As a youth player, amateur player, coach, league director and state administrator, Peter Smook as worn a lot of hats in his long and successful 50-year career in soccer.

Always has he had the growth of the game in New Jersey as his motivation to do the finest job possible. He has certainly succeeded in that area.

From the late 1970s through the 1980s when soccer enjoyed its greatest growth in the Garden State thanks to the exploits of the legendary Cosmos, Peter was helping direct the game’s success around the state.

New amateur leagues were being formed in those year, as well as a state women’s league and new yoth programs. It was at that time that Peter Smook knew amateur soccer was ready to reach its peak.

Peter joined the executive board of the N.J. Soccer Association, serving as treasurer from 1980-1985. During that peroid he also worked with various leagues around the state to develop the sport, and on various NJSA committees.

Peter’s career in soccer began in the 1960s as a player for the Newark Ukrainian Sitch Soccer Club’s junior program, where he played through 1966 and was on the squad that won the German American League title. He continued to play for the Newark Ukrainian reserve team for six seasons in the Schaefer Soccer League of N.J. And soon joined the executive board and team management of the Newark Ukrainian’s Premier Division team. He helped coordinate league championships, state cup finals, and international matches. He was the Ukrainian’s team delegate to the Schaefer League for several years, then in 1972 joined the league’s committee. He served as treasurer from 1972-1975, then president from 1975-1982. During that period, Peter Smook was a major force in helping maintain the Schaefer League of New Jersey as one of the premier men’s amateur leagues in Region I (East Coast), with over 40 teams playing in four divisions.