The Man Who Saved American Soccer | Dublin News

For decades, Joe Barriskill single-handedly kept American soccer alive from a broom closet, juggling every role—president, treasurer, player—while working a day job and paying for teams’ travel out of his own pocket. A former Irish cycling champ who landed in New York in 1910, he turned a linen company’s office into a soccer HQ, even getting his wife to help as an unpaid secretary. Known for his iron-fisted leadership and relentless hustle, he begged for funds, borrowed money that was never repaid, and kept the federation solvent by ensuring gate receipts flowed. Despite his rough edges, he was indispensable during soccer’s darkest era in America. Even after retiring, he stayed involved, working at Yankee Stadium, and until his death at 92, he was still sending out Christmas cards—proof of a man who gave everything, never asking for anything back. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bf77a75a48e561d2