Msgr. Jimmy Johnston Award

THE HISTORY OF THE MSGR. JIMMY JOHNSTON AWARD

The 1919-1920 Soccer Season saw the Ben Millers of the Local Amateur League win the National Open Cup Title by defeating a team of professionals from Fore River Mass. The Ben Millers were composed of all native St. Louisans, the first of many National Championships made up of American born players to capture the Cup.  The winning goal was scored by the great Jimmy Dunn, as the Millers won 2-1.  The captain and halfback was Msgr. Jimmy Johnston (at the time was a seminarian).  In 1970, Msgr. Johnston organized a 50th reunion of the remaining member of that squad.  They gathered at the Carpenters Hall on Hampton, and had such a great time, they decided to do it again in 1971 and invite other Soccer luminaries of the area to join them.  Thus was for the “OLD TIME SOCCER PLAYERS HALL OF FAME IN ST. LOUIS.”  Twenty-two stars of the past were inducted on November 11, 1971.  Since then, over 900 players, coaches, sponsors, referees and administrators from the past 150 years have been enshrined, many posthumously.  In 2003, the organization adopted the name of “THE ST. LOUIS SOCCER HALL OF FAME.”  Msgr. Jimmy Johnston was born on December 8, 1896 and passed away June 11, 1979.  A memorial plaque in his honor is presented at the Annual Induction Banquet to an individual who has possessed the same passion for the game and has spread the gospel of Soccer to make it the greatest sport in the world.