Hubert Birkenmeier

Hubert Birkenmeier signed photo

Hubert Birkenmeier - began his career in West Germany, in 1970, when he signed with Freiburger FC before moving to Tennis Borussia Berlin in 1972. He remained in Berlin until 1977 when the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League purchased his contract. Birkenmeier remained with the Cosmos until 1985, playing eight outdoor NASL, two indoor NASL and one Major Indoor Soccer League season.

Birkenmeier was a 1982 and 1984 First Team NASL All Star. In August 1985, he signed with the Chicago Sting of the MISL, as a backup for Victor Nogueira. The Sting waived him on April 29, 1986. On November 4, 1986, Birkenmeier signed with the expansion New York Express of the MISL. When the Express folded two-thirds of the way through the season, the Los Angeles Lazers signed him to a ten day contract. In 1988, he played for the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League as it went to the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup. He signed with the New York Eagles of the American Soccer League, and remained with them through the 1990 season in the American Professional Soccer League.

John Smith - Snowplow game

John Smith is an English-born placekicker for the New England Patriots (1974-1983).

Smith was offered a professional soccer contract in England at the age of 16, but turned it down to focus on his education. Following his graduation from Southhampton University, he came to the United States to teach and coach soccer. He was introduced to American football and was asked to attend a free-agent try-out with the Patriots.

Smith would earn a spot on the Patriots roster...and would become part of one of the most controversial plays in football. During a game againt the Miami Dolphins in 1982 in a snowstorm at Foxboro Stadium, a field worker was using a snowplow to clean the yard markers on the field for the officials. With the score tied 0-0 with 4:45 remaining, Patriots coach Ron Meyer ordered the snowplow operator to clear a spot on the field for placekicker John Smith, supposedly for a more accurate measurement of the kick. As the plow crossed the field the operator veered left, directly in front of the goal post giving Smith a clear spot from which to kick. The field goal was good and the Patriots would win 3-0, as Miami coach Don Shula protested...

In 1976 Smith, with the help of the Boston Globe newspaper started his soccer camps, which are still in existence. The top image shows the front cover and inside front cover from Smith's "Soccer skills from the ground up" booklet issued by the Boston Globe... Smith operates the John Smith Soccer Academy in Milford, Ma.

1980 Olympic Soccer FDC

Andy Chapman

Arsenal FC (England) 1975-78

California Sunshine (ASL) 1978-79

Cleveland Cobras (ASL) 1980-81

Detroit Express (ASL) 1982-83

Wichita Wings (MISL) 1979-85, 1988-90

Cleveland Force (MISL)  1985-86

Baltimore Blast (MISL) 1986-88

Detroit Rockers (NPSL) 1990-94, 2000

Detroit Neon (CISL)  1995-96

Chris Gbandi (Liberia)

UCONN - NCAA
FC Dallas (MLS) 2002-2007
FK Haugesuns (Norway) 2008-2009
Miami FC (USSF) 2010
2012.05.27 Soccer Metroplex, MD

1980 Olympic Soccer FDC

Artcraft cachet

CCC cachets

unknown producer

1980 Olympic Soccer FDC

Homer Screws

Tacoma Stars (MISL) 1987-1989, Atlanta Attack (AISA) 1990, Portland Timber (APSL)

Head Coach, Women's Soccer Coe College - his mission to develop a winning, positive culture of soccer of which current, past and future players can be proud..

Hernan "Chico" Borja

NY Cosmos (NASL) 1981-1982,1984, Team America (NASL) 1983, Las Vegas Americans (MISL) 1984-1985, Wichita Wings (MISL) 1985-1987, 1988-1992, Los Angeles Lazer (MISL) 1987-1988

US National Team 1982-1988

1984 Olympics

1992 US Futsal Team - World Champions

Hector Marinaro

Cleveland Force (MISL) 1983-1984, Minnesota Strikers (MISL) 1986-1988, Toronto Blizzard (NASL) 1987-1988, (NSL) 1993, Los Angeles Lazer (MISL) 1988-1989, Cleveland Crunch (MISL-NPSL) 1989-2002, Cleveland Force (MISL II) 2002-2004

Canadian National Team 1986-1995

Pele

John Smith (NE Patriots-NFL)

Alan Mayer

SD Sockers (NASL) 1978-1979, Pittsburgh Spirit (MISL) 1979-1980, California Surf (NASL) 1980-1981, NJ Rockets (MISL) 1980-1982, SD Sockers (MISL) 1982-1983, Las Vegas Americans (MISL) 1984-1985, KC Comets (MISL) 1985-1992

US National Team 1976-1977

Hubert Birkenmeier

Freiberger FC (Bundesliga) 1970-72, 1977-1979, Tennis Borussia Berlin (Bundesliga) 1972-1977, NY Cosmos (NASL) 1979-1985, NY Cosmos (NASL-MISL) 1981-1985, Chicago Sting (MISL) 1985-1986, NY Express (MISL) 1986-1987, LA Lazer (MISL) 1987

Hand painted first day cover for the 1980 Olympics

1979 the US Postal Service issued a series of stamps in commemoration of the upcoming 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. due to the inability of the USPS and the ICO to come to a licensing agreement none of the US stamps were allowed to show the Olympic rings. Therefore the USPS replaced the rings with 5 stars in each design.

In response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the United States and 64 other countries boycotted the games. In soccer Czechoslovakia defeated the German Democratic Republic 1:0 for the gold medal. Cuba replaced the United States in the tournament. The 1980 US Olympic soccer team included Ricky Davis, Perry Van Der Beck, Don Ebert and Ty Keough, coached by Walter Chyzowych...