By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
April 16, 2018
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Manor College Men's Soccer Assistant Coach Richard Patton will be one of 13 2018 inductees into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 12 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Patton received his Bachelor's Degree from East Stroudsburg University in 1965 and his Master's from Pennsylvania State University in 1971.
He started teaching at Lincoln High School in Philadelphia in 1965. Patton was the Lincoln Freshman Boys Soccer Head Coach from 1967 through 1976. He was the Lincoln Varsity Boys Soccer Head Coach from 1976 through 2004. His varsity record was 305-147-51 (0.657) and reached eight Public League Championship Games, winning four titles (1978, 2000, 2001, and 2003). Patton was also the Lincoln's Varsity Girls Soccer Head Coach (1993-1999). He was a 2011 Pennsylvania High School Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame inductee.
Patton has been the Blue Jays Men's Soccer Assistant Coach since 2008, Manor's first year in the NJCAA. During his tenure, the Blue Jays qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX Division III Postseason Tournament three times (2011, 2012, and 2013). Manor also won the 2012 and 2013 Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference regular season titles.
He serves as a Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Executive Officer, a position he has held since 1983.
Patton will also be inducted with Sal Carbone, Paul Duddy, Danielle Fagan, Fred Gerstenfield, Mike Hines, Kristin Luckenbill, Art McWilliams, Mike Moyer, Jack O'Neill, Mike Pio, Blair Thompson, and Claudio Tovaruela.
Joining these inductees will be award winners in the following categories: Tom Paton Award (Female Player of the Year), Bill Peterman Award (Male Player of the Year), Charlotte Moran Award (Coach of the Year [Female Team]), John (Jukey) Nanoski Award (Coach of the Year [Male Team]), Ned Potts Award (Club of the Year), Harry Rodgers Award (Referee of the Year), Nick Cinquanto Award (Young Referee of the Year), and Chick Fallon Award (Service to Soccer). Also, SEPA will have a "Soccer Serves America" night, which will recognize first responders, law enforcement, medical professionals, military, etc. who have made a "commitment to soccer" and "are serving (or have served)" the "community and/or country."
Founded in 1947 as the Philadelphia Oldtimers Soccer Association, the inductees and award winners will be honored at Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein, located at 9031 Academy Road (Frankford Avenue and Academy Road) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 71st annual banquet will be from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
The $50 tickets can either be purchased by contacting Banquet Director Gordon Dunlop Jr. (gordon.dunlop@sepasoccerhall.com or 267-767-9713) or http://www.sepasoccerhall.com (using PayPal/credit cards).
Director of Athletics and Men's Head Soccer Coach John Dempster on Patton's induction into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame: "It's not everyday that people get to say they get to work with your mentor, former high school coach and best friend. I get to say that everyday, but, now I get to add Hall of Famer to that list that describes Mr. Richard Patton. He has been there for me more than half of my life and I can't wait to be there for him on this great day. Congratulations, well deserved."
Patton on getting inducted into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame: "Aside from my induction to the Pennsylvania High School Soccer Hall of Fame, this is the most prestigious honor I could receive. I am truly thankful to SEPA. Of course none of these awards would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the players I have coached. I dedicate this to those soccer men."