Retro RFH Soccer Kicks: From Snapshots to Livestream

RFH soccer in the late 1970s Photo/George Day

You could say that some RFH friends and fans really get a kick out of soccer. And, it’s a special kind of kick this season — the kind that boots a little cheer into pandemic times.

The whistle was blown and they let the games begin last week. And on Thursday there are both boys’ and girls’ team games to be played in addition to a full season.

But, this year, because of the swift kick given soccer and other high school sports by COVID-19, along with a little high school keeping-up-with-the-times innovation, RFH is offering out-of-the stadium options for spectators.

Social media and simple phone video cameras have, of course, advanced absentee spectator options on their own over the more recent years — more recent than we realize. Back in the ol’ days, it was more black-and-white an issue, just like film — in-person or no spectating. And there was a lot of quick clicking. And that’s not social media. Camera. Just plain camera. And the ever-essential good eye of the photographer.

Capturing sports moments was a real art, a skill honed by professional sports journalists, to be seen only in the pages of a newspaper that parents clamored to buy, after hours of developing and choosing proofs and shots in a darkroom.

Then there was the dutiful, talented supposed amateurs — the high school yearbook photographers. In the 70s, that was George Day.

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day not only honors the somewhat lost art of sports photography, it gives a glimpse back to the soccer field and RFH players of the 1970s, courtesy of George Day’s finely captured moments on the field. He spent countless hours, a keen eye poised, getting just the right shot. Capturing priceless moments in time.

So, as we in 2020 immerse ourselves in thinking about the game of the present and future, we look back to the game of the 1970s. This game. Anyone remember? Yes, we’ve shown this pic before — from a bit of a different perspective. So, the reprise still begs the questions …

The guy giving the soccer ball that swift kick is … can’t quite figure out. So, we’ve added a bonus shot of the back of the same player, number 7, on the field with John Brinkerhoff and Chris White.

Who was the ol’ 7?

Anyone remember this game against ‘Squan? Who was known for what on the RFH team? Anyone remember? Your classic game moment? Is there a snapshot of it?

Thanks again to George Day for providing another great look into the past with that top-notch yearbook photography!

RFH has teamed up with the NFHS Network to offer free subscriptions to footage of high school sports games 72 hours after games or paid live-streaming from any device.