In 1971 I helped create Greek Star Soccer Club in New Brunswick, New Jersey together with John Pagiazitis of John's Corner Lunch in New Brunswick. The team played in the Second Division of the Italian-American Soccer League of New Jersey.
On September 10, 1971 the club was incorporated and the certificate was signed by me, Pagiazitis, Angelo Mitrou, Nick Sugleris and John Manolakis.
The practice sessions of the team were at Donaldson Park in Highland Park, New Jersey and the home games were played at Buccleuch Park in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The National Herald (Ethnikos Kyrix) Greek-American daily newspaper on the front page on August 26, 1971 presented a picture of the first team as well as information of its founding.
On August 29, 1971 the Greek-American daily newspaper Atlantis had an article about the beginning of Greek Star Soccer Club.
The first exhibition game played by the team was on August 8, 1971 at Recreation Park in New Brunswick, New Jersey when the local Hungarian-American Athletic Club beat Greek Star Soccer Club 10-1 with the only goal being scored by the Greeks from Athanasios Karanikas.
Greek Star Soccer Club's first official match in the Italian-American Soccer League of New Jersey was played on September 26, 1971 at Buccleuch Park against Bayone Hispano with a 3-2 victory by the Greek side thanks to two goals by George Euremidis and one by Steve Kafouros, all in the second half.
The first team in 1971 of Greek Star Soccer Club consisted of George Euremidis, Kostas Plias, Steve Kafouros, Nick Markakis, Mike Polentas, Kostas Sfantos, Evangelos Avramidis, John Barbagiannis, Kostas Manolakis, Odysseus Euremidis, Joseph Iskender, Ricardo Santa Cruz, Mike Xenakis, Paul Xenakis, Mike Kagiopoulos, Athanasios Karanikas, John Petrakis, George Zagalakis, Pavlos Kasapidis and George Papadakis. Coach of the team was John Brodman.
President of the club at the start was John Pagiazitis, I was general secretary, team manager was Evangelos Mitrou and board members were Dimitris Velmahos, Kostas Tsambis and Nick Sugleris. On June 9, 1972 Greek Star Soccer Club held their successful dance at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church community center in Piscataway, New Jersey to help raise funds for the team. Music was provided by George Kent and his Cosmopolitan Orchestra.
Greek Star Soccer Club finished its first season in the Second Division of the Italian-American Soccer League of New Jersey in third place with 22 points garnering nine wins, five losses and four deadlocks. First place was Hackensack Italia with 29 points.
When I left the U.S. for Greece in 1978 the team was still active and doing well.
