Walt Manning '54

Coming from Kensington, Walter Manning started his soccer career like so many Philadelphia soccer greats, at Lighthouse Boys Club at the age of 10. From 2^nd & Reece Sts, Manning attended St Veronica’s parish before attending North Catholic and was an outstanding soccer player under Hall of Fame Coach Father Daniel McLernan. As a junior he played goalkeeper on a North team that tied Germantown High for the City Title & a share of the “Terry Cup” in 1952. He was named Philadelphia High School MVP in his senior season at North and played in the All-Scholastic All-star game in New York that year where he won the “Nuebling Award” as MVP of that game as well. He also played on the “Lighthouse Blue” U-19 Club team with Tom Fleck, Don Reiter and Jerry Mayall which won the PA State Cup Championship. Walt graduated North in 1954.

Manning went on to an outstanding College Career at Temple University where he played Goalkeeper under the legendary Coach Pete Leaness. Leaness called Manning “the finest goaltender I have ever seen play the game.” At Temple he was named as an alternate on the 1956 US Olympic team. He was also named a Regional All-American in his Junior and Senior years. Manning graduated from Temple with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 1958. He would go on to earn a Master degree in English at Villanova (1960) and a Doctorate degree from Temple U. in 1964. He was also an Assistant Coach at St Joseph’s University under Coach Jack Dunn during the 1960s.

What is most noteworthy about Walt Manning’s soccer career is that one year removed from playing Goalkeeper at Temple in 1958; he then switched positions and played forward as a pro. As the striker for Pro Club teams including The Uhrik Truckers (where he was named all-pro), The Ukrainian Nationals, Newark Ukrainians, San Francisco Greeks and United German Hungarians, Manning scored over 500 goals during in his long career.

After his playing days and while teaching English Literature at Montgomery County Community College, Walt Manning then went on to a 22 year career as the Head soccer coach at Ursinus College (1972 – 1993). He took over an Ursinus program that had just one winning season in the previous 50 years and turned the team into a title contender. Ursinus won 5 Southern Regional D-III Championships and two East Coast Championships during the 80s. In 1980 Manning was named “Coach of the Year” and was selected to coach the first Suburban College Soccer All-Star team against the mighty Phila Soccer 7 All-Stars. To the surprise of many Manning’s D-III squad won the match.

While living in Collegeville PA, Walt Manning also helped develop the “Valley Soccer Association” in Perkiomen Valley PA in 1977. Through his hard work recruiting coaches, referees and children to the game of soccer the League now has over 2,000 local youths participating.

More recently Walt has retired to Madeira Beach, Florida where he wrote a novel called “The Cup”. It is a fictional novel about a young player’s struggles to compete in the World Cup.

For all his contributions to the game of soccer Walter J Manning was inducted into the SE Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.

Email: w.manning20@verizon.net