FOSTER PERRY
Born in Pennsylvania, raised in New Jersey, and now living in Florida, Foster Perry has indeed made his mark on soccer in three different states in the United States. And hasn’t stopped yet.
Currently serving as a treasurer of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Amateur Division, Foster Perry has filled a variety of positions in the soccer community at the state, regional and national level throughout his long career in the sport.
A former high school player before serving in World War II, Foster returned to New Jersey after military service to play in the German American League, which he led in scoring with 24 goals in the 1946-47 season.
A knee injury ended his playing career, but not his career as a soccer coach and administrator. He coached the Paterson Dover Juniors in 1947 and became administrator and treasurer of the Paterson Dover pro team the following season.
From 1952-59 he managed the Paterson Independents, taking them from last place to league runner up honors and into the quarter-finals of the N.J. State Cup.
From 1959-62 he was delegate to the N.J. State League and became its president in 1961. He was elected president of the N.J. State Football Association as it was known then, filling a variety of positions from 1962-82. He served the state association as secretary, treasurer, registrar, games commissioner and referee assignor. He also scheduled all state and national cup matches and chaired the appeals committee.
From 1965-73 Foster was instrumental in the formation of Schaefer Indoor Soccer Tournament in Paterson as well as the formation of the Schaefer Soccer League in New Jersey, which was sponsored by the Schaefer Brewing Company.
Foster was elected treasurer of the U.S. Soccer Federation and filled that post under president James McGuire from 1971-82.
He was elected a life member of the USSF in 1982 and the following year became a member of the National Budget Committee, and the U.S. Amateur Budget Committee, two positions he held for 10 years.
From 1987 to the present he has served as chairman of the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association’s Budget Committee.
After his move to Florida he became active in soccer in the Sunshine State, serving as treasurer and league director from 1988-92. He has been a director of the Florida Amateur Soccer Association since 1988 and in ’95 became chairman of the state’s Soccer Hall of Fame.
He also served on the USASA committee that negotiated medical and liability insurance fro Amateur Division.
Foster Perry is the second member of this family inducted to the N.J. Soccer Association Hall of Fame, joining brother Walt who was a charter inductee last year.
