Name Tony Chursky | 1976-1978 Seattle Sounders Height 1.78 m Years Team Role Soccer player | |
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Date of birth (1953-06-13) June 13, 1953 (age 62) Place of birth | ||
NASL Soccer Bowl 1977 - New York Cosmos vs. Seattle Sounders
Tony Chursky (born June 13, 1953 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada) is a former Canadian national soccer team and NASL goalkeeper.
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Player
Chursky grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia and attended Simon Fraser University where he graduated with a degree in English Literature. He is of Ukrainian descent.
He made an impressive debut in goal for Canada against Poland, then the Olympic champions, in 1973 while still an unknown amateur. He would go on to earn 19 caps with the national team. He also was a member of the Canadian squad at the 1975 Pan American Games.
He then joined the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1976 and finished with the league's best record for goalkeepers. Despite that, he did not gain any official recognition, whether as an All Star or Rookie of the Year. Chursky played three seasons for the Seattle Sounders before being traded to the California Surf for Al Trost in January 1979. The Surf turned around and traded him to the Chicago Sting later that season. In and finally the Toronto Blizzard. He played in 145 NASL regular season games and 11 play off games including Soccer Bowl 1977 against the New York Cosmos. Despite his outstanding career, Chursky will be remembered by many for the mistake which led to the Cosmos first goal over the Sounders in Pele's August 1977 final match. Chursky saved a shot, then put the ball on the ground and began dribbling towards his goal. Cosmos forward Steve Hunt rushed at Chursky who, due to being deaf in one ear, did not hear his teammates' cries. Hunt stole the ball, dribbled it towards the Seattle goal, pursued by Chursky, and scored the game's first goal. The Sounders tied the score before halftime. Giorgio Chinaglia then scored to win the game for the Cosmos in the second half. The Sounders best chance to tie was a low shot from super-sub Steve Butler, which went wide right.
Chursky played MISL pro indoor soccer for at least two seasons with the Tacoma Stars.[3]
Teacher
Chursky teaches and coaches at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington. He was also an English Teacher at ENS (Emirates National School).
In 2005, the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame inducted Chursky.
Chursky retired after 2014-2015 school year.
Privates
His son Alex Chursky is current Assistant Coach at Seattle University Athletics and was member of the Canada U-20 men's national soccer team.