You were dedicated to a fault. You had a passion for life. You touched so many lives, it’s hard for me to imagine that you still not with us, three months later.
You were a father of three amazing kids…..you’re name was not only synonymous in the world of lacrosse, but was incorporated within the basketball realm….and most notably…..one of the leading soccer historians in the world. You worked one job, while raising your family, and putting yourself through college. You went from working at a law firm, to creating your own. A father and a lawyer….a fan and a writer….a talented musician…
That’s you my friend.
And we miss you…..
Steve Holroyd was one of my best friends. He passed away in April of this year. This story was hard for me to write, not because I didn’t know how to put, what his life meant to me and to others…but me facing the reality of it all. Our friendship started, when I came back to Facebook in 2017. After a few calls and messages about bringing the archives back to life, I noticed a person, who’s writings intrigued me. He was very opinionated. You could see his love and creativity for whatever he put his mind to.
He was definitely unique…..and definitely a character.
Impressed by what I read of Steve’s…I introduced myself. He stated that he was familiar with my past works. I told him that people we’re wanting me to bring back the old film archives, that I had stories already written from 20 years prior….and I asked him if he had any interest in joining me in the rebuild of the site. Didn’t take him long to pick up the phone…….it was game on…..and we were all in.
Steve was a soccer historian first. That was his first true love, specializing in the forgotten tales of American soccer, particularly the golden era of the 1920s and 30s, when leagues like the original American Soccer League flourished and flickered out before the nation truly noticed.
Steve published the story online with meticulous detail: match reports recreated from journal fragments, player bios reconstructed from census records, even a map of the team’s former pitch—now buried under a strip mall parking lot. The article went viral in the soccer community. Journalists, scholars, and even local officials reached out.
Then came the most unexpected twist.
A university history department contacted Steve, offering to fund a small documentary. “The Lost League: The Untold Origins of American Soccer” premiered the following year, narrated by Steve himself, with his gravelly voice lending authority and heart. It sparked a resurgence in interest in early American soccer history, and Steve was soon asked to speak at events, consult on museum exhibits, and even advise FIFA’s historical committee.
Video courtesy of PBS
He was born outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and moved to the Maple Shade area, when he was a kid.
He played soccer, lived soccer and eventually, became on of the leading historical authorities of the sport. When I googled his name, it took
me aback, seeing all that he accomplished, not only in the soccer world, but in life.
Being raised outside of Philadelphia, he was a Yankees fan first, just like his father. He despised the Eagles…….and loved the Green Bay Packers….to the point of him being a shareholder of the team. He would brag to me about that. He owned exactly….one share…..”which is one more than you got buddy!!” Then the Eagles would smack the Packers and he cussed me…
Go figure…..
We started putting the pieces of CrosseCheck together in the fall of 2017. I did all the digitizing work for the film, while Steve worked on articles for the site. We both had our passions for what we wanted to write about. Mine was from the 1974-1975 NLL, and the MILL from 1987 to 1997. Steve took on everything else, going from 1973 on back….and when I say on back, I’m talking about as far back as the mid-1800’s.
By Thanksgiving of 2018….we launched the site, not knowing what to expect. Over the course of the next four years, the contributions were endless. His contributions as Associated Producer on CrosseCheck’s
documentary of the 1974-1975 National Lacrosse League, “Two For The Show”, were tremendous to the cause of making the film a reality. His passion for the 1968 National Lacrosse Association were remarkable. His work and love for the game of lacrosse were endless and unselfish. As of today, between the two of us, and the other fine folks, who contributed to making CrosseCheck a reality, we have over 500 articles, over 100 films on the air, and over 1500 pictures to learn from.
Steve wasn’t just a collector of facts. He was a storyteller. His dedication earned him recognition from the wider lacrosse community. Former players reached out to thank him. Hall of Fame committees began citing his research.
And it continues to grow……
An excerpt from our documentary, "Two For The Show"
His love of basketball was second to none. If you search for, “Only the Ball Was Brown”, either on Facebook or Youtube, that’s Steve. He was writing a book on the 1926 American Basketball League, which at the time, two weeks before his passing, was over 400 pages long, including pictures.
That’s either insanity, or being that dedicated. In my opinion….a little bit of both. I think he would agree.
From podcasts to PBS documentaries, Steve Holroyd was an integral part of the success of CrosseCheck.
Despite the attention, Steve remained humble. “It’s never been about me,” he often said. “It’s about giving these players, these communities, the legacy they earned.”
He was the foundation of what made us, who we are today……And somewhere in a corner of the internet, on a website with no ads, no flash, just truth and memory, the echoes of creaking boards, thundering checks, and forgotten champions live on…thanks to the man who believed that every league, no matter how short-lived, deserved a history. And every player, a name.
That was my friend…..That was Steve.
