Godfrey Ingram
Encyclopedia
Godfrey Patrick Ingram is a retired English
professional footballer who played as a striker. Active in England, Wales and the United States, Ingram made over 440 career league appearances, and scored over 270 league goals.
, Ingram began his career with the youth team of home town club Luton Town
. He turned professional with Luton Town in 1977, and spent loan spells with the New York Cosmos
and Northampton Town
. After leaving Luton Town in 1982, Ingram returned to the North American Soccer League
to play with the San Jose Earthquakes
before returning to the UK to play with Welsh side Cardiff City
. Ingram then returned to play for the rebranded Golden Bay Earthquakes
during the 1982-1983 Major Indoor Soccer League
season. He remained with the Earthquakes for the 1983 outdoor and 1983-1984 NASL indoor seasons. He then began the 1984 outdoor season with the 'Quakes before being traded to the Minnesota Strikers
in May 1984. The NASL collapsed after the 1984 season, and Ingram signed with the Las Vegas Americans
of the MISL. When the Americans folded at the end of the season, coach Don Popovic
, along with several Las Vegas players including Ingram, moved to the Pittsburgh Spirit
. The Spirit folded at the end of the season and the Tacoma Stars picked up his contract in July 1986. He began the 1987-1988 season with the Stars, but demanded to be traded after seeing a reduction in his playing time. On December 4, 1987, the Stars sent him to the St. Louis Steamers
in exchange for Charlie Falzon
and $20,000. He played eight games for the St. Louis Steamers
before moving to the Dallas Sidekicks
on January 11, 1988 for $75,000 and the Sidekicks second and third round draft picks. He finished the season in Dallas, began the 1988-1989 season and was released by the Sidekicks on November 19, 1988. Two days later, the Tacoma Stars picked him off waivers. The Stars released him on July 5, 1989 in a move to reduce the team salary. On October 18, 1989, he joined the St. Louis Storm
and played three seasons with them. Ingram returned to England in 1992, playing league football with Peterborough United
, and non-league football with St Albans City
and Buckingham Town
. He retired in 2001.
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...
professional footballer who played as a striker. Active in England, Wales and the United States, Ingram made over 440 career league appearances, and scored over 270 league goals.
Career
Born in LutonLuton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, Ingram began his career with the youth team of home town club Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. He turned professional with Luton Town in 1977, and spent loan spells 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...
and Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
. After leaving Luton Town in 1982, Ingram returned to 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:...
to play 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...
before returning to the UK to play with Welsh side Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. Ingram then returned to play for the rebranded Golden Bay 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...
during the 1982-1983 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...
season. He remained with the Earthquakes for the 1983 outdoor and 1983-1984 NASL indoor seasons. He then began the 1984 outdoor season with the 'Quakes before being traded 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....
in May 1984. The NASL collapsed after the 1984 season, and Ingram signed with the Las Vegas Americans
Las Vegas Americans
The Las Vegas Americans were a soccer team based out of Las Vegas that played in the Major Soccer League. They played only one season, 1984 and lost in the first round of the championship that year. The Americans finished their only season in the league with a 30-18 record earning them second place...
of the MISL. When the Americans folded at the end of the season, coach Don Popovic
Don Popovic
Dragan "Don" Popovic is a retired professional soccer midfielder and current coach in the United States. He played professionally in Yugoslavia, Canada and the North American Soccer League...
, along with several Las Vegas players including Ingram, moved to the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
. The Spirit folded at the end of the season and the Tacoma Stars picked up his contract in July 1986. He began the 1987-1988 season with the Stars, but demanded to be traded after seeing a reduction in his playing time. On December 4, 1987, the Stars sent him to the St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
in exchange for Charlie Falzon
Charlie Falzon
Charlie Falzon is a retired Canadian soccer player who spent time in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned nine caps with the Canadian national soccer team between 1983 and 1989...
and $20,000. He played eight games for the St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
before moving to 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 January 11, 1988 for $75,000 and the Sidekicks second and third round draft picks. He finished the season in Dallas, began the 1988-1989 season and was released by the Sidekicks on November 19, 1988. Two days later, the Tacoma Stars picked him off waivers. The Stars released him on July 5, 1989 in a move to reduce the team salary. On October 18, 1989, he joined the St. Louis Storm
St. Louis Storm
The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St...
and played three seasons with them. Ingram returned to England in 1992, playing league football with Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, and non-league football with St Albans City
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
and Buckingham Town
Buckingham Town F.C.
Buckingham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the United Counties League and play at Ford Meadow.-History:...
. He retired in 2001.