Year One: St. Louis CITY SC
The story of St. Louis CITY SC’s record-setting first season
Available at St. Louis book-sellers, and directly from Reedy Press
Soccer Made in St. Louis
A History of the Game in America’s First Soccer Capital
Sold out at Reedy Press! There may be copies at some St. Louis book-sellers.
The second edition of “Soccer Made in St. Louis: A History of the Game in America’s First Soccer Capital,” brings the story of St. Louis soccer up to date since the publication of the sold-out first edition in 2011. The second edition chronicles the successful drive to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to St. Louis; tells the stories of St. Louis players such as Lori Chalupny Lawson, Vedad Ibisevic, Brad Davis and Becky Sauerbrunn, who played in World Cups in the 2010s; and adds important information about the early history of St. Louis soccer that’s come to light in the past decade. The book is the result of material from more than a hundred sources, and interviews with 122 present and former administrators, coaches, owners and players. “Soccer Made in St. Louis” is the only history of the sport in the city that has played soccer since the 1870s and has produced 90 national champions, 78 players on the U.S. National Team, and 34 members of U.S. national soccer halls of fame. The book is published by Reedy Press.
“Year One: St. Louis CITY SC” tells the story of St. Louis CITY SC’s record-breaking inaugural season. St. Louis CITY completed a 2023 season unheralded in the history of U.S. men’s professional team sports by finishing first in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. Winning a regular-season conference championship is “the first time an expansion team in the United States’ five major men’s sports leagues has done that in its first season.” (Jack McKessy, USA TODAY, Oct. 4, 2023) Relive the team’s remarkable first season in “Year One: St. Louis CITY SC” from Reedy Press. Learn about the birth and buildup of CITY; enjoy game summaries, dynamic action pictures, and player statistics; and follow all of the thrilling U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams’ games at CITYPARK. The book is published by Reedy Press.
The 1975 St. Louis Stars reached the NASL semifinals behind former English World Cup goalkeeper Peter Bonetti. Standing, from left, trainer Bill Hopfinger, captain Steve Frank, Gary Rensing, Al Trost, Denny Vaninger, Dave Jokertst, John Carenza, Dennis Burnett, John Hawley, Mike Seerey, Gene Geimer, and general manager Jack Galmiche. Front row, from left, Bob O’Leary, John Pisani, Pat McBride, Larry Hausmann, Bonetti, Jim Bokern, Roger Verdi, Bob Matteson, and player-coach John Sewell. The only non-St. Louisans in the picture are Bonetti, Burnett, Hawley, Verdi, and Sewell. (Courtesy of Denny Vaninger)
The 1981 University of Missouri-St. Louis women's soccer team was the first major college women's soccer team in St. Louis. The team reached the national final four in 1981 and 1982, finishing fourth both times. Shown is the 1981 team — From left, front row: Peggy Keough, Maureen Lee, Sue Paul, Cindy Scher, Cindy Deibel, Jeannine Basile, and Kelly Farley. Middle: Maryrose Steitz, Joan Gettemeyer, Theresa Klaus, Karen Gettemeyer, Jan Gettemeyer, Karen Lombardo, and Tammy Long. Back: manager Linda Harvath, assistant coach Kathy Baker, Patty Kelley, Arlene Allmeyer, Cindy Hickel, Sue McLaughln, Neen Kelley, Sue Richert, and head coach Ken Hudson. (Courtesy of Jan and Joan Gettemeyer)
St. Charles native Brad Davis played 392 games, most of any St. Louisan, in MLS during a spectacular career that featured 123 assists and 57 goals. He also played for the USA in the 2014 World Cup. (Courtesy of Houston Dynamo)
June 29, 1950, Belo Horizonte, Brazil: St. Louisans Harry Keough, left, and Frank Borghi, in goal, defend against England in the World Cup. The USA's 1-0 win is considered the biggest upset in World Cup history. In addition to Borghi and Keough, the USA's 11 players against England included St. Louisans Charley Colombo, Gino Pariani and Frank "Pee Wee" Wallace. Another St. Louisan, Bob Annis, was on the bench, and St. Louisan Bill "Chubby" Lyons was the assistant coach. (Courtesy of the Frank Borghi collection)
The St. Louis Stars' jersey worn by U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Pat McBride, circa 1975. (Courtesy of Pat McBride)
St. Louis soccer royalty — From left: Tony Mercurio, unidentified, Joe Carenza, Harry Keough, Jim Moore, Bob Guelker, Walter Giesler, Nick Jost, and Marty Clarke at trophy presentation to Kutis, perhaps the best soccer team in the United States during the 1950s. Carenza, Keough, Guelker, and Giesler would be named to the US Soccer Hall of Fame. (Courtesy of Joe Clarke)
St. Louisan Sam Fink celebrates his game-winning goal for St. Louis FC against MLS side Cincinnati FC in the 2019 US Open Cup. (Courtesy St. Louis FC)
August 20, 2019: Carolyn Kindle, president of the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, and MLS commissioner Don Garber announce the award of an MLS team to St. Louis. (Courtesy of St. Louis CITY SC)
A rendering depicts CITYPARK, looking west. CITYPARK's stadium stands to the north of Market Street. The team’s training facilities are directly across Market from the stadium. St. Louis CITY is the only MLS team to have its stadium and training facilities in one location. (Courtesy of St. Louis CITY SC)
St. Louis native and Indoor Soccer Hall of Famer Daryl Doran played 828 professional indoor games, said to be more than anyone else in the history of professional indoor soccer. His pro career spanned 1982-2005, with one appearance in 2008. He was the player-coach of the 1995 St. Louis Ambush, the only St. Louis team to win a championship of a nationwide pro soccer league, indoors or outdoors. (Courtesy of Dave Preston)
St. Louisan Bill McDermott, called "Mr. Soccer" by friend and sports broadcasting icon Bob Costas, is the longest-tenured soccer broadcaster in the United States. McDermott is shown with Pele early in McDermott's 50-year broadcasting career. (Courtesy of Bill McDermott)
Mike Sorber, shown playing for St. Louis University, appeared in 67 games for the U.S. Men's National Team, more than any other St. Louisan. The midfielder was called the USA’s MVP by US coach Bora Milutinovic in the 1994 World Cup. (Courtesy of St. Louis University)
The man whose shot started it all: U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Jimmy Dunn scored the winning goal that lifted a St. Louis team to the city's first of 90 national soccer championships. Dunn's goal 17 minutes into the second half lifted the Ben Miller soccer club to a 2-1 victory over Fore River (Massachusetts) in the 1920 National Challenge Cup championship game played on May 9 at High School Field, Grand and Laclede avenues in St. Louis. An estimated 12,000 fans watched. The Ben Millers were an entirely St. Louis team. All of Fore River's players were from England and Scotland. The National Challenge Cup continues today as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. (Courtesy of the Dunn family collection)
From left, Bob Burkard, U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Harry Keough, Rich Meisemann, and Ruben Mendoza are all smiles after Kutis defeated FC Nurnberg of West Germany 3–2 on May 5, 1955. Kutis, probably the best team in the United States during the 1950s, won six consecutive U.S. Amateur Cups. Kutis is the last team to pull "the double," winning the Amateur Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in the same season, 1957. (Courtesy of the Rich Meisemann collection)
The St. Louligans have supported St. Louis soccer passionately and have done good deeds in the community since forming in 2010. (Courtesy of the St. Louligans)
U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Pat McBride searches for a teammate during a game for St. Louis University against Ball State on Sept. 28, 1963. A midfielder, McBride played on two NCAA champions and remains SLU's fifth all-time scorer despite playing only three varsity seasons. He went on to play for and captain the U.S. Men's National Team. McBride was a three-time all-league selection in the foreign-dominated North American Soccer League. (Courtesy of St. Louis University)
Steve Ralston was the only St. Louisan named one of the top 25 players in the first 25 seasons of MLS. Playing mostly with the New England Revolution, the midfielder scored 76 goals in 380 games. He also scored four goals in 36 games for the USA. (Courtesy of AC St. Louis)
Tim Ream, the first St. Louisan to play in the English Premier League, meets the press at Busch Stadium in preparation for a World Cup qualifier for the USA against St. Vincent and the Grenadines in November 2015. (Courtesy of Dave Lange)
St. Louis's two Women's World Cup champions and Olympic gold medalists, Becky Sauebrunn, left, and Lori Chalupny Lawson, at Busch Stadium. Sauerbrunn has played more than 200 games for the United States, more than any other St. Louisan, male or female. Chalupny retired in 2015 with 106 games for the USA, second-most among all St. Louisans.
Indoor Soccer Hall of Famer Slobo Ilijevski, the prototypical indoor soccer goalkeeper, defends the St. Louis Steamers’ goal in the early 1980s. (Courtesy of Bill Brinson)
A snow-covered field at Sportsman’s Park wasn’t enough to stop a St. Louis Major League game, and a big crowd, during the late 1940s. (Courtesy of the Nazzoli family)
St. Louis CITY2, a developmental team for the St. Louis CITY MLS team, kicked off in the third-division MLS NEXT Pro League in 2022 and advanced all the way to the league final on Oct. 8 against Columbus Crew 2. City2 lost, 4-1, in the final. (Courtesy St. Louis CITY SC)
U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Al Trost controls the ball at midfield for the St. Louis Stars in 1976. Trost, along with fellow St. Louisan and U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Pat McBride, was one of the few American-born standouts in the North American Soccer League. At the college level, Trost won the Hermann Trophy twice. He won the award, given to the top player in college soccer, in 1969 and 1970 while playing for St. Louis University. He also played in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, West Germany, and captained the U.S. Men's National Team. (Courtesy of Bill McDermott)
Two St. Louisans — Perry Van Der Beck (left) and Larry Hulcer — take on Mexico before 90,000 fans at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Nov. 9, 1980. Mexico won, 5-1, in a World Cup qualifier. Exactly two weeks later, the USA would beat Mexico, 2-1, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. St. Louisan Steve Moyers scored both goals. There were five USA starters from St. Louis on Nov. 9: Ty Keough, Greg Makowski, Steve Pecher, Van Der Beck and Greg Villa. Hulcer was a second-half substitute. (Courtesy of Perry Van Der Beck)
Bob Guelker (left) and Harry Keough, U.S. Soccer Hall of Famers and legendary college soccer coaches, eye the Bronze Boot trophy awarded to the annual winner of the regular-season match between the men's teams of Keough's St. Louis University and Guelker's Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Guelker, who started the soccer programs at SLU and SIUE, coached teams to more NCAA men's soccer championships (seven — five at SLU, two at SIUE) than anyone. Keough coached SLU to five NCAA titles, and was one of the greatest players in the history of St. Louis soccer for his roles on the 1950 U.S. World Cup team and on the national powerhouse Kutis teams of the 1950s. The photo was taken before 1982's Bronze Boot match at Busch Stadium 2, won by SIUE, 2-0. The 1980 Bronze Boot game, won 5-1 by SLU, set a still-standing college soccer attendance record of 22,512. The crowd of 20,112 for the 1973 game, between nationally No. 1-ranked SIUE and No. 2 ranked SLU (won by SLU, 1-0) is the seventh-largest in college soccer history. (Courtesy of Rick Stankoven)
St. Louis CITY SC posted a record-breaking inaugural season in Major League Soccer in 2023. CITY became the first MLS expansion team to win its regular-season conference championship and posted an MLS expansion team regular-season record of 17 victories. CITY sold out every game at CITYPARK. (Courtesy of St. Louis CITY SC)
— FIRST EDITION REVIEWS OF SOCCER MADE IN ST. LOUIS —
Tom Timmermann — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Just about everyone in St. Louis knows the city has had a major impact on soccer in America but just what that impact was, other than having a bunch of players on the U.S. team that beat England in the 1950 World Cup, gets increasingly hazy with each passing year. ‘Soccer Made in St. Louis’ addresses that problem and is an elegant solution. Author Dave Lange neatly spells out just how big soccer was in St. Louis, why it was and how it got there. The book explains who those players were and what they did in often meticulous detail. Even those who know a lot about St. Louis soccer history are bound to learn something.”
New York Post Soccer Blog
“Required reading for any American sports fan or someone curious about this country’s rich soccer past.”
Milestones in St. Louis soccer history were the appearances of England’s Pilgrims soccer team for six games in St. Louis against local clubs in 1905 and 1909. The Pilgrims won all six games easily. But local teams learned from their masters. Many St. Louis clubs incorporated the Pilgrims’ tactics and more gentlemanly play, thus raising the quality of soccer in St. Louis. Shown is the program for one of the Pilgrims’ 1909 games featuring a Budweiser ad from Anheuser-Busch, which became a major sponsor of local, national and international soccer under the leadership of A-B executive and U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Denny Long later in the 20th century.
About The Author
Dave Lange has covered soccer for various media outlets since the 1970s. His stories have appeared in daily newspapers such as The St. Louis Globe-Democrat and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; magazines such as Soccer America and The Sporting News; and websites such as MLSsoccer.com.
He wrote or co-authored “Practice Makes Perfect: A Guide to Fun Training Sessions for 6–10 Year Olds,” “Cherishing Childhood, the First 100 Years of Community School,” “Webster University: A Century of Defining Moments” and “Taming Troubled Waters: Dr. Henry Givens Jr. and the Transformation of Harris-Stowe State University,” all from Reedy Press. He contributed a chapter to “Soccer Frontiers: The Global Game in the United States, 1863-1913” (University of Tennessee Press, 2021).
Lange was a head coach for 12 years at Busch Soccer Club/St. Louis Soccer Club and holds a USSF National D coaching license and a coaching certificate from the Royal Dutch Football Association. He retired from Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc., where his responsibilities including producing the annual report, managing employee communications at the company’s U.S. facilities, and starting the “Cardinals Magazine,” a monthly commercial publication for the St. Louis Cardinals. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in communications as Senior Lecturer at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Adjunct Full Professor at Webster University.