Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | December 22, 1936 | ||
Place of birth | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1955 | Brehenys Soccer Club | ||
1956–1962 | St. Louis Kutis | ||
1963 | German Sports Club | ||
International career | |||
1957 | United States | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Leroy Franks is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1957.
Franks graduated from C.B.C. High School in Clayton, Mo in 1955, where he was 1st team All-State three years. He also lettered in football, track and baseball. Franks also won five fights in 1954 Golden Gloves competition at 147 lbs.
He joined the Brehenys Soccer Team in 1956 and were Missouri Amateur Cup Finalist.
In 1957 Franks was a member of the Kutis Soccer Team, and played for them until 1963. During those years they dominated soccer in the United States, Winning five consecutive National Amateur Cups 1957-1961 and the Nation Challenge Cup in 1957
Franks was a St. Louis League All-Star in 1963.
In 1964 played for German Soccer Club.
Franks was inducted in St.Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1996
Franks was also a Missouri High School soccer referee for 15+ years
After Kutis won the 1957 National Cup, the US Football Association decided to call up the entire team to represent the U.S. in two World Cup qualification games. As a result, Franks earned one cap with the U.S. national team in a June 22, 1957 loss to Canada. [1]
He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1996. [2]
Harry Joseph Keough was an American soccer defender who played on the United States national team in their 1–0 upset of England at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He spent most of his club career in his native St. Louis, winning a national junior championship, two National Challenge Cup and seven National Amateur Cup titles. He coached the Saint Louis University men's soccer team to five NCAA Men's Soccer Championships. The Keough Award, named after him and his son Ty Keough, is presented each year to the outstanding St. Louis-based male and female professional or college soccer player.
Bill Looby was an American soccer forward who spent his entire career in the St. Louis Leagues. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer team at the 1956 Summer Olympics and earned eight caps, scoring six goals, with the United States men's national soccer team between 1954 and 1959. He was a member of the 1959 Bronze medal Pan American Team scoring 6 goals in those games as well. Looby is a member of the Saint Louis Soccer Hall of Fame and the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Ruben Michael Mendoza was an American soccer forward who was a dominant player in the St. Louis leagues during the 1950s and 1960s. He earned four caps with the U.S. national team and was a member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic, 1956 U.S. Olympic and 1960 U.S. Olympic teams.
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the "St. Louis Raiders", the club was known as "Paul Schulte" during the 1948–49 season, "McMahon's" during the 1949–50 season and "Zenthoefer's" in the 1950–51 season. In 1953, the team was renamed "St. Louis Kutis". The club gained its greatest prominence in the 1950s when it dominated both St. Louis and national soccer competitions. In 1958, the United States Soccer Federation used Kutis, with a few guest players, as the U.S. national team in two World Cup qualifying matches.
Gene Geimer is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least one season in Major Indoor Soccer League. Before entering the professional ranks, Geimer won a National Amateur Cup with St. Louis Kutis in 1971. He also earned six caps, scoring two goals, with the United States in 1972 and 1973.
Joseph S. Carenza Sr. was a U.S. soccer midfielder who played for numerous St. Louis teams in the 1940s and 1950s. He went on to coach the Washington University Bears men's soccer team from 1959 to 1964. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Dennis "Denny" Vaninger is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least two seasons in Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned three caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team. He also won the 1971 U.S. Amateur Cup with St. Louis Kutis. He continues to coach youth soccer in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
James W. Murphy is a former American soccer player who was a member of the St. Louis Kutis in the mid-1950s. He earned two caps, scoring one goal, with the United States national team in 1957.
Herman William Wecke was a former U.S. soccer defender. He earned six caps with the U.S. national team between 1954 and 1957. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer team at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
John Traina is a retired American soccer player who spent most of his career playing in the St. Louis, Missouri leagues from 1950 to 1960. Traina earned five caps with the U.S. national team. He was inducted into the St Louis Hall Of fame in 1983, together with his brother Peter.
Elwood “Butch” Cook was an American soccer forward who earned four caps with the U.S. national team in 1957. He was also a member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic soccer team.
Lloyd Monsen is a retired American soccer forward and baseball pitcher. Monsen spent eleven seasons in the American Soccer League as well as several years in the lower division German American Soccer League and National Soccer League of New York. He earned three caps with the U.S. national team between 1952 and 1957 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer teams at both the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Bob Matteson is a retired American soccer player who spent his career as a defender or defensive midfielder. He spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned two caps with the U.S. national team.
Russell “Russ” Murphy was a U.S. soccer player who spent time with St. Louis Kutis S.C. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1957.
Val Pelizzaro is a retired American soccer player who spent his entire fifteen-year club career with St. Louis Kutis S.C. and earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1957. He later served as an assistant coach with Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis. He is of Italian ancestry. Val died on September 28, 2019.
Robert "Bob" Rooney was a U.S. soccer center forward who spent his playing career in the St. Louis leagues. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1957.
Robert “Bob” Whitehead was a U.S. soccer player who spent time with St. Louis Kutis S.C. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1957.
William Eppy was a U.S. soccer midfielder who earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1957.
Tim Logush (born September 16, 1952 in Richmond Heights, Missouriho is a retired U.S. soccer forward. He spent one season in the North American Soccer League and five in the American Soccer League, and earned one cap with the U.S. national team.
Jim Bokern is a retired U.S. soccer forward who played three seasons in the North American Soccer League. He then went on to coach at the high school, collegiate and amateur levels. He won a high school state title, three NCAA Division I, a National Amateur Cup, a National Challenge Cup, and two USSF Over-30 Cup championship as a player as well as two high school state titles, one National Challenge Cup championship, two U.S. U-20 Cup titles and two U.S. O-30 Cup titles as a coach.