Ross Irwin (soccer)

Last updated

Irwin with Boston Bolts in 1988 Ross J. Irwin.jpg
Irwin with Boston Bolts in 1988

Ross J. Irwin (born 9 May 1960) is a Scottish former professional footballer. He played for Fareham Town (England), FC Stade Nyonnais (Switzerland), the Bahama Royals (Bahamas) and the Boston Bolts and Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League.

Contents

Career

Irwin graduated from Carnegie College, Leeds University, England. [1]

He played for Swiss club FC Stade Nyonnais from 1982 to 1984. [2]

He had the distinction of being the first player to be signed by the Boston Bolts franchise as one of their three foreign players.[ citation needed ] In 1988 at Nickerson Field, Boston University, Irwin scored the winning goal for the Boston Bolts against the Orlando Lions by converting a penalty kick against fellow Scotsman and Orlando goalkeeper Alan Rough in extra time. [3] This was the team's first home game of the season and their first win following three defeats. [3]

During the 1988–89 season as sweeper and vice captain[ citation needed ] of the Boston Bolts, Irwin was selected as the only Boston player to the American Soccer League (ASL) All Star Team. [4] He was one of two Scotsmen on the All Star team, being joined by former Scotland national team goalkeeper Alan Rough. The All Star team played against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with George Best making a guest appearance for the Strikers.

In 1989, following Irwin's selection to the ASL All Star team, he was signed by the Albany Capitals as one of their two foreign players. He joined US national team players John Harkes, Brian Bliss and Mike Windischmann, and former England international Paul Mariner.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teófilo Cubillas</span> Peruvian footballer (born 1949)

Teófilo Juan Cubillas Arizaga is a Peruvian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He was selected as Peru's greatest ever player in an IFFHS poll, in which he was also included in the world's Top 50. He was renowned for his technique, shooting ability and free kick ability.

The Orlando Lions were an American men's soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team.

San Francisco Bay Blackhawks were a professional soccer team which came into existence in 1989 as a team in the Western Soccer League (WSL). The Blackhawks spent time in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL) and the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL). In 1993, the team competed in USISL as the San Jose Hawks, but left organized competition at the end of the season.

Arnold "Arnie" Mausser is an American former soccer goalkeeper who played with eight different NASL teams from 1975 to 1984. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Dan Donigan is a retired United States soccer forward and former coach who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. Following his playing career he coached at the collegiate level as an assistant coach for Connecticut and Saint Louis, and subsequently as a head coach for Saint Louis and Rutgers.

Steve Ralbovsky is a Yugoslav-American former soccer player. He was the 1975 Hermann Trophy winner as the outstanding collegiate soccer player of the year. He then had an extensive professional career including time in the North American Soccer League and the American Soccer League II and III.

Jeff Duback is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper who played in the Western Soccer Alliance, American Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League. He also earned four caps with the United States men's national soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Bolts (1988–1990)</span> Soccer club

The Boston Bolts were a short lived U.S. soccer team which came into existence in 1988 as a member of the third American Soccer League (ASL). They played in Boston, Massachusetts at Nickerson Field. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League.

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers were an American soccer team established in 1988 as part of the third American Soccer League. In 1990, it moved to the American Professional Soccer League where it spent five seasons before folding in 1994. The Strikers won the 1989 ASL championship, as well as the 1989 National Pro Soccer Championship.

Vojislav "Scoop" Stanisic is a retired soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. He was most recently the goalkeeping coach for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. He spent most of his career playing indoor soccer in the United States, but also played five outdoor seasons in the American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and USISL. He earned one cap with the US national team in 1993.

Glenn Davis is an American sportscaster. He is best known as the lead play-by-play announcer for local TV broadcasts of the Houston Dynamo and his weekly radio show titled "Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis" on KFNC.

Ken Fogarty is a soccer coach. Fogarty was Head Coach and Technical Director of the Cayman Islands national team from 1993 to 1994 and from 1996 to 1998.

Jim McGeough is a retired Irish-American soccer defender. His career spanned over a dozen teams in seven leagues including the American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, Major Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League.

The 1988 American Soccer League was the first season of the third American Soccer League which took place during the summer of 1988.

The 1989 American Soccer League was the second season of the third American Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego Restrepo</span> American soccer player (born 1988)

Diego Alejandro Restrepo Garcia is a soccer coach and former player who played as a goalkeeper. Currently, he is the Goalkeeping coach for Manchester City Women, a member of the Barclays Super League. Additionally, he is the Goalkeeper coach of the Welsh Senior Women’s National Team.

The 1988 Fort Lauderdale Strikers season was the first season of the new team in the new American Soccer League. It was the first outdoor team to be fielded by the club in a professional league in four years, since the original North American Soccer League. It was the club's twenty-second season in professional soccer. This also marked the return of the Fort Lauderale Striker's name after moving the club back from Minnesota to Florida. Previously, the club had been represented as the Minnesota Strikers. During their inaugural year in the ASL, the team won the Southern Division and made it through the playoffs and into the ASL Championship. They were this year's Runner's-up.

The 1989 Fort Lauderdale Strikers season was the second season of the team in the new American Soccer League. It was the club's twenty-third season in professional soccer. The team finished in second place in the Southern Division, and made it through the playoffs and into the ASL Championship. They became the 1989 Champions. They also won the 1989 National Pro Soccer Championship which pitted the ASL Champions against the Western Soccer League Champions in a unification match to determine a national champion. Following the season, the American Soccer League merged with the WSL to form the American Professional Soccer League in 1990. The team would be absorbed into the new league and continue to play there.

The Coastal Cup is a trophy and soccer competition among the USL Championship (USL) teams based in Florida. Established in 2010, the trophy was originally awarded to the best team in regular season play among Florida-based franchises. Head-to-head playoff games, U.S. Open Cup matches and friendlies have no bearing on the outcome of this competition. The Fort Lauderdale Strikers did not field a team in 2017 and were later dissolved. The Tampa Bay Rowdies also participated in this cup from 2010 though 2016, before leaving the NASL for the USL. With Miami FC joining the USL, the competition restarted in 2020.

1989 National Pro Soccer Championship was the championship final for professional soccer in the U.S. in 1989. The match was contested on September 9, 1989. The WSL Champion, San Diego Nomads took on the ASL Champion, Fort Lauderdale Strikers in order to crown a national professional champion for the first time since 1984. The game was played at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California.

References

  1. Pave, Marvin (7 May 1988). "Bolts are enthused by reactions of fans". The Boston Globe. p. 34.
  2. "ASL All-Stars". South Florida Sun Sentinel. 16 June 1988. p. 35.
  3. 1 2 Pave, Marvin (1 May 1988). "Irwin's OT penalty kick gives Bolts first victory". The Boston Globe. p. 64.
  4. Litterer, David (15 June 2008). "The Year in American Soccer - 1988". homepages.sover.net. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2021.