Delroy Allen
Encyclopedia
Delroy Allen is a retired Jamaican-American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
, American Soccer League
and United Soccer League
.
Allen graduated from St. Jago High School
in Kingston
in 1972. He then moved to the United States to attend college at Jacksonville University
. He also played for the men's soccer team in 1978 and 1979 and holds the school record for lowest career goals against average
. In 1980, the Tulsa Roughnecks
of the North American Soccer League
came to Jacksonville to play a pre-season game with the Washington Diplomats
. Allen went to watch the Roughnecks practice and noticed that they had only one goalkeeper. He offered to play in the Roughnecks' scrimage. Tulsa head coach Charlie Mitchell
offered Allen a contract contingent on him gaining his U.S. citizenship. Allen did so in August 1980 and signed immediately after with the Roughnecks. He joined the Roughnecks in time for the 1980-1981 NASL indoor season, then played the 1981 outdoor season. In 1983, he played for the Oklahoma City Slickers
of the American Soccer League
. In 1984, he played for the Oklahoma City Stampede of the United Soccer League
. In 1985, he moved to the Tulsa Tornados
of the USL. However, the league folded after six games.
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:...
, 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...
and United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
.
Allen graduated from St. Jago High School
St. Jago High School
St Jago High School in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Jamaica, founded in 1744, is one of the oldest, continuously operated schools in the Western Hemisphere...
in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in 1972. He then moved to the United States to attend college at Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
. He also played for the men's soccer team in 1978 and 1979 and holds the school record for lowest career goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
. In 1980, the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
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:...
came to Jacksonville to play a pre-season game with the Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
. Allen went to watch the Roughnecks practice and noticed that they had only one goalkeeper. He offered to play in the Roughnecks' scrimage. Tulsa head coach Charlie Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell
Charles Ross Mitchell is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Boston Red Sox. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the 4th round of the amateur draft...
offered Allen a contract contingent on him gaining his U.S. citizenship. Allen did so in August 1980 and signed immediately after with the Roughnecks. He joined the Roughnecks in time for the 1980-1981 NASL indoor season, then played the 1981 outdoor season. In 1983, he played for the Oklahoma City Slickers
Oklahoma City Slickers
The Oklahoma City Slickers was an American soccer club based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that played in three lower division U.S. leagues, the American Soccer League, United Soccer League and USISL.-American Soccer League:...
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...
. In 1984, he played for the Oklahoma City Stampede of the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. In 1985, he moved to the Tulsa Tornados
Tulsa Tornados
The Tulsa Tornados were a professional soccer team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played for one season in the USL. The 1985 season only lasted six games as the league folded halfway through....
of the USL. However, the league folded after six games.