Thistle Football Club: TFC Hall of Fame
Friday, January 11Kearny Thistle FC, 2007 Hall of Fame Recipient- Tom Mara
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HALL OF FAME RECIPIENT
Tom Mara
Soccer has been and continues to be an integral part of my family – beginning with my father and continuing on to my children and grandchildren. Without the support of my wife of 41-years, Helen, I could not have spent over 50-years as a player, administrator and coach. We are proud that all of our children: Tom, Sean, Carolyn, and Michael share our love of soccer. They played for Thistle, and enjoyed team and individual success playing soccer in high school and college.
Helen and I treasure the friendships we made and the memories from our many soccer trips to various tournaments; and to Italy, Germany, Austria, England, Spain Scotland, Ireland, Poland, and Bermuda to support the United States National Team, our favorite professional clubs, and Thistle.
The greatest joy throughout all of our years in soccer was watching the boys and girls that Helen and I coached develop into outstanding and successful young men and women. It has also been a pleasure witnessing the life-long friendships our children developed as a result of their playing soccer.
I am extremely grateful to the Thistle Board of Directors for the honor of entering me into the Thistle Hall of Fame.
Tom Mara
Saturday, September 20
Kearny Thistle FC, 2006 Hall of Fame Recipient - Charlie McEwan
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HALL OF FAME RECIPIENT
Charles “Chaz” McEwan
Coach
Thistle F.C. (football club) was founded in the early 1970’s. It started with two boys teams: Div 3 U/14 (coached by Lou Hyles), and Div. 2 U/16 (coached by Charlie McEwan). Before founding Thistle, we played under the banner of the Scots American Club. At that time, we played in the German American League, traveling to New York and parts of New Jersey. Traveling every other week to New York became very tedious and frustrating. After competing for two years in the German American League, we decided to form a new league in Northern Jersey, which we called Northern Counties Soccer Association, which is now one of the most successful leagues in the state. The Thistle F.C. name was suggested to me by Phil Murray, a dear departed friend, thistle being the national flower of Scotland.
Some outstanding moments in Thistle history were back to back 1981, 1982 Div. 2 Boys State Cup Championships, which I had the honor to coach. Another outstanding moment was our first victory (Div. 1 Boys), coached by Jim Harkes Sr., over the prestigious Celtic Boys Club of Glascow, Scotland. Another giant step for thistle was in the inclusion of girls’ teams. (Little did I know at that time, that girls’s soccer would become such a big part of soccer culture in the U.S.A.).
A few of the most famous players who came through the Thistle program are John Harkes, Tab Ramos, and Tony Meola. Many stories could be told about their young soccer careers with thistle. And let’s not forget Billy Galka, Kearny High School Varsity Soccer coach, who just completed a very successful first year, and the many, many former players who are now coaching college, high school, club and recreation teams.
Most important in any youth sports organization are the boys and girls who participate, the coaches who coach them, and the parents who support them.
Yours in Soccer,
Charlie McEwan
Two from our ranks elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame
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| John Harkes and Tab Ramos | |
NEW YORK (Tuesday, April 19, 2005) - The National Soccer Hall of Fame today announced that American soccer legends, former Major League Soccer stars, and Thistle F.C. alumni John Harkes, and Tab Ramos were elected to the Class of 2005. These two U.S. National Team staples of the 1990s will be inducted in the official ceremony to be held at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY on August 29, 2005.
Ramos, the first ever player signed to play in MLS, spent seven seasons with the MetroStars. Harkes captained D.C. United to the first two MLS Cup championships in 1996 and 1997 and also played for the New England Revolution (1999-2001) and Columbus Crew (2001-2002).
Harkes is D.C. United's Director of Youth Development as well as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-20 National Team which qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship to be held this June.
These players were clear choices in their first year of eligibility for election to the Hall of Fame and form the first ever all-MLS Hall of Fame class. "These are players who have truly made a difference to soccer in America, most notably on the field, but they have been so very important in the growth of the game on all levels," said National Soccer Hall of Fame President and CEO Will Lunn. "We look forward to welcoming them to their new home in Oneonta."
Tony Meola
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Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: KEARNY, NEW JERSEY
Five-time All-Star (1996-98, 2000, 200).First all-time in shutouts (44) and tops the goalkeeper charts in minutes played (14,728), games played (164), saves (765) and catch/punches (513)?Fourth all-time in wins (69) and third all-time in save percentage (.736)...Played the most consecutive minutes in MLS history, (8,084) from 4/13/96 to 10/9/98...Most saves in one game (15) and in one half (11) @ DC (4/5/97)...Longest shutout streak, 681 minutes (4/19/00 to 5/27/00).
John Harkes
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Position: Midfielder
Hometown: KEARNY, NEW JERSEY
One of the most accomplished American soccer players ever, John Harkes was a fixture in the midfield for the National Team as captain in the mid 1990s. He led D.C. United to two MLS titles in ?96 and ?97 as well as the 1998 Interamerican Cup championship. A five-time Major League Soccer All-Star, Harkes is almost as well known on the soccer field in the United States as he is in England, where he played a U.S. record six times at England's famed Wembley Stadium.
Tab Ramos
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Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Kearny, New Jersey
A veteran of the 1990, '94 and '98 World Cups. He played for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team and was a member of the bronze medal-winning U.S. Team which surprised European observers in 1989 during the 1st FIFA World Indoor Championship in the Netherlands. Played for the USA in the 1983 World Youth Championship in Mexico. One of the USA's most technical players all-time. First player to sign with Major League Soccer on Jan. 3, 1995. One of America's first players to make a successful soccer career in Europe.
I'm Proud to Be an American by Les Herrman