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Legendary great soccer goalkeeper Tim Howard speaks during Friends of Mercier Sportsmen Dinner on March 9 at The Highlawn where folks gathered for a spirited evening. Howard received the Sportsman of the Year award which he is seen accepting from Tim Reilly, who is dinner's master of ceremonies. Wil Young, who is deputy chief with Montlciar's Police Department and the Montclair Cobras junior football president, received the Larkin Award of Distinction. Soccer fans such as the Seton Hall Prep father-son coaching duo of Marty and Matty Berman enjoyed Howard's talk, while new Montlcair High School l head football coach Manj Singh listens intently as Howard spoke. (Photos by Jeff Stiefbold)
Nicknamed the ‘Secretary of Defense’ after his amazing, World Cup-record 16-save performance for the USA against Belgium in the 2014 Round of 16 clash, Howard knows all about the world’s biggest sports event which is coming soon to America, plus Canada and Mexico, for 104 different matches from June 11-July 19, including at nearby MetLife Stadium. The man who at one time was considered the world’s No. 1 goalkeeper when he was a popular player with both Manchester United and the Everton Football and also with the Metro Stars right here in the Garden State received the Mercier Sportsmen’s Peter A. Carlesimo Sportsman of the Year award during the 2026 dinner held Monday, March 9, at The Highlawn in West Orange. Montclair Deputy Chief and Montclair Cobras junior football president Wil Young received the Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Larkin Award of Distinction during a spirited evening of friendship and conversation about sports highlighted by the buzz being created for the World Cup as the U.S. prepares to be the host country this year. “For people who have not experienced the World Cup, it’s incredible,” said Howard as he spoke from the podium after accepting the Carlesimo award which is named in honor of a longtime Montclair resident who was a major leader in the college sports world including as executive director of the National Invitation Tournament. “The world really comes to your doorstep and hundreds of thousands of people are in the streets for one giant party, often times in a very friendly and vibrant way.” When asked by a member of the audience about this country chances for success in the entire globe’s most important sporting event of 2026, the renowned former U.S.A. goalkeeper was both optimistic and realistic in his assessment. “If you go back in recent history to 1998 or ’94, the host country always has a tangible reason to have success playing at home, and it shows in the results,” said the North Brunswick native who attended Montclair Kimberley Academy for one year (1993-94) where he excelled for the Cougars’ soccer and basketball teams. “We’re a very talented team and with the country behind them those boys will feel it; but whether that quantifies into one win, 2 wins or any at all, we will see, but the strong support here will help. “I’m looking forward for the first time for the opportunity to actually be a soccer fan for this World Cup!” The 47-year-old Howard, who retired from professional soccer in 2019 following his return to the MLS, is a part owner of the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash along with being an analyst for English Premier League broadcasts on NBC. He had spent a decade in that renowned and historic Britain-based league first with Manchester United and then for a decade with his beloved Everton Football Club where the sport we call soccer is the lifeblood of that community and all surrounding areas, including with local archrival Liverpool. And, while continuing to play his pro ball in an area of the world where the very best in the sport reside, Howard was still ready to help lead his country’s quest against the best in the world when that opportunity arose. “I was blessed to represent the greatest country in the world in three World Cups, 2006 in Germany, 2010 in South Africa and 2014 in Brazil,” said all-time great goalkeeper. “That game vs. Belgium (in 2014) was ‘the game of my life,’ and came at the high point of my career. “But, with all the respect that is earned, when you hang up the gloves, the game doesn’t owe you anything. Still, even today, when I am at airports, or in New York City where I live now, people remind me of how special it all was. “I am honored and humbled to receive the Peter A. Carlesimo award. I am New Jersey born and raised. I went to a private school down the street, i was at MKA for one year, and I now this area. “I have traveled the world 10 times over playing this beautiful game of soccer and I represented New Jersey. “There is a grit, a tenacity and a determination that I truly think comes from being a kid from New Jersey. And, as I went to work trying to carve out a career for myself what I constantly found was a debate about hard work vs. talent. “Hard work beats talent. If you’re willing to put in 10,000 hours of work in something you will become more talented. “Hard work was the backbone of everything I did!” Montclair’s Young, who started his career with the Montclair Police Department around the same time Howard had been at MKA, was honored with the Larkin Award of Distinction for this incredible body of work for the community, both as a local cop who is now a deputy chief, and as the guiding force for the Montclair Cobras who he has been associated with for 32 years and took the reins of the longtime junior football program after his mentor, 1977 Mercier Sportsmen award recipient Howard Finney, started and ran the organization for more than three decades. “I want to congratulate Wil Young,” Howard said before beginning his own remarks. “He is an inspiration for the community. “Young men also need mentors and inspiration, and through his service with the police and also in his work for the community outside of the home and school, and on the fields, he is so important!” *** The Friends of Mercier Sportsmen Father-Son Dinner committee did another superlative job, including with event chairman Bill Evans and master of ceremonies Tim Reilly. Among others helping throughout the planning were Joe Quinlan and Denis Mylan, along with Rich McMahon and Rich Murnick, who helped secure Howard for the 2026 dinner; and Tim Reilly, Jr. and John Jerbasi, who are so valuable in a number of ways behind the scenes, including making sure all runs smoothly with organizing the seating for the popular dinner. The proceeds raised at the dinner are distributed to local charities. Mercier’s Carlesimo Sportsman of the Year & Msgr. Larkin Awards: 2026: Tim Howard, world-class soccer goalie Follow Steve Tober on 'X' @Chatttermeister
The 53rd Friends of Mercier Sportsmen Dinner, held March 9, at The Highlawn in West Orange, brings out key individuals from Jersey's sports-minded community including former Bloomfield and Lafayette basketball star Tracy Tripucka and Larry Berra, who is the son of the Hall of Famer Togi Berra, both seen with dinner master of ceremonies Tim Reilly. Longtime Mercier Dinner committee member Joe Quinlan, the former athletic director at St. Peter's University, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Columbia and a 2013 Mercier Sportsman Award recipient, is seen sharing conversation before the dinner. The Mercier Sportsmen Dinner helps raise funds for area charities. (Photos by Jeff Stiefbold)
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