Part 1
Read Part 2 here
“Gutsy” – “Clueless” – “Passionate” – “Persistent”
That’s exactly how the first group of guys who assembled at well-known and heavily-used St. Anthony Field on South Taylor Street described themselves as they set out to make history.
What history?
The birth of the Crusader soccer program.
And though they obviously didn’t realize it at the time, this group of fledgling “unknown and unrecognized” athletes would also become instrumental figures in the creation of one of the most successful youth programs in the city of Manchester, the South Junior Soccer League (where nine members of the ‘72 – ‘73 teams would later coach).
Additionally, three Crusader soccer alumni from the school’s “early” years would go on to serve as head coaches of the city’s varsity soccer programs – Joe Baroody at Central, Peter Perich at Memorial, and Dave Gosselin at West, while still another, Ed Shaughnessy, would spend 15 years refereeing the game of “foot-ball” at both the high school and college levels.
BUT LET ME BEGIN AT ITS BEGINNING…
Many readers may not know it, but back in the ’60s, Manchester actually had seven high schools, three public – Central, Memorial, and West, and four parochial – St. Anthony, Bishop Bradley (boys only), St. Joe’s/Immaculata (girls only), and St. Marie.
While soccer “officially” started in the fall of ‘72, it actually began as a “club” the previous year.
A sizable contingent of males were new to the Crusader campus, since their high school, St. Anthony‘s, had just closed its doors in 1970.
Frustrated that their new “home” didn’t have their favorite sport, they approached legendary Memorial principal, Joe Bronstein, to ask permission to add another one to the South End school, confusingly called “football” in Europe, but known in the States as “soccer.”
Receptive to the idea, and feeling badly that the sport that had been a favorite with the boys from St. Anthony, but not offered at MHS, he said that it was fine with him, but there was a huge roadblock in their path: they needed an adult to supervise them.
With few, if any, members of the faculty having any knowledge of the game – never mind experience – the guys didn’t know to whom to turn.
Undeterred, they remembered a new face they’d seen in the classroom, a student teacher in the Social Studies Department who would eventually become a legend at the school.
Enter West High/Keene State grad Bruce Perreault.
“When they came to me my response was…Are you serious? I have no clue as to how the game is played. I’ve never even seen one!”
Re-enter Mr. Bronstein.
Perreault continued, “He called me into his office and explained the bind that the kids were in. He said it didn’t matter whether or not I knew the game – THEY did. They just needed an adult to be there. Long story short, I agreed to become NOT their coach, but their advisor…and that’s exactly how my name and “title” were listed under our photo in the ‘72 yearbook.”
PERSONAL COMMENT HERE…
As a member of the faculty at the same time as Bruce, I also taught under Mr. Bronstein and I, too, had been called into his office several times to discuss Memorial’s “needs.”
Bruce’s “long story short” comment is exactly the appropriate phrase to use when dealing with Mr. B. If he wanted you to do something, there was minimal discussion. It would go something like this:
First, there was “that call” from his secretary – the one that went…“Mr. Bronstein would like to see you in his office immediately at the close of school,” followed abruptly by her hanging up before you could ask, “Do you know what for?”
Second, you were so petrified to go to his office, you’d spend the day trying to think of anything and everything that you might have done that would have gotten you into “hot water” with the boss, and an appropriate reason to justify why you had done, whatever it was.
Third, by the time the bell rang ending the school day, you were a “I don’t know what I did wrong, but I can explain why I did it” ‘walking basket-case’!
Fourth, when he spotted you standing outside his office, he’d sternly say “Come in…and close the door behind you!” to which you’d silently respond “Oh, crap!”
Fifth, he’d make his request – whatever it was – and you, without hesitation, would say “OK, no problem!”
Finally, he’d finish the “meeting” with “Thank you. That’s all. You can leave now,” and out the door you’d go, bewildered at what had just happened.
Simply put, if you made Mr. B happy, he’d make you happy. And, depending on the circumstances, sometimes he’d make you VERY happy.
Perreault didn’t realize it at the time, but, because of his willingness to accept the responsibility, Mr. Bronstein would “reward” him with his first teaching position. Suffice it to say that, as a result, he was very happy that he had taken the advisor’s job, as were the young men that had asked for his help.
WHAT STOOD OUT MOST ABOUT THE FIRST SOCCER “CLUB” AT MEMORIAL (’72)?
Though that introductory year was a tough one for all concerned, they refused to fold.
WHAT STOOD OUT MOST ABOUT THE FIRST SOCCER “TEAM” AT MEMORIAL (’73)?
Though that initial roster was filled mostly with members who knew little if anything about the sport, they went on to post a winning record, ending the season with 5 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie.
WERE THEY PROUD OF THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT?
You bet! (nod & wink, here.)
As put by ex-St. Anthony student, now Memorial halfback/forward, Ed Shaughnessy (Class of ‘72)… “Who’d have thought it would be a bunch of parochial school guys that would be responsible for starting a public school soccer team!”
And by outside midfielder Joe Baroody (Class of ‘73)…”We had a winning record with half the team never having played soccer before!”
Perhaps the most accurate explanation of why this feat was so exceptional came from ‘73 head coach, Jim Shaughnessy.
“Five players turned out for the first practice and I literally had to grab players off the street. ‘Even stopped one (Baroody) as he rode by on his bicycle.”
Coming tomorrow: Part 2
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