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Andrew Parkinson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Parkinson is a retired South African-American soccer forward
who pent time playing in both South Africa and England before immigrating to the U.S. where he played five seasons in the North American Soccer League
, two in Major Indoor Soccer League
and one in the American Soccer League
. Parkinson earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1984.
, South Africa
played for Highlands Park
in his native South Africa. In March 1978, Parkinson moved to England where he tried out with English First Division club Newcastle United. He signed with Newcastle United at 18 years of age and played two seasons in the English First Division. He then moved to lower division club Peterborough United
where he played 13 games, scoring 5 goals in the 1979-1980 season.Andrew Parkinson was sold to the Philadelphia Fury of the North American Soccer League during 1979/80 season.
where he signed with the Philadelphia Fury
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). Once again, he played a single season before the Fury was relocated to Montreal becoming the Montreal Manic
. Parkinson had a successful two seasons with the Montreal Manic scoring the first two goals for the new franchise in the first game of the season winning 2 - 1 against the Toronto Blizzard and leading them to the playoffs and was one of the leading goal scorers once again. During this time, Parkinson received his U.S. citizenship. In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation, in coordination with the NASL, entered the U.S. national team
, known as Team America
, into the NASL as a league franchise. The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League
and American Soccer League
. Parkinson left the Manic with fellow team mate Hayden Knight
and signed with Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season in the struggling NASL the team disbanded with Parkinson being the leading goal scorer with 12 goals. The New York Cosmos
acquired Parkinson when Team America disbanded and he played for the Cosmos during the 1984 season. At the end of the season, the NASL collapsed and the Cosmos jumped to the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He began the MISL season with the Cosmos, but moved to the Chicago Sting
in March 1985. In the fall of 1985, Parkinson signed with the Tacoma Stars of the MISL during the 1985-1986 season. In 1988, Parkinson played a single season with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
of the American Soccer League
.
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who pent time playing in both South Africa and England before immigrating to the U.S. where he played five seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, two in Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
and one in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. Parkinson earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1984.
Early career
Parkinson, a native of JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
played for Highlands Park
Jomo Cosmos
Jomo Cosmos is a South African football club based in Johannesburg that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The club is owned and coached by South African soccer legend Jomo "Black Prince" Sono....
in his native South Africa. In March 1978, Parkinson moved to England where he tried out with English First Division club Newcastle United. He signed with Newcastle United at 18 years of age and played two seasons in the English First Division. He then moved to lower division club Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
where he played 13 games, scoring 5 goals in the 1979-1980 season.Andrew Parkinson was sold to the Philadelphia Fury of the North American Soccer League during 1979/80 season.
Move to U.S.
In 1980, Parkinson then moved to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he signed with the Philadelphia Fury
Philadelphia Fury
The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium....
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). Once again, he played a single season before the Fury was relocated to Montreal becoming the Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic were a soccer team based out of Montreal that played in the NASL. They played from 1981 to 1983. Their home field was Olympic Stadium...
. Parkinson had a successful two seasons with the Montreal Manic scoring the first two goals for the new franchise in the first game of the season winning 2 - 1 against the Toronto Blizzard and leading them to the playoffs and was one of the leading goal scorers once again. During this time, Parkinson received his U.S. citizenship. In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation, in coordination with the NASL, entered the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, known as Team America
Team America (soccer)
Team America was a professional version of the United States men's national soccer team which played as a franchise in the defunct North American Soccer League during the 1983 season...
, into the NASL as a league franchise. The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
and American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. Parkinson left the Manic with fellow team mate Hayden Knight
Hayden Knight
Hayden Knight is a retired Trinidad-American soccer defender and current high school soccer coach. He earned three caps with the United States men's national soccer team in 1984.-Youth:...
and signed with Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season in the struggling NASL the team disbanded with Parkinson being the leading goal scorer with 12 goals. The New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
acquired Parkinson when Team America disbanded and he played for the Cosmos during the 1984 season. At the end of the season, the NASL collapsed and the Cosmos jumped to the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. He began the MISL season with the Cosmos, but moved to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
in March 1985. In the fall of 1985, Parkinson signed with the Tacoma Stars of the MISL during the 1985-1986 season. In 1988, Parkinson played a single season with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (APSL)
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...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
.
National team
In 1984, Parkinson earned his two caps with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.