Jim Leeker

Jim Leeker (born St. Louis, Missouri) is a former U.S. soccer player. He was the 1970 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year and went on to play a total of three seasons in the league.

Jim Leeker
Personal information
Date of birth (1947-05-10) May 10, 1947
Place of birth St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
1966–1969 St. Louis University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1969 St. Louis Kutis S.C.
1970–1972 St. Louis Stars 46 (8)
1971 St. Louis Stars (indoor) 2 (1)
1972– St. Louis Kutis S.C.
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

In 1965, Leeker joined St. Louis Kutis S.C. He then went on to attend St. Louis University where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1966 to 1969. In 1969, Leeker and his team mates won the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. In 1970, Leeker signed with the St. Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League (NASL). That year, he played in twenty-two games and scored five goals as he was named the NASL Rookie of the Year.[1] On March 19, 1971 Leeker scored the first goal in NASL indoor history in the eighth minute of the opening match of the NASL's "Hoc-Soc" Tournament played at the St. Louis Arena.[2] He continued to play for the Stars until 1972 when he left the NASL. After leaving the Stars, Leeker rejoined St. Louis Kutis where he was named the 1972 Khoury Professional Player of the Year.

Leeker was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1998.[3]

References
  1. "The Year in American Soccer - 1970". Archived from the original on 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  2. Flachsbart, Harold (March 20, 1971). "Fans Get A Kick Out Of Hoc-Soc". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 6. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  3. St. Louis Soccer HOF: Hall of Fame Members (A-M)



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