Gerry Blaney followed his brothers Eddie and Andy to Lighthouse Boys Club, North Catholic High & St Joseph’s University. He was later followed by younger brothers Joe and John Blaney to the same institutions for both education and soccer.
Gerry was a scrappy mid-fielder & defender who was part of the 1974 PCL Champion Falcon soccer team who defeated Monsignor Bonner 3-1 in the finals. They lost a tough Overtime match to neighborhood rivals Frankford in the City Title game 2-1. Gerry was named All-Catholic after his senior season.
At the Club level Gerry also played in the majors for Lighthouse and the Ukrainian Nationals, seeing National Cup competition.
At St Joseph’s U., Blaney was a 4 year player from 1975 to 1978 under Coaches Jack Dunn and NC Hall of famer Jack Ruggero. Blaney graduated in 1979 with a degree in Accounting. He eventually served as an assistant coach for the Hawks after graduating.
He is a founding member of the new Lighthouse Soccer Club when it relocated to the Far Northeast. He became a soccer coach and was also a Board member for 14 years. For all his efforts as a soccer player, coach and administrator Gerry Blaney was inducted into the SE PA Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014