Read Part 1 here
After the first morning session was over, knowing his team needed more players if it was to survive and fully understanding the plight of his coach, “biker” Baroody called his class-mate and buddy, Phil Wakeman, saying… “Hey, Phil. If you aren’t doing anything this afternoon why don’t you come on down to the field.” And, as Phil put it, “I wasn’t, so I did.” He continued… “I told coach Shaughnessy that I had hurt my leg and couldn’t run.” ‘Well, can you stand up?’ he asked. My ‘yes’ answer was followed by his quick response…’Well, then, if you can stand, you can play! You’ll be our goalie!’…and that’s how I ended up as ‘guardian of the net.’”
I asked what the differences were between the ‘72 and ‘73 teams.
Fullback Ken Collins (Class of ‘72 and now owner of the popular Kustom Clubs Fitting Center, an east Manchester golf shop) said “When we played for St. Anthony our coach, Sisilio Testa (from Portugal), really knew his soccer. But at Memorial in ‘71-72, our advisor had never played and didn’t know the game, so we ran our own practices. It was particularly tough to get the new guys to stay in their positions or not try to catch the ball with their hands.
According to left wing/left half-back Jean Martel (Class of ‘73) “In ‘72, it was less practice and more game.” In ‘73, it was run, run, run and not get tired; it was ‘really learn-the-game’ time. I picked up a lot of new skills.”
Baroody commented “When coach Shaughnessy came on board in ’73, I was 17 and had never played soccer before. He really worked us hard and we learned. His double sessions were very physical, but he still made playing fun.”
How did athletes from other sports react to yours?
“Those years were the ‘hey-days’ of Memorial football. I don’t think they even knew we had a team.” said Joe while Ed added “Since we were in the baby stages, the other city schools were experiencing the same thing.”
TOP PLAYERS AT THAT TIME…
Pete Tseronis, Gerry Gagnon, Paul Martel, and Bernie Martel were the names they collectively offered.
TOUGHEST SCHOOL TO PLAY?
There were several…
While they didn’t fear any team, they were not happy when they saw the State Industrial School (temporary home for the state’s teenage miscreants) on their schedule.
Ken’s words summed up their thoughts perfectly. “I wasn’t too thrilled when I saw the name. I remember thinking that we might get knifed!”
THE “TOUGH TEAMS” (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)…
Central…they had a lot of Greek players who had played as young kids
Goffstown…they didn’t have football so their guys all played soccer – they were defending state champs and the first team Memorial ever played.
Stevens…they came with cheerleaders, a band, and a bleacher full of fans…they had tradition behind them
While today’s soccer players still use similar equipment – spikes, shin guards, athletic supporters, and cups – the boys of those first two teams weren’t exactly “fashion plates”.
Today’s uniforms are great looking and are available in a variety of styles. Not so with the three public high schools in 1973.
Joe…”All three public high schools had the exact same shirt and shorts. The only difference was the school colors…Memorial wore red, Central – green, and West wore blue.”
Additional equipment…
Collins…“I think we got the used pads from St. Anthony’s.”
And goalie Wakeman?
He was a true fashion center-piece…”I wore sneakers, sweatpants, a T-shirt, and a headband.” (You older readers will remember that the 70’s were the days of “Hair”, hence the need for a headband.)
Asked what being on the first soccer teams to play for Memorial meant to them…
Wakeman – “I feel proud to have been a part of something new and successful.”
Collins – “It feels good to see the program continue to this day. I think early soccer in high school laid the foundation for today’s junior programs.”
Ed Shaughnessy – “Feels especially good to reminisce with good friends.”
Baroody –”I’m particularly proud because, under the direction and guidance of coach Shaughnessy, I felt we set the tone for Memorial soccer.”
And coach Shaughnessy?
“When we first started, ability-wise there certainly were better teams than Memorial, but as far as being a team was concerned, there was no better club. Those guys had great hearts. Even though they were athletic, they were still ‘light’ on skills. It takes a lot of time to learn some things, but the effort was there from the beginning. They were the most ‘in shape’ team in the state and would do anything I asked. What they may have lacked in skill they made up for with toughness…and, boy, were they ever tough kids!”
When discussing the officiating back then, the majority reaction was that it was “loose”; “They let more go and allowed you to be more physical”. The name of a very popular soccer figure surfaced at this point…a person thought by many to be the “grandfather” of Manchester soccer…Andy Wilson.
Asked if they would rather have played today?
Majority opinion,,,
“YES!”
Majority reasoning…
“Because it is so popular and we’d have been more skilled.”
Majority comment…
“Soccer today is awesome; it’s great competition that gives a lot of kids a chance to play a sport.”
Asking what they believed to have been the public’s perception of soccer players back then,
Phil said “misunderstood.”
Ed’s answer… “People thought that soccer players weren’t good enough for football or basketball. It was assumed that it was a less physical sport…or not even a sport at all.”
Upon hearing that, Ken quickly responded with “Soccer players were and still are tough…both mentally and physically. Just like football, after a game was done your body FELT the game.”
Jean finished up with “Football was A-1 and soccer was just beginning. People thought it was a sissy sport…but it wasn’t.”
A “SISSY SPORT”?
No, it definitely wasn’t! Back then OR today.
If you’re a “doubter”, take in a high school soccer match. And pay special attention when two opposing players go full-speed at a 50-50 ball…with neither relenting! Then listen (if you aren’t too squeamish) to the sound as their heads and bodies collide.
And, remember, all of this is done at full speed…directly at each other …without shoulder pads…without a helmet.
To a boy, make that – to a MAN, none of these athletes were sissies.
In fact, even today, 36 years after they “created history” and started a “tradition“, if you were to use that term referent to any one of them…be it Jean, Ed, Phil, Joe, and/or Ken, – and especially coach Shaughnessy, those pads an helmet I just mentioned…
You’d best be wearing them because, though they‘re now in their 50‘s, they‘re still a “tough bunch of kids”!
Addendum
Thanks to the determination of a group of “SAINTS” from St. Anthony and an unknown rookie teacher/advisor from Memorial, SOCCER is now a major sport at all three high schools, Memorial, Central, and West.
Its popularity has also resulted in it being added to the city’s middle school athletic programs.
Importantly, it has become a viable source of scholarship money for those who have demonstrated a proficiency in the sport…and in the Queen City, there have been quite a few!
So…
If you know players from yesteryear, Joe Baroody, Ken Collins, Jean Martel, Ed Shaughnessy, and Phil Wakeman, or coaches Bruce Perreault or Jim Shaughnessy, please say “Thanks!” for giving thousands of young athletes, both males AND females, another sport to play.
Ted Menswar Jr. is a life-long resident of the Queen City and a retired member of the English Department of Memorial High School who has been involved in local sports for 70 years as a player, a coach, a mentor and a fan. He can be reached at tedmenswar@outlook.com