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Tom McCabe's T-shirt proclaims: “New Jersey. The Greatest Country in the World.”

Residents of other states (and countries) might differ – just as they argue over who is, say, the greatest soccer player ever.

But it’s hard to argue about New Jersey’s key role in American soccer history. From the earliest factory-based teams to the glory days of players like Tab Ramos, Tony Meola and John Harkes, to current young stars such as Brenden and Paxten Aaronson, the Garden State has punched far above its weight.

It’s hard to argue too about McCabe’s role as the greatest chronicler of New Jersey soccer in world history. He wrote and produced one documentary on “Soccertown, USA ” (Kearny, if you have to ask), and another on legendary coach Manny Schellscheidt. His book “Miracle on High Street ” chronicles the history of St. Benedict’s Prep School in Newark, a high school powerhouse (and where McCabe served as an administrator, teacher and coach for 15 years).

And how about this: The Princeton (N.J.) University graduate is an adjunct professor of history at Rutgers University-Newark, where he teaches courses on Newark, the United States – and soccer.

In a country that thinks soccer began with the arrival of Pele in 1975 (and surged with the biggest crowds of his Cosmos career two years later, across the Hudson River in New Jersey’s Meadowlands), McCabe researches and writes about the game a century earlier. These days, the Society for American Soccer History member is completing a manuscript on the long-forgotten American Football Association. Founded in 1884 as only the second national soccer organization outside of Britain (Canada was first), it ran a competition for the Tiffany-designed Challenge Cup that for 40 years drew teams from soccer hotbeds like Philadelphia and Fall River, Massachusetts.

Sandwiched between them is New Jersey. That’s where Scottish immigrants played the game, and where they established the Thistle United Soccer Club that produced stars like Ramos, Meola and Harkes.

McCabe tells their remarkable story in “Soccertown, USA.” He wrote and produced it with his former Princeton classmate Kirk Rudell, whose Hollywood credits include “American Dad!” and “Will & Grace.”

McCabe – a college history major, who then earned a Ph.D. in history from Rutgers – found never-before-seen photos and home videos for the project. It was harder than he imagined: Ramos, Meola and Harkes had been interviewed so often, and lent out memorabilia that was never returned, that there was little left in their own homes.

The documentary moves from Kearny to the 1990 and ’94 World Cups, when the three Jersey players formed the backbone of very successful U.S. squads. The film won the Audience Award at the Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival . Covid canceled plans for other festivals, so the producers made a free educational cut for YouTube. It’s available here :

McCabe’s second film is as New Jersey-centric – and historically minded – as his first. “Voice of the Game” tells the story of Schellscheidt, the German-American former professional player and coach (pro, U.S. national team, and Seton Hall University).

McCabe calls him “one of the least known but most important coaches in American soccer history.” He coached, or coached with, men like Bob Bradley, Bruce Arena, Jesse Marsch and Gregg Berhalter. He is “literally, the first-ever A-licensed coach by the U.S. Soccer Federation.”

The 1988 Union Lancers U-19 national champs. Standing (L-to-R): Sal Rapaglia, Manny Schellscheidt, Danny Gil, Tim Foley, John Dziadzio, Patrick White, Lino DiCuollo, Jim Roberti, Tom Agesen, Craig Kaisand, Glen VanDeventer, George Keogh, Bob Bradley. Sitting: Pete DiMaggio, Richie Williams, David Gross, Tom McCabe, Scott Pizzi, Michael Bradley (on lap), Kenny Santos, Jim Barlow.

McCabe and Rudell knew him as teenagers. “We were all Manny disciples,” says McCabe, a member of the Schellscheidt-coached Union Lancers who won the U.S. Youth Soccer U-19 McGuire Cup national title in both 1987 and ’88. “Voice of the Game” is called a “master class,” with his soccer philosophy distilled from hours of interviews with him and his “disciples.” The trailer :

McCabe knows a bit about master classes. His college course on soccer is “a perfectly legitimate line of intelligent inquiry,” he notes. “It’s the world’s most popular game. We cover it all, from its origins to globalization and the influence of money.” Students examine topics like culture, class, gender, race and nationalism.

He’s at the perfect institution for such a course, McCabe notes. “Rutgers-Newark is one of the most diverse campuses in the world.”

That description is not surprising, coming from a man whose T-shirt proclaims his state to be the greatest country in the world. So what is the state of New Jersey these days, soccer-wise?

“Historically, it’s had a disproportionate impact on American soccer, for so long,” McCabe says. “It still has a lot of punching power. But there are so many other soccer towns out there now. Together, that makes us a stronger soccer nation.

“I was fortunate, and lucky, to grow up here. And I’m proud of New Jersey’s history and power in the game.”

Is he aware of the Kalmyk soccer teams of the 1950s and 60s from Howell Twp that produced outstanding players that went on to play for Hartwicks National Champions in the 70s....the adult team played in the Schaefer League as the Howell Kickers and the under 19 team that retired the cup under Coach Giga Andreyev were the Pinelanders. We were the only predominantly Asian soccer team playing in the tristate....Buzz Nembirkow former coach of Kean College

I am aware! Just had a conversation this past week about those Howell. My friend and fellow soccer historian, Kurt Rausch, remembers those great teams and players.

Tom's breath of knowledge and the manner by which he transmits New Jerseys unique soccer narrative to life is absolutely special.  

I was a goalkeeper for Teaneck High School in the early 1950's.  We always opened our season againt the West Point plebes, which was always a season highlight. However, it was always a challange to play Kearny, always a state powerhouse.  We considered a 1-0 loss on their home field almost a victory.