Derek Sanderson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Derek Sanderson is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in eight leagues including the North American Soccer League
, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League
. He played three games for the U.S. at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
.
. That year, the Portland Timbers
selected Sanderson in the fourth round of the North American Soccer League
draft. However, Sanderson never cracked the first team. In the fall of 1982, he moved to the Golden Bay Earthquakes as they competed in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He remained with the Earthquakes for the 1983 North American Soccer League season, but spent much of the season with the United States men's national under-20 soccer team. In 1984, Sanderson moved to the Jacksonville Tea Men
of the United Soccer League
. That fall, he joined the Kalamazoo Kangaroos
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. In 1985, he rejoined the Earthquakes, now playing in the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In the fall of 1985, Sanderson rejoined the Kangaroos, beginning the season in Kalamazoo before being traded to the Milwaukee Wave
half way through the season. In the summer of 1986, he again played for the Earthquakes. That fall, he rejoined the Wave for the 1986–1987 AISA season. In February 1987, the Wave sold his contract to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He remained with the Rowdies as they played an independent outdoor season in 1987. In 1988, he began the American Soccer League
season with the Rowdies, but was released on April 30, 1988 to free up a roster spot for Mark Kane. A week later, he signed with the Orlando Lions
. In 1989, Sanderson returned to Northern California to join the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
. In 1990, he played for the Salt Lake Sting
in the American Professional Soccer League
which had been formed by the merger of the Western Soccer Alliance and the American Soccer League. In 1991, Sanderson began the season with the Sting but moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers after the Sting experienced financial difficulties. That season, he was a First Team All Star. On April 9, 1992, Sanderson signed with the Colorado Foxes
. After failing to score in seven games, the Foxes sent him to the Miami Freedom
.
.
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:...
, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. He played three games for the U.S. at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, the fourth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Mexico from June 2 to June 19, 1983. The tournament took place in seven venues — Guadalajara, Irapuato, León, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puebla and Toluca — where a total of 32 matches were...
.
Professional
In 1982, Sanderson graduated from Mount Pleasant High SchoolMount Pleasant High School (San Jose, California)
Mount Pleasant High School is a public high school located in San Jose, California. It is a part of the East Side Union High School District.-Steve Poizner:...
. That year, the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
selected Sanderson in the fourth round 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:...
draft. However, Sanderson never cracked the first team. In the fall of 1982, he moved to the Golden Bay Earthquakes as they competed in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He remained with the Earthquakes for the 1983 North American Soccer League season, but spent much of the season with the United States men's national under-20 soccer team. In 1984, Sanderson moved to the Jacksonville Tea Men
Jacksonville Tea Men
The Jacksonville Tea Men were an American soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Overall, the Tea Men played a total of four seasons in Jacksonville, first in the major league-level North American Soccer League from 1980–1982, then in the lower level American Soccer League and United...
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...
. That fall, he joined the Kalamazoo Kangaroos
Kalamazoo Kangaroos
The Kalamazoo Kangaroos were an indoor soccer club based in Kalamazoo, Michigan that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association.The team was started in 1984 as one of the original members of the AISA. They played their games at Wings Stadium which seated 5,000 people and were coached in...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. In 1985, he rejoined the Earthquakes, now playing in the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In the fall of 1985, Sanderson rejoined the Kangaroos, beginning the season in Kalamazoo before being traded to the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
half way through the season. In the summer of 1986, he again played for the Earthquakes. That fall, he rejoined the Wave for the 1986–1987 AISA season. In February 1987, the Wave sold his contract to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He remained with the Rowdies as they played an independent outdoor season in 1987. In 1988, he began 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...
season with the Rowdies, but was released on April 30, 1988 to free up a roster spot for Mark Kane. A week later, he signed with the Orlando Lions
Orlando Lions
The Orlando Lions was an American 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....
. In 1989, Sanderson returned to Northern California to join the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks was a professional soccer team which came into existence in 1989 as a team in the Western Soccer League . The Blackhawks spent time in the American Professional Soccer League and the United States Interregional Soccer League...
. In 1990, he played for the Salt Lake Sting
Salt Lake Sting
The Salt Lake Sting was a professional soccer team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They played in the American Professional Soccer League. The franchise lasted two seasons, but financial concerns caused the team's ownership to shut the franchise down on July 5, 1991...
in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
which had been formed by the merger of the Western Soccer Alliance and the American Soccer League. In 1991, Sanderson began the season with the Sting but moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers after the Sting experienced financial difficulties. That season, he was a First Team All Star. On April 9, 1992, Sanderson signed with the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
. After failing to score in seven games, the Foxes sent him to the Miami Freedom
Miami Freedom
The Miami Sharks were an inaugural franchise of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988. The team were renamed the Miami Freedom and joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
.
International
In 1983, Sanderson played for the United States men's national under-20 soccer team at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, the fourth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Mexico from June 2 to June 19, 1983. The tournament took place in seven venues — Guadalajara, Irapuato, León, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puebla and Toluca — where a total of 32 matches were...
.