TORMEY WAS A STAR PLAYER WITH CLEMSON UNIVERSITY AND ENTERED HALL OF FAME
FRIENDS and family took their chance to catch a rare glimpse of a local sporting great last weekend as Pearse Tormey celebrated his 50th birthday in style.
Pearse swapped Drogheda for the United States back in 1986 and since leaving for college back then, he has established himself as one of the leading figures in youth soccer in the south east region of the country.
Now living in Greenville, South Carolina with wife Noeline, the couple have two grown up children Keith, 24, and Annamaria, 20 who are both currently attending university. Annamaria is especially following in her father’s footsteps.
She attends Clemson University, where Pearse was once a star player. In 2015, he was inducted into the university’s athletic Hall of Fame. Like her dad, Annamaria is also a keen soccer player and an achiever in the sport.
Ahead of his big birthday bash Pearse had been holidaying in France before making a stop back at home to catch up with those close to him. Trips back to Ireland are rare for the youth soccer supremo, who is the Co-Executive Director of the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy.
These days, there’s over 4,000 children enrolled at the academy – an indicator of the sport’s burgeoning popularity Stateside and also of Pearse’s reputation for developing the future talent of the time.
It certainly keeps him busy and that’s before you consider his new role with US Soccer too. Pearse now serves as the South East Tournament Director for US Soccer, where he lends his vast experience and assists clubs throughout the region in organising tournaments.
“That’s how big soccer has got now,” Pearse’s father Shay explains. He and his wife Bernie travel to American regularly to visit the family. “They’re busy now, so instead of them coming over, we go over there.”
All of Pearse’s cousins, relations and friends from yesterday were invited to the shindig in the Pheasant, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
For now though, it’s back to business on the pitch.