Sport: Soccer
Born: June 3, 1952
Town: Harrison, New Jersey
David D’Errico was born June 3, 1952 in Newark and grew up in Harrison, NJ. The youngest of four soccer-obsessed brothers, he found himself on defense in most family skirmishes and began to develop the skillset of an ace fullback. Dave and his friends often played on public tennis courts, removing the nets. They also picked the brains of the local old-timers, whose exploits in the 1920s and 1930s were legendary in Hudson County. Dave played for the local Kearny Scots team as a teenager and also starred for Harrison High School. In 1969, Dave was named the top player in New Jersey high-school soccer.
Dave played two years at Mitchell College in Connecticut before earning a scholarship to Hartwick College in Oneonta, a regional powerhouse coached by Al Miller, in 1972. He played two seasons for the Hawks and helped them qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 1973. Dave was recognized as All-American in all four college seasons, including his senior year, when he was a first-team All-American.
In 1974, Dave became the “original” Seattle Sounder as the club’s first draft pick in its NASL expansion season—as well as the #3 overall pick in the league draft. During his career with the Sounders, Dave played alongside English legends Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst. He loved his time in Seattle even though he claimed there was only one good Italian restaurant in the city.
From 1974 to 1977, Dave was also a member of the US national team, playing in 21 matches and serving as team captain during qualifying for the 1978 World Cup. Unfortunately, Team USA didn’t make the cut. They did beat Peruvian club Alianza in the final of the 1977 Soccer Festival of the Americas at Randalls Island—their first international tournament title in decades.
A serious leg injury suffered in practice ended Dave’s national team career and he became an NASL journeyman in the late-1970s. Around this time, he began playing indoor soccer and eventually became an MISL all-star for the New York Arrows, helping them win multiple championships. Dave later became the first Arrow to have his number retired. Dave concluded his soccer career as player-coach of the Charlotte Gold in the United Soccer League, a shot-lived outdoor league that started after the NASL folded.
Dave continued to work in soccer after his playing days as a coach and business consultant. He was one of the first people to produce a training and player-development web site. In 2020, Dave was named president of IAM360 Sports Travel.