In 1947 a group of eleven mature men whose unshaken commitment to the sport of soccer/football formed the P.O.S.A. (Philadelphia Oldtimers Soccer Association).
Their first meeting took place in the basement of a home in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Many of these eleven were direct products of the early “Soccer” called the Lighthouse Boys/Men’s Club. The Boys/Men’s Club was physically located at two locations: Howard and Somerset Streets and Mascher and Lehigh Avenue in the heart of Kensington, Philadelphia. This area of the city took its name from the section in Great Britain where manufacturing of textiles flourished.
In the late 1800’s the textile, carpet and hosiery industry, with its factories and mills, had settled and grew in Kensington, Philadelphia. The NEW WORLD attracted immigrants/workers from England, Ireland and Scotland. Other European nationalities made an exodus from their native countries. This was especially true with a huge German influx that settled in and around Philadelphia. They founded rock-solid organizations and clubs that thrive today, notably: United German Hungarians, Vereinigung Erzebirge and the Phoenix Sport Club. It was their objective to improve the quality of life for themselves and their family, hence they came to America. The immigrants, in their leisure time, played their “national pastime.” They organized teams and leagues and developed interest in their “fond sport” in their American neighbors.
The Lighthouse Organization, with its many fields and indoor facility, afforded an excellent place for this sport to develop and grow. The P.O.S.A, the ethnic clubs, and the Lighthouse Boys Club, with its alumni, laid the cornerstone for the expansion of soccer into areas contiguous to Philadelphia. Job and family requirements dictated the move from city to suburbs. The alumni would form clubs, create intramural leagues, organize clinics and interest new neighbors and friends in the merits of this great sport.
For many years the P.O.S.A. would organize and sponsor high school all-star teams from the various leagues in the area, to play not only against each other, but also to compete against teams from other cities such as New York and Baltimore. The “Oldtimers” also made an impact by sponsoring many events and tournaments involving youth soccer clubs.
The organization has met faithfully each month from 1947 to 2008, to plan the year’s activities. The highlight of each year was always the annual banquet in the spring. At this banquet awards were given for players, coaches and clubs of the year along with special awards for service to the soccer community. But the high point of the evening was always the inductions into the Hall of Fame.
The organization would like to thank the hard-working and dedicated past presidents who provided the much needed leadership through the years. They were: Bill Hankins, Charles Dalton, Bob White, Chick Fallon, Bob Wimsey, Mel Cassidy, Ernie Knowles and Jimmy Kidd, Jr.
In 2008, the P.O.S.A., in an effort to meet the changing soccer environment, became the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame. New officers were chosen, Bob Kozlowski as President and Gordon Dunlop, Jr. as Vice-president, to not only continue the tradition and memory of the “Oldtimers”, but to chart a new course where the SEPA Soccer Hall of Fame becomes a driving force for the advancement of the game of soccer in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
