Professional Soccer Player, Head Coach, General Manager. He began his professional soccer career in England as a reserve defender for the Liverpool Reds from 1958 to 1960. After two years of service he joined the Tranmere Rovers for a single season before finishing his English playing career with Stockport County in 1962. From 1962 to 1968 he played for the Philadelphia Spartans of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), followed by brief appearances with the Cleveland Stokers and California Jaguars. When the league collapsed at the end of the 1969 season, he joined the newly formed North American Soccer League (NASL) as a member of the Dallas Tornado. Over the next five seasons he appeared in 93 games for Dallas, helping to lead the Tornado to the 1971 NASL championship. He was named to the league's all star team for five consecutive years before retiring from the sport as a player in 1973. During the 1973 season he also made an appearance on the US National Team, losing to Bermuda four to nothing. He was hired as the first head coach of the original NASL Seattle Sounders in 1974, compiling a three year record of 43 wins and 29 losses. He left the club after the 1976 season, joining the Vancouver Whitecaps as general manager. Under his leadership he led the Whitecaps to the 1979 Soccer Bowl, defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies two to one. In 1982 he returned to the Sounders serving as general manager. He remained in the Pacific Northwest during much of the 1980s, purchasing partial ownership in the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He died from a lung infection while visiting family in Ireland.
Professional Soccer Player, Head Coach, General Manager. He began his professional soccer career in England as a reserve defender for the Liverpool Reds from 1958 to 1960. After two years of service he joined the Tranmere Rovers for a single season before finishing his English playing career with Stockport County in 1962. From 1962 to 1968 he played for the Philadelphia Spartans of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), followed by brief appearances with the Cleveland Stokers and California Jaguars. When the league collapsed at the end of the 1969 season, he joined the newly formed North American Soccer League (NASL) as a member of the Dallas Tornado. Over the next five seasons he appeared in 93 games for Dallas, helping to lead the Tornado to the 1971 NASL championship. He was named to the league's all star team for five consecutive years before retiring from the sport as a player in 1973. During the 1973 season he also made an appearance on the US National Team, losing to Bermuda four to nothing. He was hired as the first head coach of the original NASL Seattle Sounders in 1974, compiling a three year record of 43 wins and 29 losses. He left the club after the 1976 season, joining the Vancouver Whitecaps as general manager. Under his leadership he led the Whitecaps to the 1979 Soccer Bowl, defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies two to one. In 1982 he returned to the Sounders serving as general manager. He remained in the Pacific Northwest during much of the 1980s, purchasing partial ownership in the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He died from a lung infection while visiting family in Ireland.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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