Gary Etherington
Encyclopedia
Gary Etherington is a retired English-American soccer player who began his professional career in the North American Soccer League
before moving to the Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned seven caps with the U.S. national team. Since retiring, Etherington has coached youth soccer and is a soccer equipment salesman.
on his high school football
team. Etherington was also a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
in 1976 as it attempted to qualify for the 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship
. Etherington scored six goals to go with striker partner Rick Davis
who scored eight. Despite their outstanding production, the U.S. finished third in the CONCACAF and did not qualify for the tournament.
In 1976, The New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League sign 18-year-old Gary Etherington. The previous spring he was on the Annandale, Va. team that beat Westport in overtime, in Westport, in the Eastern U.S. finals, then went on to capture what is now the U-19 McGuire Cup national championship. The Annandale Cavaliers defeated Fountain Valley, CA 4-0 in the semi-finals and Sparta of Chicago (3-0) in the finals. Future Cosmos teammate Ricky Davis played for Fountain Valley.
of the North American Soccer League
in 1977 as an amateur player and saw time in ten games that year. However, 1978 was considered his first professional season with the Cosmos. As such, he earned NASL Rookie of the Year honors that season. Etherington remained with the Cosmos for only one more season before being traded to the Los Angeles Aztecs
before the 1980 season. While Etherington had begun as a forward with the Cosmos, his lack of production had led to his move to the midfield. When the Aztecs traded Etherington to the San Jose Earthquakes at the end of the 1980 season, Etherington found himself at right back for the 1981 season. However, in 1982, he was back in the midfield. Etherington moved once more, this time to the Minnesota Strikers
for the 1984 NASL season, the last for the league as it folded at the end of the season.
for Steve Zungul
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807EFD91138F933A15752C0A965948260 At the time the Earthquakes played in both the NASL and MISL while the Arrows played exclusively in the MISL. With this move, Etherington got his first taste of indoor soccer. The Arrows folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season and Etherington moved to the Minnesota Strikers
for the 1984 NASL outdoor season. When the NASL collapsed in 1984, the Strikers moved to MISL. Etherington remained with the Strikers and spent the next four seasons with them playing indoor soccer. In 1987, he played in the MISL All Star game. In 1988, Etherington moved to the San Diego Sockers for one last season before retiring from playing professionally. He had knee surgery during the pre-season, came back to play ten games then retired in January 1989.
. He played sporadically throughout 1977, then started all three U.S. games in 1978. His last match came in the first U.S. game of 1979, a February 3 loss to the Soviet Union.
Etherington has been a regional sales manager for soccer equipment and clothing companies, including Umbro
.
In 2007 Etherington was inducted into the Virginia Soccer Hall of Fame.http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=8637
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:...
before moving to the Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned seven caps with the U.S. national team. Since retiring, Etherington has coached youth soccer and is a soccer equipment salesman.
Youth
Etherington was born in England but migrated to the U.S. with his family when he was fifteen. His family settled in Virginia where he attended high school, playing both soccer and as a placekickerPlacekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
on his high school football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team. Etherington was also a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
in 1976 as it attempted to qualify for the 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship
1977 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship was the inaugural staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship and was held in Tunisia from June 27 to July 10, 1977. The tournament took place in four venues — Tunis, Rades, Sousse and Sfax — where a total of 28 matches were played, the smallest number in its...
. Etherington scored six goals to go with striker partner Rick Davis
Rick Davis
Richard Dean Davis is a retired American soccer midfielder, and former captain of the U.S. National Team for much of the 1980s...
who scored eight. Despite their outstanding production, the U.S. finished third in the CONCACAF and did not qualify for the tournament.
In 1976, The New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League sign 18-year-old Gary Etherington. The previous spring he was on the Annandale, Va. team that beat Westport in overtime, in Westport, in the Eastern U.S. finals, then went on to capture what is now the U-19 McGuire Cup national championship. The Annandale Cavaliers defeated Fountain Valley, CA 4-0 in the semi-finals and Sparta of Chicago (3-0) in the finals. Future Cosmos teammate Ricky Davis played for Fountain Valley.
NASL
After graduating from high school, Etherington chose to bypass college and turn professional. He signed with the New York CosmosNew 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...
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:...
in 1977 as an amateur player and saw time in ten games that year. However, 1978 was considered his first professional season with the Cosmos. As such, he earned NASL Rookie of the Year honors that season. Etherington remained with the Cosmos for only one more season before being traded to the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
before the 1980 season. While Etherington had begun as a forward with the Cosmos, his lack of production had led to his move to the midfield. When the Aztecs traded Etherington to the San Jose Earthquakes at the end of the 1980 season, Etherington found himself at right back for the 1981 season. However, in 1982, he was back in the midfield. Etherington moved once more, this time to the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
for the 1984 NASL season, the last for the league as it folded at the end of the season.
MISL
The Earthquakes entered Major Indoor Soccer League for the 1982-1983 indoor season. Etherington began the season with San Jose, but on January 20, 1983, the Earthquakes traded Etherington and Gordon Hill to the New York ArrowsNew 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:...
for Steve Zungul
Steve Zungul
Slaviša Žungul, known in the United States as Steve Zungul is a retired Yugoslavian-American football striker. Žungul began his career with Hajduk Split in his native Yugoslavia before moving to the United States where he became a dominant indoor soccer striker...
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807EFD91138F933A15752C0A965948260 At the time the Earthquakes played in both the NASL and MISL while the Arrows played exclusively in the MISL. With this move, Etherington got his first taste of indoor soccer. The Arrows folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season and Etherington moved to the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
for the 1984 NASL outdoor season. When the NASL collapsed in 1984, the Strikers moved to MISL. Etherington remained with the Strikers and spent the next four seasons with them playing indoor soccer. In 1987, he played in the MISL All Star game. In 1988, Etherington moved to the San Diego Sockers for one last season before retiring from playing professionally. He had knee surgery during the pre-season, came back to play ten games then retired in January 1989.
National team
Etherington earned seven caps with the U.S. national team between 1977 and 1979. His first match came in a 2-1 win over El SalvadorEl Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
. He played sporadically throughout 1977, then started all three U.S. games in 1978. His last match came in the first U.S. game of 1979, a February 3 loss to the Soviet Union.
Post-Playing career
Since retiring from playing professionally, Etherington has been involved in numerous ventures related to soccer. He co-founded the Murrieta Soccer Club in 1992, coaching the club’s youth teams for five years. He has also spent several years in adult leagues in northern California.Etherington has been a regional sales manager for soccer equipment and clothing companies, including Umbro
Umbro
Umbro is an English sportswear and football equipment supplier based in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England. The company is now part of Nike. Umbro designs, sources, and markets sport-related apparel, footwear, and equipment...
.
In 2007 Etherington was inducted into the Virginia Soccer Hall of Fame.http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=8637