Hall of Fame congratulations to Paul Child

Hear here.

 

Congratulations, Paul; wherever you are.

 

Way to go, Paul! Congratulations!! What's up with ESPN using a picture of him in an Atlanta Chiefs' kit when the announced him as an inductee? That team was around for about 2 years at best. Same goes for the Memphis Rogues. He was a QUAKE!!!!!

I hold out hope in future ballots for Ilija Mitic. What about George Best? Is he already in?

...and where is Mike Hewitt these days? I always thought Mike was great--a lot like Joe Cannon.

 

Thanks for posting this, Goodsie. I was gonna post it when they made the announcement but I'm just too damned lazy.

Hey, what would y'all think of a Quakes "Wall of Honor" or some such that would honor the original Quakes as well as making a place for our retired #3? I'm sure there would be something we could do on press level (perhaps covering the Spartan football honorees during soccer games?).

 

Nope. But he meets the criteria (retired <= 25 yrs., and played at least 5 yrs. in a US first division league AND made the all-league team...he did make NASL all-stars, right?).

We retired Callaway's number? Wow. Oh, that other number 3. With the golden curly locks. Never mind.

Don't forget our other Hall of Famer, Johnny Moore.

All that said, I can't believe the HOF web site hasn't been updated to at least include a press release listing the new inductees. Must be taking a long weekend...

 

YES! My boyhood hero is in the Hall-of-Fame...oh, jeez...that means I've gotten older!

 

And he never forgot about his fans in SJ.

One year in the "dark ages" we packed up a bunch of folks for a soccer/hockey weekend in LA -- we took in a LA Lazers/Pittsburgh Spirit MISL matchup at The Forum, sandwiched between a couple LA Kings games.

After the Lazers/Spirit match we hung out near the entrance to the Forum Club -- many of us had dusted off our old Quakes kit to support Paulie. At first he was shocked to see it -- like he wasn't expecting it -- but he stopped and we chatted for quite a while.

Same as he ever was...and probably ever will be.

I hope the current club is able to do something to honor him this season.

 

I think Paul probably associates himself with Pittsburgh more than any other town he was employed in:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_133634.html

 

True...didn't he and his family settle there after his playing days?

 

Yup. The article mentions that he has a job as a manager at a mill and lumber company. His son Edward played for him when Paul was assistant coach with the Riverhounds; I believe that Edward also played for his dad when Paul coached the Detroit Neon in an indoor soccer league.

 

Congratulations Paul!!!!

My memories of Paul was of a player who always "left it on the field". Similar to TT for NE, he wasn't the most polished player, but he hustled for 90+ minutes and seemed to have a knack for putting the ball in the back of the net. Loved the hair...

Thanks for the great memories Paul. You will always be a Quake!

I also hope Ilija Mitic makes it. George Best was an incredible player and may have been the best player (I.e. team sucked) that I watched in the NASL (includes Pele, Eusubio, Cruyf, Muller, etc.).

 

Honoring NASL Quake Paul Child

On Saturday October 25th the United States Soccer Hall of Fame will host a weekend-long celebration of the former NASL (North American Soccer League)... (http://www.soccerhall.org/nasl)

The ceremonies will include the induction of several former NASL players and mangement people who helped shape the league for many years until the league's demise in 1984.

Former NASL Earthquake great Paul Child will be one of the former players inducted and is very deserving of the honor! Picture: http://www.soccerhall.org/famers/NASL/BIGGERIMAGES/Paul Child/Portrait.jpg

Child was larger than life in San Jose from 1974 to 1979 prior being sold to the Memphis Rogues. He and his former teammates back in the day including Johnny Moore (Also a Hall of Famer) worked their tails off promoting soccer in the bay area and paved the way for the sport to grow!!! Back then, Spartan Stadium was always full and it wasn't because they played great soccer, it was because all 18,000 + fans felt as though they knew each player! If you were there back then, you cannot deny this fact! That is how tirelessly players like Moore and Child worked in the community!

Please take a moment if you remember Child and reply to this posting with a memory either on or off the field of Paul Child. I will be attending the ceremonies and will make sure that your remarks get to Paul that weekend! He is going into the Hall as an Earthquake and it would be great for all of you present and past day MLS Earthquake fans to pay tribute to him!

Best of luck to the MLS Earthquakes the rest of the way this season!

Thanks!

 

I used to volunteer for the NASL Quakes.....I was a very good balloon blower upper(red/black/white). We would release them after the National Anthem. I was great with a helium bottle. We'd have them netted underneath where the players sit now and we would blow them up on the field while the players were warming up and I would stand and stare in awe while I couldn't believe I was that close to Paul Child. I never spoke to him because I didn't feel worthy(rightly so), but I worshipped him! Paul Rocks! Congrats!