Doc Lawson
Encyclopedia
Aldophus “Doc” Lawson is a former American
soccer defender
best known for his long indoor career. Lawson played the third most games in the history of the original MISL
. He also spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League
. Known for his tenacious defending, Doc earned the nickname, The Indoor Warrior. Lawson earned three caps with the U.S. national team
in 1979, was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic soccer team and was with the U.S. Futsal team when it took third place in the 1989 FIFA Futsal World Championship
.
, Lawson moved with his family to the United States
as a child. His family settled in Queens, New York where he began playing soccer at the age of fourteen. He attended Jamaica High School
, earning the PSAL
Iron Horse/Pegasus award for soccer for the 1975-1976 season. Following graduation from high school in 1976, Lawson attended Southern Connecticut State University
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1976 to 1978. He was the first Fighting Owl to receive All American recognition when he was named a third team All American in both 1977 and 1978. In 1978, he left college to turn professional.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL) in 1978 as both the team and league prepared for their first season. On December 22, 1978, Lawson played in the first game in MISL history as the Kids lost to the New York Arrows
at Nassau Coliseum. The Kids folded at the end of the season, and Lawson moved to the Philadelphia Fever
. In 1982, Lawson signed with the New York Arrows
. The Arrows had dominated the league since its inception, but were now on a downward slide. Lawson played two seasons with them before they folded in 1984. He then moved to the New York Cosmos
where he played the final NASL season. When the NASL folded in 1984, the Cosmos jumped to MISL for the 1984-1985 season. However, they folded during the season. Lawson signed as a free agent with the Dallas Sidekicks
on October 1, 1985. Lawson became one of only five players to have his jersey number retired by Dallas, having played for the Sidekicks for six seasons. He was an integral part of the 1986-87 MISL championship team. When he retired in 1991, he was the last active original member of MISL.
He retired after the 1990-91 season and went into private business in Dallas.
. Following his first MISL season, Lawson moved west to sign with the San Jose Earthquakes
for the 1979 NASL season. He was then traded to the San Diego Sockers and played the 1980 NASL outdoor season with them. He did not play outdoors again until 1984 when he signed with the New York Cosmos
for the last year of the NASL.
in October 1979. His first came in a 3-1 win over Bermuda
on October 7th. His second was a 3-0 loss France
three days later and his last game was a 2-0 loss to Hungary
on October 26.
Lawson was selected for the U.S. Olympic team as it began qualification for the 1980 Summer Olympics
to be held in Moscow
. Qualifications continued into 1980 and the U.S. ultimately qualified for the games, its first since the 1972 Summer Olympics
. However, President Jimmy Carter
declared that the United States would boycott the games after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan
.
In 1989, Lawson played eight games, scoring one goal, with the U.S. National Futsal
team which competed in the first FIFA Futsal World Championship
. The U.S. took third place.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
best known for his long indoor career. Lawson played the third most games in the history of the original MISL
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 spent four 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:...
. Known for his tenacious defending, Doc earned the nickname, The Indoor Warrior. Lawson earned three caps 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 1979, was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic soccer team and was with the U.S. Futsal team when it took third place in the 1989 FIFA Futsal World Championship
FIFA Futsal World Championship
The FIFA Futsal World Cup is the international championship for futsal, an indoor version of association football.The world championship tournament is held every four years, on the even year between two FIFA World Cups. The first event was held in 1989, the year FIFA became the world governing body...
.
Youth
While born in LiberiaLiberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Lawson moved with his family to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a child. His family settled in Queens, New York where he began playing soccer at the age of fourteen. He attended Jamaica High School
Jamaica High School (New York City)
Jamaica High School is a four-year public high school in Queens, New York. The school is administered by the New York City Department of Education.-History:...
, earning the PSAL
PSAL
The Public Schools Athletic League, known by the acronym PSAL, is an organization that promotes student athletics in the public schools of New York City. It was founded in 1903 to provide and maintain a sports program for students enrolled in New York City public schools. The PSAL serves both boys...
Iron Horse/Pegasus award for soccer for the 1975-1976 season. Following graduation from high school in 1976, Lawson attended Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1976 to 1978. He was the first Fighting Owl to receive All American recognition when he was named a third team All American in both 1977 and 1978. In 1978, he left college to turn professional.
MISL
Lawson signed with the Cincinnati KidsCincinnati Kids
The Cincinnati Kids were a soccer team based out of Cincinnati that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League. They played only in the 1978-79 MISL season and were partially owned by Pete Rose. Their home arena was Riverfront Coliseum....
of 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...
(MISL) in 1978 as both the team and league prepared for their first season. On December 22, 1978, Lawson played in the first game in MISL history as the Kids lost to the New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
at Nassau Coliseum. The Kids folded at the end of the season, and Lawson moved to the Philadelphia Fever
Philadelphia Fever
.The Philadelphia Fever were an indoor soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1982. Their home arena was the Spectrum)...
. In 1982, Lawson signed with the New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
. The Arrows had dominated the league since its inception, but were now on a downward slide. Lawson played two seasons with them before they folded in 1984. He then moved to 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...
where he played the final NASL season. When the NASL folded in 1984, the Cosmos jumped to MISL for the 1984-1985 season. However, they folded during the season. Lawson signed as a free agent with the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
on October 1, 1985. Lawson became one of only five players to have his jersey number retired by Dallas, having played for the Sidekicks for six seasons. He was an integral part of the 1986-87 MISL championship team. When he retired in 1991, he was the last active original member of MISL.
He retired after the 1990-91 season and went into private business in Dallas.
NASL
In addition to his long indoor career, Lawson also spent several seasons in the North American Soccer LeagueNorth 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:...
. Following his first MISL season, Lawson moved west to sign with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
for the 1979 NASL season. He was then traded to the San Diego Sockers and played the 1980 NASL outdoor season with them. He did not play outdoors again until 1984 when he signed with 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...
for the last year of the NASL.
National and Olympic teams
Lawson earned three 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...
in October 1979. His first came in a 3-1 win over Bermuda
Bermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
on October 7th. His second was a 3-0 loss France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
three days later and his last game was a 2-0 loss to Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
on October 26.
Lawson was selected for the U.S. Olympic team as it began qualification for the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
to be held in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Qualifications continued into 1980 and the U.S. ultimately qualified for the games, its first since the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. However, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
declared that the United States would boycott the games after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
In 1989, Lawson played eight games, scoring one goal, with the U.S. National Futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team which competed in the first FIFA Futsal World Championship
FIFA Futsal World Championship
The FIFA Futsal World Cup is the international championship for futsal, an indoor version of association football.The world championship tournament is held every four years, on the even year between two FIFA World Cups. The first event was held in 1989, the year FIFA became the world governing body...
. The U.S. took third place.