the Rowdies indoors, his three goal hat-trick in the Final gave the Rowdies a win over the Lancers. Despite being hampered by injury. During the outdoor season, he would score 21 goals, 5 assists in 26 games.
Derek also played in the NFL pre-season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a placekicker and wore the jersey #3 in 1977. He would continue in the same vein with the Rowdies in 1977, 19 goals, 4 assists in 22 games.
After only 4 appearances in 1978, he was traded to the San Diego Sockers and used in a defensive midfield spot instead of up front, scored 2 goals, 3 assists in 21 games.
1979, saw "The Stork" move to the Seattle Sounders, where he delivered goals, he finished second in team scoring with 13 goals and 2 assists in 22 games. Missed most of the season due to injuries.
1980, proved to be Derek's last season in the NASL, as he made 8 appearances, 5 of those as a substitute, and scored 1 goal.
Derek came from a sporting family, his father Norman was a soccer Springbok in the 1930s and brother Peter played for Johannesburg Ramblers and Blackpool.

In 1985, Derek appeared in the Rowdies exhibition game against the US World Cup team at Tampa Stadium on July 4th.

Now an accomplished author and sports consultant, Derek was the first South African to win a European championship. He scored 75 goals in just over 100 games in the NASL.

Today Derek lives in Valrico, Florida, and runs a professional training services business - Soccer for Winning . More information can be found at: http://www.valricosoccer.com/ (under Training Staff). He is always involved with the Rowdies Reunions.

Also, check out his new website at:
http://www.soccerforwinning.com/ Many thanks to Derek for his help with both the pictures and bio.

Signed Cards - 1982 Rowdies Pedro DeBrito

Pedro DeBrito's signed Rowdies card.

Joey Fink 1976 - 1978; 1976 (id) - 1978 (id)

Joeseph "Joey" Fink was born July 31st, 1951 in Ridgewood, New York. Joey played youth soccer with Blau-Weiss Gottschee. He attended Steinert High School in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. He went to college at New York University where he was a 1971 honorable mention (third team) All American soccer player. That season he scored a school record eighteen goals. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on May 10th, 2008.
In 1973, the New York Cosmos, drafted Joey in the first round of the NASL College Draft. That year he began the first four games on the bench. In the fifth game of the season, he came off the bench and scored three goals. He ended the season with eleven goals in twelve starts and three late game appearances. This led to his selection as a second team 1973 All Star. Despite his productivity, the Cosmos coach, Gordon Bradley, acquired Harold Jarman to replace Fink for the 1974 season. When Jarman failed to produce (scoring only four goals in eighteen games), Bradley gradually began to go with Joey who finished the 1974 season with three goals in eight starts and four late game appearances. In 1975, Joey scored six goals in sixteen games and was traded to the Rowdies at the end of the season. Joey had earned his first cap with the U.S. national team in a 1-0 win over Bermuda on September 9th, 1973. He went on to play a total of six games with the national team, his last coming in a 2-0 loss to Mexico on August 24th, 1975.

Missed most of the 1976 indoor season with an ankle injury, but did score one goal vs, the Dallas Tornado in the semi-finals. Proved to be the leading scorer during the tour of Haiti in January 1976 with three goals. He also found time to work with the front office staff in merchandising. Appeared in 14 games and scored 1 goal and 1 assist, during the outdoor season.

In 1977, Joey played in 13 games, started the 1978 indoor season, when he scored two "firsts" in the brief series - a hat trick against the Washington Diplomats in an 11-3 rout and received the Exchange Bank Player of the Week Award. In what was to be his last year in Tampa, Joey appeared in 13 games and scored 4 goals and helped the Rowdies to Soccer Bowl '78, coming on as a substitute for Mick McGuire.

In 1979, Joey joined the California Sunshine of the ASL. He tied with team mate Poli Garcia for the league lead in goal scoring with fifteen. In 1980, he was with the Cleveland Cobras. By that time Joey was a successful indoor soccer player and he dedicated himself to the indoor game.

In 1978, Joey signed with the Philadelphia Fever of the newly established Major Indoor Soccer League. He scored thirty goals in twenty-two games as the Fever went to the MISL championship series before falling to the New York Arrows. In the 1980-1981 season, Fink scored fifty-one goals in thirty-nine goals.
On July 1st, 1981, the Baltimore Blast acquired him from the Fever. He went on to play at four seasons with the Blast. In 1984, he became the first American player to score 200 goals in MISL. He followed that achievement up by scoring five goals in the final game of the 1983-1984 championship series to give the Blast the title over the St. Louis Steamers. He was inducted into the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame in 2006.

Today, Joey Fink is an investment broker, which he has been doing for 22 years, and works for a company called Raymond james. He resides in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Thanks to Mike Connell for the color Rowdies photo, and many thanks to Joey for the recent ones.

Rowdies Press Photos - Rodney Marsh

Rodney Marsh in full flow against the Chicago Sting, at Tampa Stadium, in 1977.

Signed Cards - 1975 Rowdies Mike Connell

Mike Connell's signed Rowdies card.

Dennis Wit 1976, 1977; 1976 (id)

Dennis Wit was born July 25th, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Loyola College where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1969 to 1972. He finished his career with 53 goals, placing him in second on the college’s all time goals list.

Wit began his professional career with the Baltimore Comets of the in 1974. He spent the 1974 and 1975 seasons with the Comets playing in 28 games and scored 2 goals, then moved with the team when it left Baltimore to become the San Diego Jaws, where he appeared in 14 games. He had began the 1976 season in San Diego, but was traded to the Rowdies. He finished the 1976 season in Tampa Bay and played in 8 games, then played in 7 games during 1977, also played in two indoor games during 1976, before moving back north to the New England Tea Men for the 1978 season. The Tea Men moved to Jacksonville before the 1981 season. Dennis moved with the team and played the 1981 and 1982 seasons in Jacksonville.
Dennis earned four caps with the U.S. national team. His first game came in a scoreless tie with Mexico on October 3rd, 1976. This game was the second U.S. qualification game for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. His second game with the national team did not go so well as the U.S. fell 3-0 to Mexico twelve days later. He played one more game in 1976, a scoreless tie with Haiti on November 10th. His last game with the national team came in a 3-1 loss to the Soviet Union on February 3rd, 1979. In that game, He was a second half substitute for Gary Etherington.
Today, Dennis Wit is now a toy sales manager in Jacksonville, Florida.

Thanks to Mike Connell for the color photo.

Rowdies Memorabilia - Scott Ross Artwork Patch

This cloth patch designed by Scott Ross is for the Rowdies' indoor seasons with the "It's Off The Wall!" logo.

Thanks to Scott Ross for this photo.

Skip Gilbert 1983

Francis “Skip” Gilbert was born April 30th, 1960. He attended the University of Vermont where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1980 to 1983. He was selected as a first team All American goalkeeper in 1982 and 1983. He graduated with a bachelors degree in economics and political science and was inducted in the Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

On August 31st, 1983, Skip played in what was to be his only game for the Rowdies as goalkeeper, away to the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. It's a game that Skip would probably want to forget, as the Rowdies were smashed 0-5 in front of an attendance of 7,024.

After retiring from playing, Skip entered the sports marketing career field. He was an account executive at Tennis Magazine, ADWEEK and Ziff-Davis before spending nine years in marketing at Sporting News, part of that as the national sales manager. On July 24th, 1997, he moved to the United States Soccer Federation where he was the Vice President of Sales. In June 1998, he became the Chief Marketing Officer at USA Swimming. In July 2001, Skip became the Vice President-Sponsorship Sales for the Arena Football League. In July 2003, he was hired as the New York Sales Manager for Outside Magazine.

On March 4, 2005, he became the CEO of USA Triathlon, the U.S. national governing body for the sport. Their website can be found at: http://triathlon.usoc.org/
Skip resides in Colorado Springs with his wife, Jenifer, and children Fritz, Austin and Greta.

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

Rowdies Press Photos - Group Shot

This one shows Paul Hammond, Kevin Eagan, Coach Gordon Jago, Winston DuBose, Tony Crudo, Boris Bandov, Steve Wegerle, Dennis Wit, Adrian Alston and ???, from a 1978 indoor game.

Can anyone identify the missing player - if so could you please email me.

Rowdies Memorabilia - Dan Donigan 1989-90 MISL Trading Card

Dan Donidan's 1989-90 MISL card, produced by Pacific Trading Cards, whilst he was at the St. Louis Storm.

Rowdies Memorabilia - Handkerchief

This is an handkerchief produced by Soccer Franks, from about the early '80's.

Signed Cards - 1976 Rowdies Lenny Glover

Lenny Glover's signed Rowdies card.

Hugo Perez 1981, 1982, 1983; 1982 (id), 1983 (id)

Hugo Ernesto Pérez was born November 8th, 1963 in El Salvador. Where both his grandfather and father both played professionally for C.D. FAS, the club with which Hugo would finish his career. He migrated with his family to the United States when he was 11 and gained his U.S. citizenship in the mid-1980s. He chose to forego college.

In 1982, he signed with the Los Angeles Aztecs of the NASL. He also spent time with the Rowdies before ending up with the San Diego Sockers. In 1988, he was the championship MVP when the Sockers won the MISL championship.

That summer he joined Ajax during the team's pre-season. Ajax manager Johan Cruyff expressed an interest in signing him, but the Sockers refused to release him.

Cruyff then attempted to work a transfer for Hugo to Italian club Parma in 1990, but Parma needed him to play in the World Cup in order to get him a work permit. Hugo was part of the 1990 World Cup Roster, but when U.S. coach Gansler left him off the U.S. team that traveled, due to a question of match fitness due to injury, this nixed the move to Italy. Instead, he moved to France where he played with Red Star Paris. From France, he moved to Swedish First Division club Örgryte IS, then onto Saudi Arabian First Division club Al-Ittihad.

In 1994, he returned to the United States and played in the 1994 World Cup and after played for the Los Angeles Salsa of the American Professional Soccer League. Hugo played with the Salsa while negotiating a contract with C.D FAS. The Salsa folded at the end of the 1994 season and he made his last move, to El Salvador First Division Club Deportivo FAS, commonly known as C.D. FAS. In both of his years with the club, 1994-1995 and 1995-1996, C.D. FAS won the El Salvador championship. He retired in 1996 from professional soccer.

He was a member of the American squad that competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He also helped the USA qualify for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1990 FIFA World Cup, which he missed when he tore ligaments in his leg playing for Red Star Paris, a French Second Division club. He was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1991. He played 73 international matches for the US between 1984 and 1994, in which he scored thirteen goals. At the 1994 FIFA World Cup, he played in only the second round game against Brazil. Sadly, for such a talented midfielder, this was his only opportunity to play at the game's highest level.
After retiring from playing, Hugo Perez moved to the San Francisco area where he has served as the principal for the Living Hope Christian School. On March 10th, 2008, he was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In August 2002, he joined the University of San Francisco as an assistant coach to its men's soccer team. On December 7th, 2007, the California Victory, a USL First Division expansion franchise, announced that Hugo had joined its staff as an assistant coach. Hugo is also a coach for Novato Youth Soccer and in particular the U16 Boys Division 1 team. His son Gerson Perez is also a coach with Novato Youth Soccer.

Rowdies Press Photos - George Plimpton

The late author George Plimpton, guesting for the Rowdies indoor 1979.

Thanks to Andy Northern.

Lee Tschantret 1993

Lee Tschantret was born April 10th, 1969 in Albany, New York. He attended the University at Albany where he played on the school's NCAA Division III soccer team from 1987 to 1990. During his four seasons he scored 50 goals and added 40 assists. He was a 1988 second team and a 1989 first team All American.

In 1991, he played 20 games, scoring 2 goals, for the Albany Capitals of the American Professional Soccer League. That year, the Capitals went to the APSL championship, losing to the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks. In 1992, he played for the Harrisburg Heat in the National Professional Soccer League.

In 1993, he joined the Rowdies, appearing in only 7 games. In 1994, he move to the Kansas City Attack, where he would make 106 appearances and scoring 117 goals during a three year spell. In 1995 and 1996, he played the summer outdoor season with the New York Centaurs in the A-League.

In 1998, he played for the Hershey Wildcats also in the A-League. He was named to the 1998 First XI (All Star Team). That fall, he played for the Philadelphia KiXX, making 24 appearances and scoring 11 goals, before the team traded him in February 1999 to the St. Louis Steamers for Ken Snow.

He returned to the A-League in 1999, this time with the Staten Island Vipers. In the fall of 1999, he signed with the Detroit Rockers, but only played one season with them before moving to the Baltimore Blast. He finished his career with the Blast in 2007, playing in a total of 235 games and scoring 171 goals.

Lee leads the MISL in penalty minutes all time with 748. He is on pace to be the 15th player to record 1000 points.
On February 2, 2007, he gained his 1000th assist in a victory over the Kixx.

Today, Lee Tschantret is the current head coach for Varsity Soccer at Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Maryland, and holds a USSF National B Coaching License. Lee was the Captain of the US National Futsal Team, a starter in the 2007 Pan Am Games, a CONCACAF Gold Medal Winner and Futsal World Cup player. He now runs his own Pro Soccer Academy, for more details visit his site - http://prosocceracademy.us/

Can anyone help me with a photo of Lee in a Rowdies jersey? - if so could you please email me.

Rowdies Memorabilia - 1980 UK Tour Ticket Stub

This is a ticket from the Rowdies 1980 UK Tour match against Nottingham Forest,

played on the 13th October, at the City Ground.

Steve Wicks 1986

Stephen Wicks was born October 3rd, 1956 in Reading, Berkshire. He signed as a professional with Chelsea in May 1974 from the Chelsea juniors. Was a centre-forward when he joined Chelsea as an apprentice, but no match at centre-half indicated his real postition.

Made his league debut on Monday, 31st March, 1975 at home to Ipswich Town in a 0-0 draw, aged 18 years of age. Gained 7 England Youth caps, and was a member in the Under 21 squad during the 1977-78 season. Had five seasons in the first team, notching up 127 appearances and scoring 7 goals.

Left Chelsea half-way through the 1978-79 season for Derby County for a fee of £275, 000. His tough, no nonense, approach made him an attractive proposition for the "Rams" manager Tommy Docherty, who saw him as a short term fix to his sides defensive problems. The giant defender made his debut against Southampton on February 3rd, and his presence alongside Roy McFarland saw County win 2-1, so ending a sequence of five games without a victory. Steve missed just one of the Rams remaining nineteen fixtures and, although many of the Baseball Ground supporters were crtical of him for not having the finesse of McFarland, he battled his way through matches despite carrying an assortment of niggling injuries. Although he did not score during his time at the Baseball Ground, Steve's particular strengh in the air also made him a constant danger at corners and free kicks. A 19th place finish in the First Division saw Derby just escape relegation, but Docherty resigned soon afterwards and was replaced by Colin Addison. Steve started the 1979/80 campaign in the heart of the "Rams" back four but, after a poor start which saw just one win in six starts, the new manager opted to sell him back to Docherty at his new club Queens Park Rangers, the Londoners paying the exact fee of £275, 000 that County had paid for the player nine months earlier. In all Steve made just twenty-four appearances for Derby County and, over a longer time spell in a stronger side, would likely have been more appreciated by the clubs supporters.
This would be his first spell at QPR, during this time 1979 to 1981 Steve would appear in 73 second division league games. He was then transfered to another London club, Crystal Palace, but his stay was brief, just one season 1981-82, playing in 14 league games and scoring 1 goal.
QPR resigned him for the second half of the 1981-82 season, he would appear in 9 games that season, and was part of the successful QPR side that won the Second Division Championship in 1983 and appeared in the Milk Cup Final in 1986. It was during this spell, in 1986, that he was a member of the QPR squad to play under the name of the Rowdies in the "Coca-Cola Classic International Soccer Series" in Tampa.
Steve re-signed for Chelsea in July 1986 at a cost of £470,000. He would make his second Chelsea debut against Norwch City at home, in a 0-0 draw, on August 23rd, 1986. He would make 18 appearances and scored 1 goal. He was suffering with a niggling back injury during the 1987-88 season which required surgery, but he played through the pain to make another 19 appearances. Sadly, at the end of the season Steve was forced to announce his retirement in August 1988, when he was reportedly on the verge of joining Tottenham Hotspur.

Steve was brought in originally to be coach of the 1988 Rowdies team, but was released of his post before the 1988 season due to financial reasons.
He later moved into management with Crawley Town, Scarborough F.C. on October 27th, 1993 then onto Lincoln City on September 4th, 1995, where he held the post for only 42 days, and 7 games, which resulted in 5 loses and 2 draws, and finally Malaysian side Selangor FA from 1997 to 1998.. He was working at Chelsea Football Club as a scout. He is the father of Matthew Wicks who was on the books at Arsenal and played for Brighton and Hove Albion.

Rowdies Memorabilia - 1977 Rowdies KICK Magazine

April 16th, 1977, the Chicago Sting were today's opponents. 

The Rowdies won 4-0, with goals from Adrian Alston (2) and Derek Smethurst (2). 

Attendance of 33,484 watched the first home game of the season.
The team this day was: Hammond, Connell, Auguste, Jump, Eagan, Lindsay, Glover, 

Marsh, Alston, Smethurst, Wegerle.

Substitutes: Quraishi, Fink, McLeod.

Many thanks to Andy Northern.