Kingspoint
12-12-2024, 05:13 PM
A true pioneer of U. S. Professional Soccer, McBride was selected a first-team All-American in 1964 and 1965. After graduating in 1967, he was the first American-born player drafted by the Saint Louis Stars of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). After the 1967 season, the Stars moved to the newly established North American Soccer League (NASL). McBride remained with this team until 1976 and was one of the first outstanding native U.S. soccer players of the modern era. All of this coincided with television audiences, for at this time, most Americans had never been to a Soccer game of any kind. For a U.S. born player to be at an All-Star status with international players, no matter how insignificant a U. S. professional soccer league was, meant everything towards inspiring a youth to choose soccer over other sports as an athlete yearning to see how good he/she could become.
Until Pat McBride came along, there wasn't a U.S. name to recognize nationally.
At the time, St. Louis was on par with the best amateur soccer being played in the U. S.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_McBride
After retiring as a player, McBride became the assistant coach to Head Coach Bob Guelker at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he helped the team achieve an undefeated season and the first NCAA College Division National Championship in 1972. The SIUE team was ranked the number one team in the United States by the NSCAA when the 1973 season began. He went on to become the head coach of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) expansion team St. Louis Steamers in 1979. He coached the team for most of two seasons, earning MISL coach of the year for the 1979–1980 season
Until Pat McBride came along, there wasn't a U.S. name to recognize nationally.
At the time, St. Louis was on par with the best amateur soccer being played in the U. S.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_McBride
After retiring as a player, McBride became the assistant coach to Head Coach Bob Guelker at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he helped the team achieve an undefeated season and the first NCAA College Division National Championship in 1972. The SIUE team was ranked the number one team in the United States by the NSCAA when the 1973 season began. He went on to become the head coach of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) expansion team St. Louis Steamers in 1979. He coached the team for most of two seasons, earning MISL coach of the year for the 1979–1980 season