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Peter Bridgwater

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Peter Bridgwater (March 7, 1935 – June 21, 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

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  1. ^ a b c Chapin, Dwight (June 24, 2005). "Peter Bridgwater – longtime soccer booster (page 1)". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  2. ^ Stinson, Dan (October 5, 1982). "Bridgwater set for test as Waiters' replacement". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  3. ^ "Peter Bridgwater passes at 70". Soccer America. United Soccer Leagues. June 23, 2005. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  4. ^ Harvey, Randy (July 2, 1994). "World Cup Usa '94 / The First Round: Spotlight: The Big Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  5. ^ Chapin, Dwight (June 24, 2005). "Peter Bridgwater – longtime soccer booster (page 2)". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 25, 2011.