4070 Butler Pike, Suite 100, Plymouth Meeting PA 19462
610-940-5755 phn 610-238-9933 fax eastpasoccer@gmail.com
Hall of Fame 2017
Jeffrey DeLuca
Jeff DeLuca has been involved in soccer as a coach, referee, assessor, instructor and administrator for over 30 years. Using the coaching skills he learned as a basketball coach at Taylor Business College, he became a parent soccer coach at Simpson AA for the U-6 in-house league. Intrigued by the nuances of the game, he began to study tactics and became immersed in soccer as a sport. Wanting to improve his skills, he took the EPYSA youth coaching course and progressed to coaching girl’s travel teams at Simpson.
In 1989, feeling somewhat inadequate in his knowledge of the Laws of the Game, he enrolled in a referee class, just to learn. After completing the course, he was bitten by the refereeing bug and began a career that he thoroughly enjoyed. During his refereeing career Jeff officiated over 2500 matches at all levels including youth, high school, and adult soccer. In addition to his refereeing, he was a State level instructor and assessor for over 20 years.
As a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the EPSA soccer referees he took an interest in administration and over the years held varying offices including secretary and vice-president, and was president for two years. In 1996 he joined the EPSA Referee Committee serving as Youth Referee Administrator (1996-2000) and State Director of Referee Instruction (2000-2012). During his term as Director of Instruction Jeff was instrumental in developing a new referee assignor course and an assignor recertification course. In addition, he attended club meetings throughout Eastern Pennsylvania to discuss rules and situations with the coaches and administrators present. He also developed a presentation on coach-referee relationship which he presented at the Youth Workshop and at several local club coaches’ meetings.
He was a strong advocate of improving soccer refereeing in Eastern Pennsylvania. In conjunction with other members of the Referee Committee he developed and ran annual recertification clinics throughout the state which gave the referees exposure to National instructors and FIFA referees and, most importantly, consistent instruction.
Jeff continued his administrative functions as the EPSA Referee Committee Grievance chair as well as serving on the EPSA Arbitration Committee. In 2015 he was elected treasurer of EPSA and served for two years.
Jeff currently resides in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia with his wife Catherine of almost 50 years and their three dogs. He has three children and three grandchildren with whom he enjoys spending his time.
Werner Fricker, Jr.
Werner has been passionate about soccer his entire life. He played for the United German Hungarian Youth teams from 1969 through 1978, and played for the United German Hungarian Major-Reserve Team until 1984. Werner became a USSF National C License Coach in 1983, and coached youth soccer for a brief time at Hatboro Horsham Soccer Club as well as for the United German Hungarians.
He served as Manager for the United German Hungarian Men’s Major Team for over 10 years. During that time the UGH Major team became one of the most successful teams in Eastern Pennsylvania and Region One, winning the championship of the United Soccer League (1990, 1992, 1993) and of the Inter-County Soccer League (1995, 1996, 1997). Werner was manager when the German Hungarians won the 1999 USASA Open Cup and were runners-up in the USASA Amateur Cup. The team was also finalist in the 1993 US Open Cup.
Administratively, Werner served as President of the United German Hungarian Club from 1999 to 2004 and, after serving as recording secretary and general secretary of the United Soccer League, he was elected first Vice-President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association and became its President in 1990 serving for the next twelve years.
Throughout the years, Werner has performed a variety of responsibilities for the U.S. Soccer Federation such as Chairman of National Competitions Committee, as well serving on the US Open Cup Committee, the Werner Fricker Builder Award Task Force, and the Amateur Advisory Board to the US Open Cup. He served as Adult Council Commissioner of the USSF National Board of Directors from 2001 - 2007 and since 2015 has served on the US Adult Soccer Association National Board of Directors. He Chairs the USASA National Cups Committee where he oversees competitions among the best amateur adult teams in the nation. He has served on the Regional Appeals Board, Regional Cups Committee, National Leagues Committee, Club Concept Committee, Competitions Committee, and the Hall of Fame Committee. Werner Co-Chaired the successful Centennial Celebration of the Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association, celebrating and documenting 100 years of Soccer in Eastern PA.
In addition to his National involvement, Werner currently serves as a Trustee of the United Soccer League of PA, and on the EPSA Executive Committee as Past President. He is also chairman of the Board of Governors of the United German Hungarians and President of the German American Steuben Parade Association of Philadelphia and Vicinity. He is a member of the SEPA Hall of Fame, and the USASA Hall of Fame. In 2016 he was presented with the Livio D’Arpino Award by his colleagues in USASA Region One.
Werner is a Master Carpenter and resides in Horsham, PA with his wife Lisa. They have three children, Werner III, Michael, and Karina.
Robert Ong
Robert On began his soccer officiating career in 1968 in Malaysia, and became a National Referee in 1985. While in his home country he coached the National League of Malaysia from 1987- 1989.
In 1989 Robert came to the United States and, due to his experience, officiated numerous Professional, Amateur and International matches, both in the United States and abroad.
He received his license as a State Instructor in 1990 and in 1995 became a National Assessor. He joined the Eastern Pennsylvania SA Referee Committee in 1994 as State Director of Assessment where he continues today helping assess and promote referees to higher levels.
Robert currently sits on the Region One Referee Committee and the National Youth Referee Advisory Board. He was inducted into the DELCO Soccer Hall of Fame in 1998 and received the USASA Region One Lifetime Achievement award and Service to the Referee Program award in 2016. In addition, he was honored with the Outstanding Dedication and Service Award from Region One USYSA in 2016.
Robert has been married for 47 years to his lovely wife Janetta. They have two sons and 4 wonderful grandchildren who keep them busy.
Paul Stilley
Paul Stilley’s passion for soccer began at age 11 when he played for the Kensington Hearts and Midgets in the late 1940’s and then for Midway, which later became Little Club. Stilley played for both Little Club and Lighthouse United where, in 1955 as goalkeeper, they reached the US Regional finals. Unfortunately a knee injury at age 30 ended his playing career.
Paul continued his passion for soccer for 40 years, coaching men and women at the league and college levels. From 1962 through the 1980’s he coached at Little Club, building a Men’s team that in 1972 won the 1st Division and finished second in the Major Division.
In the late 1970’s Stilley began coaching the two youngest of his six daughters, twins Cathy and Chrissy, who played for Fox Roc, and coached women’s soccer for nearly 20 years, including Fox Chase Juniors, Little Club Senior’s and Manor College. At Manor College in Jenkintown, Paul was responsible for the start- up of the Women’s Soccer program, where he coached for 10 years, taking his team to the championships nine of those 10 years, and winning three championships. When he retired, Manor presented him with a special trophy for his many years of dedication and hard work to the Women’s Soccer Program.
Paul once said his biggest accomplishment was having coached hundreds of men and women who then went on to coach soccer at clubs, high schools and colleges across the Philadelphia area. Dozens of his former players also went on to play professional soccer.
In the early 1970’s Stilley was instrumental in introducing indoor soccer to the Philadelphia area, by convincing Schmidt’s Brewery to sponsor the Schmidt’s Indoor Classic Tournament, which was a huge success, drawing soccer players and fans from all across the area. He helped to organize several All-Star games for the benefit of the U.S. Olympics and the St. Agnes Burn Center, which where played before the Philadelphia Fever indoor games
Paul Stilley was the recipient of many awards from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, including Years of Dedicated Service, induction into their Hall of Fame, Women’s Coach of the Year, and the Chick Fallon Award for “Invaluable Services Rendered.”
As an administrator, Paul held many positions with the United Soccer League over many decades, including Publicity Chair, Games Commissioner, first and third Vice-Presidents and was President of the League at the time of his passing in 2006.
Little Club – Paul’s Dream
Paul’s name is synonymous with Little Club Soccer, where he served as President for many years.
He spear headed an effort, where a group of Little Club supporters contributed funds, to expand Little Club. This later became a scholarship program, which awarded over $30,000 in scholarships to deserving High School players – male and female – and local soccer clubs. Upon his death in 2006 the program was renamed the Paul Stilley Memorial Award. The Stilley family plans to donate the remaining funds in this program to two Philadelphia Soccer organizations in the hope they will be naming fields after Paul/Little Club – something that was always his dream.