Raymond Beckman

Raymond “Ray” Beckman was a U.S. soccer player who was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team that year.

National and Olympic teams

In 1948, Beckman was selected for the U.S. soccer team at the Summer Olympics. He played in the 9-0 loss to Italy in the first round of the Olympics, which eliminated the U.S. from the tournament. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1948f-det.html Football Tournament 1948 Olympiad ] ]

Following the Olympics, the U.S. played two full internationals, an 11-0 loss to Norway, followed by a 5-0 loss to Northern Ireland on August 11, 1948. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det69.html USA - Details of International Matches 1885-1969 ] ]

Club career

At the time he was selected for the Olympic team, Beckman was playing for De Andries in the St. Louis Major League.

Coaching

Coached soccer at the John Burroughs School for fifty-one years. He retired in 2000.

Beckman’s contributions to soccer in St. Louis led to the establishment of a soccer tournament and stadium in his name. [ [http://prepsports.stltoday.com/ssi/prep/stories2007.nsf/soccer-girls/story/A2BF925E8F11F130862572D5001A2DDF?OpenDocument STLtoday - Prep Sports - Soccer - Girls ] ] He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1980. [ [http://eteamz.active.com/stlsoccerhalloffame/news/index.cfm?cat=466590 St. Louis Soccer HOF: Hall of Fame Members (A-M) ] ]

References