Tommy Maurer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Maurer | ||
| Date of birth | January 7, 1960 | ||
| Place of birth | Frankfurt, West Germany | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1975-1977 | Pennsbury High School | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978-1979 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 0 | (0) |
| 1979-1980 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor) | 8 | (1) |
| 1981 | San Diego Sockers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Tommy Maurer (born January 7, 1960) is a former North American Soccer League midfielder.
Youth
In 1970 his family moved to U.S. from West Germany, but with no local youth soccer leagues available Maurer started his while in the 5th grade.[1] He was a high school All-American, and the top high school player in Pennsylvania while at Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.[2] Between his junior and senior years of high school he joined 14 other Bucks County, Pennsylvania youth players on tour in France and West Germany in 1977.[3]
Professional
In 1978, the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League selected Maurer in the third round of the NASL draft, a few picks after future teammates Perry Van der Beck and Sandje Ivanchukov. They were among the first Americans ever drafted out of high school.[1][4] Rowdies head coach Gordon Jago sent him to train with the German 2nd Division side, Rot-Weiss Essen, as well as with English clubs Crystal Palace, Millwell and Dullwhich Hamlet.[5] Unlike Van der Beck and Ivanchukov, Maurer saw very limited action in Tampa, appearing only in indoor matches and club friendlies between 1978 and 1980.
After being waived by the Rowdies[6] he headed to Southern California and tried to catch on first with the California Surf,[7] and then the San Diego Sockers,[8][9] even signing with the latter, but he never featured in a regular-season match outdoors for either club.