Peter Bridgwater

Not to be confused with Peter Bridgewater.

Peter Bridgwater (7 March 1935 – 21 June 2005) was the first president of the San Jose Clash—later known as the San Jose Earthquakes—Major League Soccer franchise.[1] Prior to arriving in the Bay Area, Bridgwater was an executive of the Vancouver Whitecaps franchise in the North American Soccer League.[2] He had been involved with professional soccer in San Jose since 1984, when he was named general manager of the NASL's San Jose Earthquakes. Bridgwater purchased the Earthquakes later,[1] but the NASL ceased operations in 1985. After the NASL went under, Bridgwater became a founder of the Western Soccer Alliance, which later became the USL First Division. Soccer America called him "one of the men most responsible for keeping professional outdoor soccer alive [in the U.S.] after the collapse of the North American Soccer League".[3] Bridgwater was also a venue director for the 1994 FIFA World Cup at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California.[4] Two years after the World Cup, the MLS was launched; Bridgwater served as the Clash's first president.[1] He remained the general manager through the 1998 season, and played a role in having San Jose host matches for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chapin, Dwight (2005-06-24). "Peter Bridgwater – longtime soccer booster (page 1)". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  2. ↑ Stinson, Dan (1982-10-05). "Bridgwater set for test as Waiters' replacement". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  3. ↑ "Peter Bridgwater passes at 70". Soccer America (United Soccer Leagues). 2005-06-23. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  4. ↑ Harvey, Randy (1994-07-02). "World Cup Usa '94 / The First Round: Spotlight: The Big Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  5. ↑ Chapin, Dwight (2005-06-24). "Peter Bridgwater – longtime soccer booster (page 2)". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-11-25.


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