Geoff Pike
Encyclopedia
Geoff Pike is an English
former footballer
midfielder
.
Pike played his early football in Thurrock
and later with Gidea Park Rangers. He joined West Ham United
in 1975 and was a member of the side that reached the 1975 FA Youth Cup
Final. He made his league debut on 6 March 1976 against Birmingham City
. In 1976, West Ham loaned him to the Hartford Bicentennials of the North American Soccer League
. He returned on loan in 1977, but by that time the team had moved and was now known as the Connecticut Bicentennials
.
He played for the Upton Park
club for twelve years, gaining an FA Cup
winners medal in 1980, a League Cup
runners-up medal in 1981 and promotion back to the top tier, after finishing as Division Two champions in 1980–81
. He amassed 372 appearances and 41 goals for West Ham in all competitions, until his departure in 1987.
He qualified for the UEFA Pro Licence in 2004.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Pike played his early football in Thurrock
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
and later with Gidea Park Rangers. He joined West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in 1975 and was a member of the side that reached the 1975 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
Final. He made his league debut on 6 March 1976 against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. In 1976, West Ham loaned him to the Hartford Bicentennials 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:...
. He returned on loan in 1977, but by that time the team had moved and was now known as the Connecticut Bicentennials
Connecticut Bicentennials
The Hartford Bicentennials was a soccer team based out of Hartford, Connecticut that played in the North American Soccer League. The team played at Dillon Stadium....
.
He played for the Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
club for twelve years, gaining an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winners medal in 1980, a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
runners-up medal in 1981 and promotion back to the top tier, after finishing as Division Two champions in 1980–81
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
. He amassed 372 appearances and 41 goals for West Ham in all competitions, until his departure in 1987.
He qualified for the UEFA Pro Licence in 2004.