Joey Fink
Encyclopedia
Joey Fink is a former U.S. soccer forward
who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League
, two in the American Soccer League
and seven in Major Indoor Soccer League
. He also earned six caps with the U.S. national team
between 1973 and 1975.
in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
. He went to college at New York University
where he was a 1971 honorable mention (third team) All American soccer player. That season he scored a school record eighteen goals. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on May 10, 2008.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) drafted Fink in the first round of the NASL College Draft. That year he began the first four games on the bench. In the fifth game of the season, Fink came off the bench and scored three goals. He ended the season with eleven goals in twelve starts and three late game appearances.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/2002/then_now/flashbacks/rote_080673/ This led to Fink’s selection as a second team 1973 All Star. Despite his productivity, the Cosmos coach, Gordon Bradley
, acquired Harold Jarman
to replace Fink for the 1974 season. When Jarman failed to produce (scoring only four goals in eighteen games), Bradley gradually began to go with Fink who finished the 1974 season with three goals in eight starts and four late game appearances. In 1975, Fink scored six goals in sixteen games and was traded to the Tampa Bay Rowdies at the end of the season. Fink spent the next three seasons with the Rowdies before leaving the NASL at the end of the 1978 season. In 1979, Fink joined the California Sunshine
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). He tied with team mate Poli Garcia
for the league lead in goal scoring with fifteen. In 1980, he was with the New York United and Cleveland Cobras
. By that time Fink was a successful indoor soccer player and he dedicated himself to the indoor game. In 1978, Fink signed with the Philadelphia Fever
of the newly established Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). Fink scored thirty goals in twenty-two games as the Fever went to the MISL championship series before falling to the New York Arrows
. In the 1980-1981 season, Fink scored fifty-one goals in thirty-nine goals. On July 1, 1981, the Baltimore Blast acquired Fink from Fever.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01EFD61138F932A35754C0A967948260&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FS%2FSoccer He went on to play at four seasons with the Blast. In 1984, he became the first American player to score 200 goals in MISL. He followed that achievement up by scoring five goals in the final game of the 1983-1984 championship series to give the Blast the title over the St. Louis Steamers
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE7DD133BF933A25755C0A962948260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fS%2fSoccer He was inducted into the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame in 2006.
in a 1-0 win over Bermuda
on September 9, 1973. He went on to play a total of six games with the national team, his last coming in a 2-0 loss to Mexico
on August 24, 1975.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who spent six 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:...
, two in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and seven in 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 six 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...
between 1973 and 1975.
Youth and college
Fink played youth soccer with Blau-Weiss Gottschee. He attended Steinert High SchoolSteinert High School
Steinert High School is a four- year comprehensive public high school, one of three secondary high schools that are part of the Hamilton Township School District, located in Hamilton Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township is a Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 88,464...
. He went to college at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
where he was a 1971 honorable mention (third team) All American soccer player. That season he scored a school record eighteen goals. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on May 10, 2008.
Professional
In 1973, 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:...
(NASL) drafted Fink in the first round of the NASL College Draft. That year he began the first four games on the bench. In the fifth game of the season, Fink came off the bench and scored three goals. He ended the season with eleven goals in twelve starts and three late game appearances.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/2002/then_now/flashbacks/rote_080673/ This led to Fink’s selection as a second team 1973 All Star. Despite his productivity, the Cosmos coach, Gordon Bradley
Gordon Bradley
Gordon Bradley was an English-American football midfielder born and raised on Wearside who played several seasons with lower division English clubs before moving to play in Canada at the age of 30. During the Canadian off-season, he played and coached in the U.S. based German American Soccer...
, acquired Harold Jarman
Harold Jarman
Harold Jarman is a former professional footballer and first-class cricketer, who played for Bristol Rovers, Newport County and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.-Player:...
to replace Fink for the 1974 season. When Jarman failed to produce (scoring only four goals in eighteen games), Bradley gradually began to go with Fink who finished the 1974 season with three goals in eight starts and four late game appearances. In 1975, Fink scored six goals in sixteen games and was traded to the Tampa Bay Rowdies at the end of the season. Fink spent the next three seasons with the Rowdies before leaving the NASL at the end of the 1978 season. In 1979, Fink joined the California Sunshine
California Sunshine (soccer)
The California Sunshine was an American soccer club based in Fountain Valley, California that was a member of the American Soccer League. The team was owned by Dr. Robert Everakes and his wife Alexandra, who was the general manager...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL). He tied with team mate Poli Garcia
Poli Garcia
Jose “Poli” Garcia is a former U.S. soccer player. He spent at least four seasons in the American Soccer League, three in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
for the league lead in goal scoring with fifteen. In 1980, he was with the New York United and Cleveland Cobras
Cleveland Cobras
The Cleveland Stars were an American soccer club based in Cleveland, Ohio and a member of the American Soccer League in 1972-73. Before the 1974 season, the name was changed to the Cleveland Cobras. The Stars' colors were blue and white...
. By that time Fink was a successful indoor soccer player and he dedicated himself to the indoor game. In 1978, Fink signed with 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)...
of the newly established 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). Fink scored thirty goals in twenty-two games as the Fever went to the MISL championship series before falling 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:...
. In the 1980-1981 season, Fink scored fifty-one goals in thirty-nine goals. On July 1, 1981, the Baltimore Blast acquired Fink from Fever.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01EFD61138F932A35754C0A967948260&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FS%2FSoccer He went on to play at four seasons with the Blast. In 1984, he became the first American player to score 200 goals in MISL. He followed that achievement up by scoring five goals in the final game of the 1983-1984 championship series to give the Blast the title over 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...
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE7DD133BF933A25755C0A962948260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fS%2fSoccer He was inducted into the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame in 2006.
National team
Fink earned his first 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 1-0 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 September 9, 1973. He went on to play a total of six games with the national team, his last coming in a 2-0 loss to Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
on August 24, 1975.