NYC Swiss Soccer Club
By Georges Meier

When I came to the U.S. in 1968 I was delighted to find out from my boss, Marcel Pichonnat, that a group of Swiss played soccer every Tuesday evening. This club was started in the Fall of 1962. We did play first at the JULIA RICHMAN H.S. on 38th and 3rd Avenue and later in a gym on 99th Street on the East Side bordering Harlem.

At that time, being only 22, I was surprised that some “OLD GUYS” were still playing. They were in their early 40s(today, since some of us are older rather more mature, it seems to be quite normal…) The players at the time were besides Marcel Pichonnat, Peter Hugentobler (who unfortuantly recently passed away), Markus Schaer, Emil Biemann, Bill Moser, Erich Aeschlima, Mario Armuzzi, and still participating today, Peter Jordi.

We listed with the gym as “ballplayers” as at that time soccer was not very popular and the custodian was afraid we would damage too many lights if we played soccer (we did break a few ceiling lights then, actually). Ruedi Leu was the “person in charge” and collected every evening $2 from each player, which paid for the gym. Before that it was Peter Jordi who had to chase every player every night for $1 per evening. He had a red CARAN’DACHE BOX where he kept the money.

After the game, we all went to the SWISS INN for dinner. The above named “mature players” usually had a VERMOUTH CASSIS, WINE, AND A VERY NICE MEAL. As “rookies” being on a strict budget, we had one beer and the “WURSTSALAT APPETIZER” $ 1.75 WITH PLENTY OF "free" BREAD.

As time progressed, a few other younger players joined--Ernest Stoecklin, Tony Schaub, etc. just to name a few. Unfortunately most younger ones would go back to Switzerland after 1 or 2 years. Rene Loser and Gody Haab joined and made a great contribution to the ‘AFTER-DINNER ACTIVITIES'... at that time, our financial conditions had improved and we would sometimes stay out quite late. However, no matter how late we got home, we were always at work on time the following day.

Sadly Gody passed away at a very young age due to a lengthy illness. In the mid-70s, Kurt Fischer and Herbie Bodenmann joined as well as TINO MAX ANTOINE RUEFENACHT. By that time, other than Peter Jordi and I, all the players from 1968 no longer participated for various reasons. TINO RUEFENACHT felt we should be better organized and all of a sudden we had a President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Willy Laederach and Max Oehler joined, TINO BECAME PRESIDENT FOR LIFE (after he campaigned hard for the office of President). Willy was secretary for many years and even kept scores for many seasons, besides that he also had excellent “eyes” and could see from any place in the gym if there was a foul or the ball had crossed the goal line.

Since he had to give up soccer there are a few other players who think that they see as well (even without their glasses). Under Tino’s leadership the SWISS SOCCER CLUB, as we are now called, has an impressive list of passive members who support the team and it is always a pleasure seeing them at the annual CHRISTMAS PARTY. It is rewarding to see that lately a few young Swiss have joined the club, and let’s hope that the CLUB CONTINUES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.