Tommy Maurer

Tommy Maurer (born January 7, 1960) is a former North American Soccer League midfielder.

Tommy Maurer
Personal information
Full name Thomas Maurer
Date of birth (1960-01-07) January 7, 1960
Place of birth Frankfurt, Germany
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1975-1977 Pennsbury High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978-1979 Tampa Bay Rowdies 0 (0)
1979-1980 Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor) 8 (1)
1981 San Diego Sockers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Youth

In 1970 his family moved to U.S. from West Germany, but with no local youth soccer leagues available Maurer started his own while in the 5th grade.[1] He was a high school All-American, and the top high school player in Pennsylvania while at Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.[2] Between his junior and senior years of high school he joined 14 other Bucks County, Pennsylvania youth players on tour in France and West Germany in 1977.[3]

Professional

In 1978, the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League selected Maurer in the third round of the NASL draft, a few picks after future teammates Perry Van der Beck and Sandje Ivanchukov. They were among the first Americans ever drafted out of high school.[1][4] Rowdies head coach Gordon Jago sent him to train with the German 2nd Division side, Rot-Weiss Essen, as well as with English clubs Crystal Palace, Millwell and Dullwhich Hamlet.[5] Unlike Van der Beck and Ivanchukov, Maurer saw very limited action in Tampa, appearing only in indoor matches and club friendlies between 1978 and 1980.

After being waived by the Rowdies[6] he headed to Southern California and tried to catch on first with the California Surf,[7] and then the San Diego Sockers,[8][9] even signing with the latter, but never featured in a regular season match outdoors for either club.

Youth soccer

Years later he was recruited to coach by a former Tampa Bay teammate, Guy Newman, who was at the time the director of the Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks soccer club in California. Beginning in 2005, Maurer served as assistant director of the club's boys program.[5] He later became director of the entire recreational program. In 2012 he began a new youth club in the region called Borussia Del Mar.[1] Maurer holds a USSF "E" coaching license.[5]

References
  1. Billing, Karen (August 16, 2012). "Longtime soccer coach starting new league". Del Mar Times. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  2. "People • Announcements". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 29, 1978. p. 8-F. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  3. McKee, Don (May 4, 1977). "Soccer coach's brass got team trip on the button". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 5-D. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  4. Tierney, Mike (January 24, 1978). "Rowdies get two prep stars". St. Petersburg Times. p. 5C. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  5. Schoenbart, Lee (May 27, 2010). "Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks soccer has caretaker in Maurer". Del Mar Times. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  6. Henderson, Jim (February 2, 1980). "Rowdies Sign No. 1 Draft Choice". Tampa Tribune. p. 7-C. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  7. Mudry, Richard (January 30, 1980). "Trial with Surf gives Maurer 'big chance'". Tampa Times. p. 1-C. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  8. Mitchell, Matt (March 1, 1980). "Sockers Let Americans Get A Foot In Door Tonight". Los Angeles Times. p. III-1. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  9. Henderson, Jim (May 20, 1981). "Around the NASL". Tampa Tribune. p. 6-C. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
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