NICK WIENER
They’ve been playing soccer in the Trenton area since the beginning of the 20th century.
It’s a long and rich tradition, one that has produced countless championship teams, and dozens of dedicated individuals who have enhanced the growth of the sport.
No man in the last 40 years has done more to promote soccer that Nick Wiener.
In Central Jersey his name is synonymous with soccer. Since the day he arrived in Mercer County from his native Austria, Nick has been an active member of the soccer community at all levels.
A player, coach, league director, field coordinator and team sponsor, Nick Wiener has filled a myriad of roles in his lifelong career in soccer.
After learning the game as a youth player in his native Austria, Nick began his American soccer career as an all-star player on championship teams at Trenton High School.
Then it was on to the Elizabeth Sports Club for another successful season before he returned to the Trenton area to star for the Liederkranz SC, the German American Kickers and the VE Erzgebirge in the United League of Pennsylvania.
During his 40 years on the Trenton soccer scene, Nick coached youth teams at various age levels then became commissioner of the state’s premier junior league, the Hamilton Junior League, which during its heyday sent eight players on to the North American Soccer League, and three teams to the finals of the McGuire National Junior Cup.
A 1996 inductee to the Mercer County Soccer Hall of Fame, Nick had been a star center halfback during his days in the Capital City League in Trenton.
In 1964, he took charge of the German American Kickers youth programs, which developed countless collegiate stars and two dozen high school all staters.
He enjoyed his greatest succeed as a coach in the amateur ranks with the German American Kickers of Trenton, which played in the Garden State League and featured on its roster his sons Nick Jr. and John.
Nick Wiener’s Trenton GAK teams won the New Jersey State Cup in 1980-87-92 and also won the New Jersey Soccer Association’s Champions Cup in 1982-83-85-89.
Hi tireless work for the GAK soccer program included countless hours maintaining the excellent playing facility at the German American Club in fields in Hamilton Township.
Earlier this year Nick was honored by the GAK, which names its field in Yardville section of Mercer County in his honor.
