Derek Spalding
Encyclopedia
Derek Spalding is a former soccer player, who played as a defender
. Spalding played for Hibernian
in the Scottish Football League
until he emigrated to the United States
in 1977. He then played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League
and at least two in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team
, in 1982.
as a youth player. He worked his way through the reserves
before gaining a spot on the first team in 1972. Spalding played for Hibs in the 1974 Scottish League Cup Final
, which Hibs lost 6–3 to Celtic
.
He played with Hibs until he left Scotland
to move to the United States
. Spalding had married an American woman and therefore qualified for a green card. When he signed with the Chicago Sting
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) in 1978, he counted as one of the team’s American players. He played five seasons in Chicago, winning the 1981 NASL championship with the Sting. In 1983, he signed with the Toronto Blizzard
and spent two seasons in Canada. In both 1983 and 1984, Spalding and his team mates went to the NASL championship, only to lose to the Tulsa Roughnecks
in 1983 and the Sting in 1984.
Both the Blizzard and the NASL folded at the end of the 1984 season. With the collapse of the NASL, the Sting jumped to the Major Indoor Soccer League
and Spalding signed with the Sting on November 22, 1984. Spalding underwent ankle surgery following a game injury in 1986. He lost the rest of the season, then was cut by the Sting and denied workers compensation benefits. This led Spalding to join Rudy Glenn
, who had also suffered a career ending injury, in a suit against the Sting in September 1986.
in a 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago
on March 21, 1982.
of the National Professional Soccer League. During the 1989-1990 season, head coach Karl-Heinz Granitza
was fired and Spalding served as head coach for the remainder of the season. He was fired at the end of the season, to be replaced by Pato Margetic.
In 1995, became the director of the Chicago Stingers of the USISL.
Spalding coaches the Libertyville High School
boy’s junior varsity soccer team.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. Spalding played for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
until he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1977. He then played seven 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:...
and at least two in 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 also earned one cap with 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...
, in 1982.
Professional
Growing up in Scotland, Spalding signed with First Division club HibernianHibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
as a youth player. He worked his way through the reserves
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
before gaining a spot on the first team in 1972. Spalding played for Hibs in the 1974 Scottish League Cup Final
1974 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1974 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 26 October 1974 and was the final of the 29th Scottish League Cup competition. It was contested by Hibernian and Celtic. Celtic won the match 6–3, with John "Dixie" Deans and Joe Harper scoring hat-tricks for each side...
, which Hibs lost 6–3 to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
.
He played with Hibs until he left Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to move to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Spalding had married an American woman and therefore qualified for a green card. When he signed with 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...
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) in 1978, he counted as one of the team’s American players. He played five seasons in Chicago, winning the 1981 NASL championship with the Sting. In 1983, he signed with the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
and spent two seasons in Canada. In both 1983 and 1984, Spalding and his team mates went to the NASL championship, only to lose to 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...
in 1983 and the Sting in 1984.
Both the Blizzard and the NASL folded at the end of the 1984 season. With the collapse of the NASL, the Sting 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...
and Spalding signed with the Sting on November 22, 1984. Spalding underwent ankle surgery following a game injury in 1986. He lost the rest of the season, then was cut by the Sting and denied workers compensation benefits. This led Spalding to join Rudy Glenn
Rudy Glenn
Rudy Glenn is a retired U.S. soccer player who coaches youth soccer and works in the Chicago Power front office.-High school and college:Glenn attended Mannheim American High School in Mannheim, Germany . He attended Indiana University from 1976-1979 where he played on the men’s soccer team. ...
, who had also suffered a career ending injury, in a suit against the Sting in September 1986.
National team
Spalding earned one cap 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...
in a 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
on March 21, 1982.
Coaching and team management
Spalding served as an assistant coach with the Chicago PowerChicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League. During the 1989-1990 season, head coach Karl-Heinz Granitza
Karl-Heinz Granitza
Karl-Heinz Granitza was a German football player. In the United States, he is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
was fired and Spalding served as head coach for the remainder of the season. He was fired at the end of the season, to be replaced by Pato Margetic.
In 1995, became the director of the Chicago Stingers of the USISL.
Spalding coaches the Libertyville High School
Libertyville High School
Libertyville High School, or LHS, is a public four-year high school located in Libertyville, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
boy’s junior varsity soccer team.