Bill Looby
Encyclopedia
Bill Looby was an American soccer forward
who spent his entire career in the St. Louis Leagues. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
and earned eight caps, scoring six goals, with the United States men's national soccer team
between 1954 and 1959. He was a member of the 1959 Bronze medal Pan American Team scoring 6 goals. He is a member of the Saint Louis Soccer Hall of Fame and the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
. In the fall of 1949, he played for Dohle's of the St. Louis Major League. In January 1950, the team was briefly renamed Selby's before becoming Lenneman's as the team's sponsorship changed. In April 1950, Looby signed with Zenthoefer Furs
in the St. Louis Municipal League. In the fall of 1950, he joined the St. Louis Raiders which won the National Amateur Cup in 1952. After that victory, Tom Kutis, owner of the Kutis Funeral Home, began to sponsor the team. Looby played the next 2 seasons with the Grapette Soccer team,rejoining the team, now known as St. Louis Kutis
in 1954 where he played until 1970. In 1954, he led the Municipal League in scoring. Looby played in Kutis’ six consecutive National Amateur Cup championships (1956-1961). He also scored goals in both games of the 1957 U.S. Open Cup
championship over New York Hakoah. In 1958, the U.S. Soccer Football Association
used the Kutis team as the U.S. national team in two world cup qualifying games against Canada. Another memorable event for Looby as a Kutis team member took place on May 5, 1955 when Kutis defeated 1. FC Nuremberg, 3-2. The Nuremberg team featured four players from the 1954 West German World Cup championship team.
. He also played in several games in the US team's tour of the Orient leading up to the Olympic games in Australia. Looby earned eight caps with the senior national team, scoring six goals. He earned his first cap and scored his first goal for the US in a 1954 World Cup qualifier against Mexico
. He played his last game with the national team in 1959. In 1959, Looby was a member of the U.S. Pan American
team which took the bronze medal. He scored six goals in that tournament. Looby was also an alternate for the 1964 Olympic team.
Looby was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1984 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who spent his entire career in the St. Louis Leagues. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
and earned eight caps, scoring six goals, with the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
between 1954 and 1959. He was a member of the 1959 Bronze medal Pan American Team scoring 6 goals. He is a member of the Saint Louis Soccer Hall of Fame and the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Professional
Looby played forward both professionally and for the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. In the fall of 1949, he played for Dohle's of the St. Louis Major League. In January 1950, the team was briefly renamed Selby's before becoming Lenneman's as the team's sponsorship changed. In April 1950, Looby signed with Zenthoefer Furs
Zenthoefer Furs
Zenthoefer Furs were an amateur U.S. soccer club which played in St. Louis, Missouri during the late 1940s and early 1950s.They had played as a junior squad named Schumachers in the 1947-48 season where they fell short of national honors when they lost in the final round of the National Junior Cup...
in the St. Louis Municipal League. In the fall of 1950, he joined the St. Louis Raiders which won the National Amateur Cup in 1952. After that victory, Tom Kutis, owner of the Kutis Funeral Home, began to sponsor the team. Looby played the next 2 seasons with the Grapette Soccer team,rejoining the team, now known as St. Louis Kutis
St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the St. Louis Raiders, the club was known as Paul Schulte during the 1948-49 season and McMahon's during the 1949-50 season. In 1953, the team was renamed...
in 1954 where he played until 1970. In 1954, he led the Municipal League in scoring. Looby played in Kutis’ six consecutive National Amateur Cup championships (1956-1961). He also scored goals in both games of the 1957 U.S. Open Cup
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
championship over New York Hakoah. In 1958, the U.S. Soccer Football Association
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
used the Kutis team as the U.S. national team in two world cup qualifying games against Canada. Another memorable event for Looby as a Kutis team member took place on May 5, 1955 when Kutis defeated 1. FC Nuremberg, 3-2. The Nuremberg team featured four players from the 1954 West German World Cup championship team.
National team
In 1954 Looby became a member of the US National Team. In 1956, he played for the U.S. Olympic team at the 1956 Summer OlympicsFootball at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Olympic Games football tournament with just 11 competing nations suffered from cancellations. It was an undistinguished tournament that featured mis-matches and walkovers.-Background:...
. He also played in several games in the US team's tour of the Orient leading up to the Olympic games in Australia. Looby earned eight caps with the senior national team, scoring six goals. He earned his first cap and scored his first goal for the US in a 1954 World Cup qualifier against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. He played his last game with the national team in 1959. In 1959, Looby was a member of the U.S. Pan American
Football at the 1959 Pan American Games
The third edition of the football tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Chicago, Illinois, from August 21 to September 5, 1959. Seven teams did compete in a round-robin competition, with Argentina defending the title once again.-Matches:...
team which took the bronze medal. He scored six goals in that tournament. Looby was also an alternate for the 1964 Olympic team.
Looby was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1984 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001.