1986

On October 26, 1986, Green White celebrated their 30th anniversary at the Schwaben Center in Buffalo Grove. It was a night to remember the club's glorious past, to honor those who were contributing to the club in 1986, and to celebrate a bright future. (Photo: Board Members Frank Stadler, Franz Fernbach, Horst Melcher, Fritz Becker, Stefan Zimmer, and Hans Metzinger)

The awards ceremony began with recognition of board members who had served for more than twenty five years, club founders Fritz Becker, Frank Stadler, Horst Melcher, Adam Harjung, Eckhard Kaempfer, and Henry Wittje.

Board members Gus Bender, Walter Melcher, and Steve Zimmer were also given awards in recognition of meritorious service, Hans Metzinger Sr. was honored for being the longest tenured president in Green White history, and Mr. Everett Weaver and the Mount Prospect Park District were given awards for promoting the sport of soccer.

Miss Green White 1986 Renee Kilian was recognized as well.

Then it was time to honor the players. Frank Speth and Hans Metzinger Jr. were recognized for their contributions to the team, and Frank Schmaltz was named Green White's Player of the Year. The entire first team was on hand to applaud his performance. Among his First Team teammates in 1986 were Mike Andres, Mike Blaas, Marcus Laxgang, Robert and Richard Meschbach, the Arciniegas, and Rudi Mayer. Yes, Rudi Mayer was still playing on the First Team.

The program book listed the all-time leading scorers in Green White history as of 1986. At the top of the list were brothers Rudi Mayer (184 goals) and Hans Mayer (143) (photo), followed by brothers Adam Kaempf (138) & Georg Kaempf (124), A. Kelm (110), John Woolfe (101), Rudi Hrbacek (94), G. Winter (83), Stefan Zimmer (63), and P. Berger (63).

The players who had logged the most games played were Joe Laxgang (856), Stefan Zimmer (625), Rudi Mayer (611), Nick Willer (558), and John Woolfe (530).


The youth program

Green White had thirteen teams in 1986, and many of them were achieving quite a bit of success on the field. The U-19 team, led by coach Robert Mokran, won their division, and provided a pipeline of young players to the First Team, including Danny Vladic and Walter Mecher Jr. The U-19 Strikers team coached by Horst Melcher, was no ordinary B team. They featured players who would contribute for years to come, including Bernie Czekajlo, and Goalie Kurt Melcher. The U-16 team featured the likes of John Woolfe Jr., Peter Kaempfer, Brian Bischoff, and Tony Melcher.

In 1986, there were two U-14 teams led by coaches Hawkins and Stadler. The Hawkins-led team had a player named Cole Lanham who has a son (Max) playing for Green White today (the U-11 Cosmos), and the U-14 Strikers team featured current Green White board member Robert Stadler.

Green White also had a Ladies team coached by Klaus Kilian. The team was captained by Arlene Mayer (a former Miss Green White), and featured 1986's Miss Green White (Renee Kilian) and the previous Miss Green White Monika Zimmer.


Elsewhere in Soccer

The 1986 World Cup was held in Mexico. The four semi-finalists were West Germany, France, Belgium and Argentina. Argentina beat Belgium to reach the finals and West Germany beat France. That led to a very memorable World Cup Final in the oppressive Mexican heat. Argentina jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but West Germany stormed back to tie it, with goals from Karl Heinz Rumminigge and Rudy Voeller. With seven minutes left to go in the game, Diego Maradona fed his teammate Jorge Burruchaga with a perfect pass, and Argentina won the game 3-2. Maradona won the Golden Boot award as the best player.




In Pop Culture

*The number one song of the year was "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder & Elton John.

*The Academy Award for best picture was given to "Platoon"

*The top rated television show of 1986 was "The Cosby Show"


Elsewhere in 1985

~The Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX by crushing the New England Patriots 46-10.

~The Space Shuttle Challenger carrying teacher Krista McCaulife blew up in the sky killing everyone aboard.

~Microsoft held it's initial public offering of stock.

~The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occured in the Ukraine, killing thousands of people and costing billions of dollars.

~5 million people linked hands across the country for "Hands Across America" to raise money to fight hunger.

~The Iran-Contra Affair was revealed to the American public for the first time.


Coming next month: 1987.

As always, if you have any thing to add or correct in this month’s installment, please drop me a line at amishrick@yahoo.com. I consider this a group project, and a work in progress, so we can add and subtract until we get it all exactly correct. If you have photos you’d like to contribute, please do.