Edelweiss Club

I receive a daily news journal from a Soccer America. This morning's publication contained a reference to Pat Smith. Pat recently passed away and was being recognized by the publication for his influence on soccer officiating in the US. He is one of only approximately 500 members of the US Soccer Hall of Fame (inducted in 1998). He is also a winner of the Pearson Award. I read the short article and decided I needed to know more about him. After searching online for his name I was surprised to learn of his local connections:

Pat and his wife, Maureen, immigrated in 1953 to the United States, where together they raised three daughters in Dayton, Ohio. He often told the story that he didn't bring his soccer shoes with him to Amer-ica as he had heard there was no soccer. He was thrilled to find there actually was a soccer team in Dayton and thus began his participation in American soccer at his club called Edelweiss. This was a multicultural and diverse team with German-Hungarians, Austrians, an American, a Swiss, an Italian and Pat, who was the lone Englishman, bringing up the rear. He played until age 35, when he said "his heart was still willing but his legs were not." Pat moved to coaching, taking the helm of the first university team at the University of Dayton in 1958.

I've talked before about the rich soccer history that exists in the Dayton Ohio area. The club has been tremendously influential to the local soccer scene. Following up quickly on Edelweiss, I was saddened to learn that the club's property was sold to Dayton Metro Parks with a ten year lease back. I would hate to see the club fade from existence. Unfortunately, the influence it has had not only locally but nationally is just not well known outside the surviving members of the club. I belong to the generation that immediately followed them - and most directly benefited. I'm guessing many members of the generations that followed me do not appreciate the influence of the members of the club.

Someone really needs to author book about the #Edelweiss club in Englewood. There are members of the club who continue to play on the local over 50 team. Pat Smith and his generation are now in their 80's and won't be with us much longer.