Charlie Robinson to Enter USASA Hall of Fame

Charlie Robinson, long-time Black Watch player, coach, Club officer and referee, has been elected to the US Amateur Soccer Association Hall of Fame. He will be inducted in a ceremony in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 20, 2006.

 

The USASA admits to the Hall of Fame administrators "who have served as officers of national, regional, or state organizations and, in their capacities, have rendered exceptional service to adult amateur soccer over an extended period of time."  That certainly applies to Charlie, although he could probably have made it into the Hall as a player, coach or referee as well.

Charlie's long years of service to Florida and US amateur soccer are incredible. He was among the founding fathers of organized soccer on the west coast of Florida in the mid 1970's, and he has been coaching, playing, refereeing and serving as an administrator up to the highest levels ever since.

Charlie’s soccer career began in the late 1970’s, when the Tampa Bay Rowdies were in their heyday. Charlie and his young soccer enthusiasts were among the huge crowds that flocked to the old Tampa Stadium to watch the Rowdies. They liked to hang around the stadium after games and play pick-up games in the grass parking lots. Sometimes friendly Rowdies like Rodney Marsh and Steve Wegerle would come out after games and teach their avid fans some fundamental soccer skills.

Charlie helped organize a few sandlot teams and start a new league.

 1977 Bay Headers. Charlie is in the back row, 5th from the left.

In 1979, Charlie became coach of the Bay Headers soccer team. Charlie helped organize a league, which was the forerunner of the Florida Suncoast Soccer League (www.fssl.com).

In 1983, Charlie reorganized the Bay Headers into a team named “Sunbelt”.

1983 Sunbelt Team. In 2006 Charlie (#3) and Doug Hughes (#16) are still playing for the Black Watch Division III and Over 40’s teams.

Charlie recognized that playing soccer is not just for men and youth. In organizing the Sunbelt coed team, Charlie provided an outlet for men and women to compete together in soccer at a recreational level.

1992 Sunbelt Coed Team. Charlie is #13; his wife, Jan, is #1, of course.

Black Watch Over 40's on the night of the lunar eclipse, October 27, 2004. Charlie is the first from the left in the back row.

Charlie’s accomplishments as a player and coach would not be complete without mentioning that his teams won the Florida state championship in over 30’s, over 40’s and over 50’s.

Charlie’s service to soccer as an administrator began in 1981, when he was elected league Vice President. In 1983, he became league President, in which capacity he served for 5 years. His prowess as an administrator was recognized at higher levels and Charlie was tapped to head up organizations at the state and regional level. In 1987, Charlie was elected Florida State President, a position he held for 6 years. In 1992 Charlie was elected Region III Deputy Director and in 1994, Region III Director. In 1996, Charlie advanced to the national level, serving as USASA Vice Chairman for 5 years.

Charlie served on several USASA committees, including the Rules Committee, the Appeals Committee and the Hall of Fame Committee. Items covered in these committees included revision of the rules to cover creation of the office of the USASA Vice Chairman, adoption and inclusion of the USISL league, adoption of Divisional insurance, and the creation of the USASA Hall of Fame.

This marks the second time that Charlie has been inducted into a soccer hall of fame. In 1998, Charlie was elected to the Florida Soccer Hall of Fame, along with Foster Perry.

Foster Perry and Charlie Robinson

The USASA Hall of Fame has categories for administrators, players, coaches and referees. His great contributions in all those areas underlines his dedication to serving the soccer community.

One area that is not yet a category for admission is volunteer work. Throughout his soccer career, and in addition to his other contributions, Charlie is usually the first in line to volunteer for whatever work needs to be done. At Black Watch this has included fund raising, field clean-up, weeding, landscaping, fence repair, building and repairing goals, resodding, marking the field…the list goes on and on. One might expect a former USASA Vice Chaiman to rest on his laurels, but not Charlie. If you come around Black Watch some evening, you are likely to find Charlie out there getting his hands dirty working on the fields.

Charlie lends a hand mending fences at Black Watch SC

How Charlie is able to balance his contributions as a soccer player coach, referee and adminstrator with his family and professional responsibilities is a marvel (Charlie’s day job is running his business, Hydraulic Professionals, in Ybor City). The term Renaissance Man comes to mind. Charlie’s resume is so versatile that he actually played the role of Renaissance Man for the benefit of Black Watch Soccer. He donned a period costume at the Medieval Festival in Tampa in March 2005, a fundraiser for Black Watch SC. The Club received funds for every hour that Black Watch volunteers spent parking cars, and manning booths in the medieval fair. In the photo below, Charlie and his wife, Jan, get ready to man the ice cream booth.

Charlie and his wife, Jan, get ready to work the ice cream booth at the Renaissance Festival, a Black Watch fundraiser in 2005.

His teammates, fellow administrators and friends in soccer are all grateful to Charlie Robinson for his dedicated efforts to promote soccer and we heartily congratulate him on his entry into the USASA Hall of Fame. Knowing Charlie, he will accept the honor proudly, thank everyone, and turn his attention to the next soccer task that needs to be done.

Frank Deak, October 5, 2006.