Craig Allen (footballer)

Last updated

Craig Allen
Craig Allen, MISL 1984-85 media guide page 016.tif
Allen circa 1984
Personal information
Date of birth (1959-10-02) 2 October 1959 (age 64)
Place of birth Guernsey, Channel Islands
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1979–1981 California Surf 74 (19)
1979–1981 California Surf (indoor) 29 (36)
1981–1982 New Jersey Rockets (indoor) 22 (22)
1982–1988 Cleveland Force (indoor) 254 (275)
International career
Guernsey
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Craig Allen is a former Guernsey association football striker who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.

Contents

Professional

In 1979, the nineteen-year-old Allen came to California on vacation. While in California, he attended an open tryout with the California Surf of the North American Soccer League and gained a contract offer. Over three years, he played three NASL outdoor and two NASL indoor seasons with the Surf.

In 1981, he moved to the New Jersey Rockets of the Major Indoor Soccer League. After one season, he moved to the Cleveland Force where he played for six seasons. In 1988, the Force lost to the San Diego Sockers in the MISL championship.

In June 1988, the Force released Allen. [1] By this time he had played 254 league games, scored 275 goals and added 180 assists with Cleveland.

National team

In March 1993, Allen scored a record 7 goals for Guernsey in their 10–0 win against Alderney in the semi-final of the Muratti Vase. This was his first Muratti-appearance since 1978. (Although he failed to find the net in the final as Guernsey lost 1–2 against Jersey).[ citation needed ]

Personal life

Craig's son, Ross Allen, is also a competitive footballer, and was named Guernsey Football Association Division One Player of the Year for 2008–09. [2] He currently plays for Guernsey in the Isthmian League Division One South. In August 2011, he was allegedly scouted by Swindon Town. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)</span> Indoor soccer league in the United States

The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the United States that played matches from fall 1978 to spring 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Strikers</span> Defunct American soccer club

The Minnesota Strikers were an American soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for the 1984 season and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1984 through 1988. The team was based in Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area and played their outdoor home games at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and the Met Center for indoor games. Founded in 1967 as the Washington Darts and playing in Miami as the Gatos and the Toros before playing seven season as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers the team left Florida following the 1983 North American Soccer League season. After the 1987–88 season and playing four seasons in the MISL the team ceased operations.

Antonio Carlos Pecorari, commonly known as Tatu, is a Brazilian football coach and former player, and one of the most accomplished indoor football players of all time. He is currently the head coach of the Mesquite Outlaws in the Major Arena Soccer League. His nickname means "armadillo" in Portuguese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Moyers</span> American soccer player

Steve Moyers is a retired soccer forward from the United States, who was a member of the American squad that competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. He spent eight seasons in the North American Soccer League, one in the Major Indoor Soccer League and one in the American Indoor Soccer Association.

Peter Ward is an English retired footballer, whose most successful times were with Brighton & Hove Albion, mostly as a forward. He now lives in the United States.

Branimir "Branko" Šegota is a Canadian former professional soccer forward, starring in the original Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), the North American Soccer League (NASL), the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL), the National Professional Soccer League, and the Canadian Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kai Haaskivi</span> Finnish footballer and coach (born 1955)

Kai Haaskivi is a retired Finnish soccer player. He starred in the North American Soccer League, playing outdoor as well as indoor soccer. He also played for the Finland national football team. He now coaches in the United States.

Thomas Ernest Jenkins is an English retired footballer. He played professionally in two continents as a winger and is now a soccer coach in the United States.

Alan Mayer is an American retired soccer goalkeeper. He played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer team.

Hernan "Chico" Borja was an Ecuadorian-born American soccer player and coach. He spent time in the several U.S.-based leagues including the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and the American Soccer League. He also earned eleven caps with the U.S. national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Trost</span> American soccer player and coach

Alan Trost is an American former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder. He played collegiate soccer at Saint Louis University where he won the 1969 and 1970 Hermann Trophy as the player of the year. His professional career includes years in both the North American Soccer League (NASL) and Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He also was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He went on to earn 14 caps with the U.S. national team, scoring one goal. He coached professionally with the St. Louis Steamers of MISL and continues to coach youth soccer. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Nogueira</span> Mozambique-born American soccer player

Victor Nogueira is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Nogueira spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, but gained his greatest recognition in over twenty seasons in three indoor leagues, the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and the second Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the U.S. futsal team which took second place at the 1992 FIFA Futsal World Championship, and he is the father of FC Kansas City and United States forward Casey Loyd. He was elected to the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pato Margetic</span> Argentine footballer

Patricio "Pato" Germán Margetic is a former Argentine footballer. He began his career in Argentina before playing five seasons in the North American Soccer League, as well as the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Jose “Poli” Garcia is an American former soccer player. He spent at least four seasons in the American Soccer League, three in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was the 1979 American Soccer League MVP and earned two caps with the United States in 1975.

Christopher George Dangerfield is an English former footballer who spent most of his career in the United States.

Lawrence Adam Michael Abrahams is an English retired professional footballer who played as a striker in England, the United States, and Australia. In a career which lasted from 1977 to 1987, Abrahams played 283 career league games, and scored 142 league goals.

Keith Furphy is an English-American former professional footballer who played forward or winger, spending most of his career in the United States. He played four seasons in the North American Soccer League, seven in the Major Indoor Soccer League and one each in the American Soccer League and the National Professional Soccer League. Furphy also made six appearances in the Football League for Plymouth Argyle. He is the son of Ken Furphy, a former footballer and coach.

Dennis Mepham is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League

Charlie Greene is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timo Liekoski</span> Finnish footballer and manager (born 1942)

Timo Liekoski is a Finnish soccer coach who managed teams in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major League Soccer. He currently holds a variety of coaching positions with the Football Association of Finland.

References

  1. FORCE CUTS MVP ALLEN , 3 OTHERS Akron Beacon Journal (OH) - Friday, 17 June 1988
  2. Allen eyes move to the States
  3. "Town snap up Gabilondo and Clarke (From This is Swindon Town FC)". Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.