Joe Waters

Joseph "Joe" Waters (born 20 September 1953) is an Irish former professional footballer who played professionally in England and the United States. He lives in the United States where he coaches Tacoma Stars of PASL and youth soccer teams.

Player

Club

Waters grew up in Limerick, Ireland where he was an outstanding athlete with the Limerick Athletic Club.^[1] He played gaelic football with the Old Christians GAA Club and hurling with CBS Sexton Street. Waters began his soccer career with the Wembley Rovers. He also briefly played for Pike Rovers before returning to Wembley. In April 1969, Waters joined Leicester City F.C.^[2] In December 1973, he signed a professional contract with Leicester City, but had difficulty cracking the first team. However he has a place in Foxes folklore due to his two-goal debut in a FA Cup quarter final win against QPR at Loftus Road in 1974. In 1976, he went on loan to fourth division Grimsby Town. He had immediate success with the team which led Grimsby Town to raise the possibility of a transfer. The price of £10,000 too high for the team, so fans contributed £2,000.^[3] Waters had an extensive career, playing for them until 1984. He also scored five goals in twenty FA Cup games for the Mariners. In 1984, Waters moved to the United States and joined the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League. The move brought a change of position to defender and a rejuvenation of his career. In 1987, he led the Stars to the MISL finals for the first time in the team's history. He retired in 1992.

International

Waters played for the Republic of Ireland U15 and U-18 teams. On 13 October 1976, he made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland national football team in a friendly match against Turkey in Ankara.^[4] He scored the equaliser ten minutes from time in the 3-3 draw. His other full international cap came three years later when he replaced Gerry Daly as a second half substitute in a 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland on 21 November 1979 in Belfast.

Coach

During his last few seasons with the Tacoma Stars, Waters served as an assistant coach. In 1992, he became the head coach of the Bellarmine Preparatory School boys' soccer team. He took the team to the 2004 and 2008 state championships.^[5] In 1994, Gig Harbor High School hired him to coach their girls' soccer team. In 1998, Waters was hired as heach coach of the Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer team.^[6] Over his four seasons as head coach, he compiled a 25-39-6 record.^[7] In 2003, he became the Bellarmine Prep School girls' soccer coach, in addition to his duties with the boys' team, taking the girls to the 2004 state championship.^[8] On 12 September 2012, Waters was hired as head coach of the Tacoma Stars of the Professional Arena Soccer League.^[9][10]

External links

• Tributes from Grimsby website at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 November 2007)
• Article from Grimsby Town Supporters Trust
• England career stats
• Tacoma Stars: Joe Waters
• Joe Waters in 'Soccer Players' file at Limerick City Library, Ireland

References