Peter Bridgwater, a true pioneer and giant in the San Jose soccer community, died Tuesday night after a 12-year bout with cancer. He was 70.
The original president of the San Jose Clash, Bridgwater was involved with professional soccer in San Jose since 1984, when he was named general manager of the original San Jose Earthquakes of the North American Soccer League. Bridgwater later bought the Earthquakes franchise, and then after the NASL ceased operations in 1985, he founded the Western Soccer League, forerunner to the American Professional Soccer League -- later known as the A-League (and now USL First Division).
"Peter was a huge influence in every part of the game in this community," said Johnny Moore, who served as general manager with both the NASL and MLS versions of the Earthquakes. "Whenever it looked like the game might fade in this area, Peter breathed new life into it."
As president of the San Jose Clash during the inaugural 1996 season of MLS, Bridgwater was honored as MLS Operations Executive of the Year. Under his guidance, the Clash hosted the first game in MLS history, played in front of a San Jose sports record-crowd of 31,683 fans at Spartan Stadium against D.C. United. Later that season, the Clash would break its own record, drawing 31,728 fans for a match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"I think it's absolutely fair to say that had it not been for Peter that the league would not have come to San Jose," said Moore. "He sold this area to the league."
During his tenure in the Bay Area, Bridgwater was involved in just about every significant soccer-related event over the past 20 years. In 1997, he helped lead a successful effort to bring the 1999 Women's World Cup to San Jose. Instrumental in bringing the 1994 World Cup to Stanford Stadium, Bridgwater also played a key role in getting Spartan Stadium widened to 70 yards, allowing the field to meet the requirements to host international games as set forth by FIFA.
"No one believed we'd be putting 80,000 people at Stanford Stadium for those World Cup games. That took a lot of vision, insight, and guts," said Moore. "I don't think anybody did a bigger job than he did in bringing those events to this area."
Born March 7, 1935 in Manchester, England, Bridgwater worked in law enforcement and banking in his native country. A part-time soccer player and coach, he began his involvement in professional soccer as an assist with the Plymouth Argyle club. Bridgwater left England in 1979 to become general manager of the Vancouver Whitecaps, one of the most successful franchises in NASL history. He moved to the Bay Area in 1984 and was a huge force in the soccer community at every level since that time.
Danny Kadah is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
