Steve Pecher

Steve Pecher

Personal information
Date of birth	(1956-02-13)February 13, 1956
Place of birth	St. Louis, Missouri,United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1975–1976	Florissant Valley Community College
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1976–1980	Dallas Tornado	139	(7)
1979–1984	St. Louis Steamers(indoor)	152	(39)
1984–1985	Kansas City Comets(indoor)	54	(6)
1985–1987	St. Louis Steamers(indoor)	58	(14)
1987–1988	Los Angeles Lazers(indoor)	45	(3)
International career
1976–1980	United States	17	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Steve Pecher(bornSt. Louis, Missouri) is an American formersoccerdefenderwho is currently the Missouri Girls Director of St Louis Scott Gallagher.

Youth and college

Pecher began playing soccer with the youth club, Florissant Cougars, then with his high school team at Normandy High School in St. Louis. He was part of the team which took the Missouri state championship in 1974, his senior year. He was also All State both his junior and senior years. The next year attendedFlorissant Valley Community Collegewhere he played on the national junior college championship team in 1975. He was a junior college All American both years at Florissant.

Professional

In 1976, theDallas Tornadoof theNorth American Soccer League(NASL) signed Pecher. That season he was named the 1976 NASL Rookie of the Year. He remained with the club through the 1980 season. By 1980, Pecher had begun a transition to indoor soccer when he joined theSt. Louis SteamersofMajor Indoor Soccer League(MISL) for the 1979–1980 season. He was a 1980 MISL All Star with the Steamers. He remained with the Steamers through the 1983–1984 season. Pecher became a free agent in August 1984 and on September 11, 1984, he signed with theKansas City Comets.He began the 1985–1986 season in Kansas City, but the Comets traded him to the Steamers forStuart Leein December 1985.He would remain with the Steamers until they traded him andDon Eberton February 20, 1987, to theLos Angeles Lazersin exchange forPoli GarciaandJim Kavanaugh.He retired at the end of the 1987–1988 season.

National team

Pecher earned 17capswith theU.S. national teamfrom 1976 to 1980. He made his first appearance with the national team in a September 24, 1976, 1–1 tie withCanadainVancouverwhere he received a red card. He received another red card in 0–3 loss to Canada inPort-au-Princeon December 22, 1976.He played his last game with the U.S. national team in a November 9, 1980 1–5 loss toMexicoinMexico Cityand was U.S. captain from 1978 to 1980.

Post-playing career

After retiring from playing, Pecher joined Marriott, where he became the director of retail sales. In September 2002, he was hired as the director of the former Busch Soccer Club then St. Louis Soccer Club and now the St. Louis Scott Gallagher. He had spent time with the team as a coach and continues to coach the younger girls teams.

External links

• Interview with Pecher
• Article on Pecher’s MISL penalty minutes problems
• NASL/MISL stats