Keith Van Eron
Encyclopedia
Keith Van Eron is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who played one season in the American Soccer League
and three in the North American Soccer League
. He also played the first eleven seasons of Major Indoor Soccer League
, winning the 1984 championship with the Baltimore Blast. He was the 1986 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year.
where he played soccer under Timo Liekoski
. He had originally intended to play basketball at Hartwick, but joined the soccer team. He was a 1976 Honorable Mention (third team) All American. In 1977, Van Eron turned professional with the New York Apollo
in the American Soccer League
. He immediately proved his worth by being named a first team all star. The Apollos sold his contract to the Houston Hurricane
, coached by Liekoski, of the North American Soccer League
, two games into the 1978 season. He played nineteen games for an 8–11 record before the Hurricane acquired Paul Hammond from Tampa Bay. The team then benched Van Eron and went 1–8 under Hammond. That fall, he signed with the Cincinnati Kids
of the newly established Major Indoor Soccer League
. Although he played one last outdoor season, in the fall of 1980, he moved indoors permanently when he signed with the Wichita Wings
. In January 1981, the Wings traded him to the Philadelphia Fever
. He moved to the Baltimore Blast in the fall of 1981 and would remain with the team until 1988, except for one season with the Las Vegas Americans
. In February 2008, he was inducted into the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame.
The US release of Microprose Soccer
(1988), probably the most popular soccer game for the Commodore 64
computer, was called Keith Van Eron's Pro Soccer
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played one season 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 three 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:...
. He also played the first eleven seasons 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...
, winning the 1984 championship with the Baltimore Blast. He was the 1986 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year.
Player
Van Eron attended Hartwick CollegeHartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
where he played soccer under Timo Liekoski
Timo Liekoski
Timo Liekoski is a Finnish soccer coach who managed teams in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major League Soccer...
. He had originally intended to play basketball at Hartwick, but joined the soccer team. He was a 1976 Honorable Mention (third team) All American. In 1977, Van Eron turned professional with the New York Apollo
New York Apollo
The New York Greeks was an American soccer club based in New York City that was a member of the American Soccer League.The team began as the amateur Greek-Americans. The club played lower Premier Division of the German American Soccer League which was based in the New York metropolitan area...
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...
. He immediately proved his worth by being named a first team all star. The Apollos sold his contract to the Houston Hurricane
Houston Hurricane
The Houston Hurricane was a soccer team based out of Houston that played in the NASL. They played from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was the Astrodome. Their colors were orange, white and red....
, coached by Liekoski, 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:...
, two games into the 1978 season. He played nineteen games for an 8–11 record before the Hurricane acquired Paul Hammond from Tampa Bay. The team then benched Van Eron and went 1–8 under Hammond. That fall, he signed with the Cincinnati Kids
Cincinnati 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 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...
. Although he played one last outdoor season, in the fall of 1980, he moved indoors permanently when he signed with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
. In January 1981, the Wings traded him 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)...
. He moved to the Baltimore Blast in the fall of 1981 and would remain with the team until 1988, except for one season 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...
. In February 2008, he was inducted into the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame.
Personal
Van Eron currently owns a company which specializes in holding soccer camps for youth players.The US release of Microprose Soccer
Microprose Soccer
Microprose Soccer is a soccer videogame published by Microprose in 1988. The original Commodore 64 version was developed by Sensible Software, with conversions carried out to other formats. It is the fore-runner of the 16-bit classic Sensible Soccer...
(1988), probably the most popular soccer game for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
computer, was called Keith Van Eron's Pro Soccer