Derek Lawther

Derek Lawther is a soccer coach and businessman. He began his career in professional soccer as a player in Northern Ireland. After immigrating to the United States, he developed his coaching talents and went on to coach the US Olympic team as well as several professional American soccer teams. Lawther is an American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO) Area Coach Administrator and an executive in a soccer education company.

Lawther was born in Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland on August 20, 1936. He is the eldest of 3 children. His brother, Ian, gained notoriety as a Northern Ireland footballer. Like most young Irish lads, Lawther played soccer for his elementary school teams.

In 1950, Boyland Boys' Club accepted Lawther to their team and organization. Shortly thereafter, his Boyland coach advised him to leave school, as it was certain his future was in soccer. Lawther followed his advice, left school and became an apprentice printer to pursue his playing career. At this time in Northern Ireland, it was a common practice for a soccer player to have a day job and then practice at night. The companies hiring these players understood the commitment undertaken and gladly provided time off for games and travel.

Lawther played with several prominent Irish teams as a center mid-fielder. He began in his teens playing with Ballymena United Football Club. In 1954 he signed with Linfield F.C., the most prominent team in Northern Ireland. 1956 saw Derek signing with Glenavon F.C. yet another distinguished Irish League team. It was with Glenavon that he earned his Amateur International cap versus Scotland in 1958. He finished his ten-year Irish playing career with Bangor F.C. in 1962.

In 1963, the day after the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Lawther arrived in California to play for Scandia Soccer Club. He advanced his education in computer science at El Camino College in Torrance, California. He briefly returned to Northern Ireland after the Watts Riots of 1965 to play with Cliftonville F.C.. When Lawther returned to the United States after the unrest in Northern Ireland, he played and coached for the Santa Monica Soccer and Social Club (SMSSC) which played in the greater Los Angeles League.

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