Nicholas DiOrio
Encyclopedia
Nicholas DiOrio was a member of the U.S. national team
at the 1950 FIFA World Cup
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
area and graduated from South Fayette Township High School in 1939. During high school, he was best known as an outstanding basketball
player, reputedly scoring fifty points in one game. While he played basketball in school, he was an excellent soccer player for his club team, Avella Juniors. In 1939, his club won the U-19 national championship, known as the McGuire Cup.
when it lost the National Amateur Cup
to Fall River. However, the team took the cup in 1943 with a victory over Santa Maria S.C. In 1944, Morgan Strasser went to a third straight Amateur Cup final, but lost to S.C. Eintracht
. In 1946, DiOrio left Morgan Strasser, for the Pittsburgh Strasser of the newly established North American Soccer Football League. In 1947 he moved to the Chicago Vikings. After the collapse of the NAFSL, following the 1947 season, DiOrio rejoined Morgan Strasser S.C. In 1949, the club won the U.S. Open Cup. In 1950, he was with Pittsburgh Harmarville when the lost the National Amateur Cup final to Ponta Delgada S.C.
. In 1951, DiOrio lost another Amateur Cup final, his fourth. However, Harmarville followed those two loses with a U.S. Open Cup championships in 1952. At some point, he left Harmarville and signed with Pittsburgh Beadling
, with whom he finished his career in 1959. During his twenty years of playing soccer, DiOrio won the National Amateur Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and five Keystone Senior League championships.
, he never entered a game.
. He also worked for the county road maintenance department.
DiOrio was inducted, along with the rest of the 1950 U.S. World Cup team, into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1976. He is also a member of state and regional halls of fame.
He died of colon cancer on September 11, 2003.
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...
at the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
. He is a member of 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:...
.
Youth
DiOrio grew up in the Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
area and graduated from South Fayette Township High School in 1939. During high school, he was best known as an outstanding basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, reputedly scoring fifty points in one game. While he played basketball in school, he was an excellent soccer player for his club team, Avella Juniors. In 1939, his club won the U-19 national championship, known as the McGuire Cup.
Club career
While making a living as a factory worker, DiOrio devoted his spare time to his passion, playing soccer. In 1942, he was on the roster of Morgan StrasserMorgan Strasser
Morgan F.C. was an early twentieth century U.S. soccer team from Morgan Township, Pennsylvania. The team became known as Morgan Strasser after Peter Strasser purchased it.-History:...
when it lost the National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
to Fall River. However, the team took the cup in 1943 with a victory over Santa Maria S.C. In 1944, Morgan Strasser went to a third straight Amateur Cup final, but lost to S.C. Eintracht
S.C. Eintracht
S.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
. In 1946, DiOrio left Morgan Strasser, for the Pittsburgh Strasser of the newly established North American Soccer Football League. In 1947 he moved to the Chicago Vikings. After the collapse of the NAFSL, following the 1947 season, DiOrio rejoined Morgan Strasser S.C. In 1949, the club won the U.S. Open Cup. In 1950, he was with Pittsburgh Harmarville when the lost the National Amateur Cup final to Ponta Delgada S.C.
Ponta Delgada S.C.
Ponta Delgada Soccer Club, also referred to as Fall River Ponta Delgada, was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. The club was formed by members of the city’s Portuguese community and shared its name with Ponta Delgada, the capital city of the Azores, an autonomous...
. In 1951, DiOrio lost another Amateur Cup final, his fourth. However, Harmarville followed those two loses with a U.S. Open Cup championships in 1952. At some point, he left Harmarville and signed with Pittsburgh Beadling
Pittsburgh Beadling
Pittsburgh Beadling is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1898 in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. It won the 1954 National Amateur Cup.-History:Founded in 1898, Pittsburgh Beadling was formed by immigrant miners from Europe...
, with whom he finished his career in 1959. During his twenty years of playing soccer, DiOrio won the National Amateur Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and five Keystone Senior League championships.
National team
While DiOrio was selected to the U.S. roster for the 1950 FIFA World Cup1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
, he never entered a game.
Soccer management
After retiring from playing in 1959, DiOrio continued to coach soccer teams. In 1971, he became the president of the West Penn Soccer Association.Non soccer career
While soccer remained at the center of his life, including leading him to his wife whom he met through a team sponsored by her father’s beer garden, Jack’s Supper Club, he earned a living at a factory worker in Bridgeville, PennsylvaniaBridgeville, Pennsylvania
Bridgeville is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bridgeville is located along Chartiers Creek, about southwest of downtown Pittsburgh at ....
. He also worked for the county road maintenance department.
DiOrio was inducted, along with the rest of the 1950 U.S. World Cup team, into 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:...
in 1976. He is also a member of state and regional halls of fame.
He died of colon cancer on September 11, 2003.