Dave Leckie of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, played at MCCC in 1968 and 1969 under Head Coach Stan Dlugosz. His soccer career spanned more than six decades, starting at the age of 5 in the Hamilton Rec League, followed by eight years with the West Windsor Soccer Association. He had three all-star seasons at Ewing High School and, while attending Ewing, was named to the U.S. Junior Select Team.
After high school, Leckie spent a year training with the professional St. Mirren Club in Scotland. At MCCC, he helped the Vikings win the 1968 national championship and was named a Junior College All-American both years. With 25 goals in 1968, he earned the individual scoring record.
Leckie continued his collegiate career at Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia, where he was twice named All-American and All-South. As a senior, he was named West Virginia Player of the Year.
Leckie next moved on to a professional career, playing for the Cleveland Cobras of the American Soccer League for five seasons. He was twice named All-ASL and played in 35 international matches. He also played in the Canadian American League for five seasons, along with several semi-professional and club teams, including: the Trenton Extension SC, which reached the U.S. Amateur Club final in 1976; the German American Kickers, which he led to three State Cup titles; the Trenton Italians of the New York Super League; United German Hungarians of the East Penn League; and Smitty’s Kicks, three-time winners in the N.J. Over-30 Cup.
In 1986, Leckie returned to MCCC to coach the soccer program, taking the team to the NJCAA national finals and earning National Coach of the Year honors. In the 1990s, he was an assistant coach for women’s soccer for three seasons under Hall of Famer Bill Drake. Leckie continued to play soccer in the Men’s Masters League, most notably with the Santa Fe Soccer Club, where he led the team to seven championships in ten seasons.
Leckie was inducted into the Mercer County Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997 (a second-generation inductee), the New Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Ewing High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
A retired teacher, David recently moved to Point Pleasant with his wife, Anne, also a retired teacher, where they enjoy the company of their three grandchildren. Although he hung up his boots about ten years ago, “Pop” still enjoys knocking the ball around with the kids.
