Mal Roche
Encyclopedia
Mal Roche is a retired English football (soccer)
forward
who played seven seasons in the American Soccer League
and at least one in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He was the 1977 ASL Rookie of the Year and the 1980 ASL Leading Scorer.
where he played on the men's soccer team from 1973 to 1976. He was a member of the Don's 1975 and 1976 NCAA championship
teams. USF inducted Roche into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Roche also played for the San Francisco Athletic Club's soccer team during the mid to late 1970s.
. He tied for fourth on the goals list with thirteen and was named Rookie of the Year. In 1978, he moved to the Los Angeles Skyhawks
which went to the championship game, only to fall to the New York Apollo
. He had a drop in goal scoring during the 1979 season and at the end of the season, the Skyhawks collapsed. In 1980, the Golden Gate Gales
selected Roche in the Skyhawks' disperrsal draft and he saw a return to form, leading the league in scoring with 17 goals. The Gales, like the Skyhawks before them, collapsed at the end of the season and Roche moved to the Carolina Lightnin'
for the 1981 season. He scored only eight goals in 1981, but gained his first championship as the Lightnin' defeated New York United in the championship game. The Lightnin' and the ASL collapsed at the end of the 1983 season. Roche spent at least part of the 1983-1984 Major Indoor Soccer League
season with the St. Louis Steamers
. In 1984, Roche played for the San Francisco Glens
which won the San Francisco Soccer Football League title that year.
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...
forward
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 played seven seasons 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 at least one in the 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 was the 1977 ASL Rookie of the Year and the 1980 ASL Leading Scorer.
Youth
Born in England, Roche grew up in California where he became a U.S. citizen in the early 1970s. He attended the University of San FranciscoUniversity of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
where he played on the men's soccer team from 1973 to 1976. He was a member of the Don's 1975 and 1976 NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
teams. USF inducted Roche into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Roche also played for the San Francisco Athletic Club's soccer team during the mid to late 1970s.
Professional
In 1977, Roche signed with the Sacramento Spirits of the American Soccer LeagueAmerican 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 tied for fourth on the goals list with thirteen and was named Rookie of the Year. In 1978, he moved to the Los Angeles Skyhawks
Los Angeles Skyhawks
The Los Angeles Skyhawks was a professional soccer club based in Los Angeles, California that was a member of the American Soccer League. Founded as part of the American Soccer League's expansion to the west coast in 1976, they were the first professional sports team to be based in the San Fernando...
which went to the championship game, only to fall to 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...
. He had a drop in goal scoring during the 1979 season and at the end of the season, the Skyhawks collapsed. In 1980, the Golden Gate Gales
Golden Gate Gales
The Golden Gate Gales was an American soccer club based in Oakland, California that was a member of the American Soccer League. In their only season, Mal Roche was top scorer in the league with 17 goals....
selected Roche in the Skyhawks' disperrsal draft and he saw a return to form, leading the league in scoring with 17 goals. The Gales, like the Skyhawks before them, collapsed at the end of the season and Roche moved to the Carolina Lightnin'
Carolina Lightnin'
The Carolina Lightnin was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators...
for the 1981 season. He scored only eight goals in 1981, but gained his first championship as the Lightnin' defeated New York United in the championship game. The Lightnin' and the ASL collapsed at the end of the 1983 season. Roche spent at least part of the 1983-1984 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 with 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 1984, Roche played for the San Francisco Glens
San Francisco Glens
San Francisco Glens is an American soccer team founded in 1961. The team is a member of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and will make their debut in the Northwest Division in 2008, playing a short season of "exhibition games" prior to a planned...
which won the San Francisco Soccer Football League title that year.
Yearly Awards
- ASL Rookie of the Year - 1977
- ASL Top Goal Scorer - 1980 (17 Goals)
- ASL Top Points Scorer - 1980 (41 Points)