Tommy Maurer Explained

Tommy Maurer
Fullname:Thomas Maurer
Birth Date:7 January 1960
Birth Place:Frankfurt, West Germany
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1975-1977
Youthclubs1:Pennsbury High School
Years1:1978-1979
Years2:1979-1980
Years3:1981
Clubs2:Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor)
Clubs3:San Diego Sockers
Caps1:0
Caps2:8
Goals1:0
Goals2:1

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

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.[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. He later became director of the entire recreational program. In 2012 he began a new youth club in the region called Borussia Del Mar. Maurer holds a USSF "E" coaching license.

External links

Notes and References

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