The companies hiring these players understood the commitment undertaken and gladly provided time off for games and travel.
[3] In 1963, the day after the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy, Lawther arrived in California to play for Scandia Soccer Club.
To stay with the sport he loves and give back to the game, he started taking courses for his coaching credentials in 1971.
He completed all coursework and received the following certifications: Lawther bought a new home in Fountain Valley, California in 1973 and started coaching youth teams.
His style, skills and affection for youth development have made him a highly successful coach.
Lawther demonstrated his love and ability to work with young, amateur players when he coached youth, club and college level programs.
He was chosen to coach the United States national B team in 1978 when they participated in the President's Cup in South Korea.
[6] The following year he coached the United States men's national team when they played against Mexico in Los Angeles and Russia in Seattle.
The first year there he coached both the men's and women's team with the Los Angeles Times dubbing him as the "soccer guru".
[8] From 1984 to 1995, he coached the men's team in Division I competition in the Big West Conference (formerly the Pacific Coast Athletic Association).
He also coached the Corona Del Mar High School boys' team for four years in the late nineties.