Mark Simpson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Simpson is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who spent six seasons with D.C. United
in Major League Soccer
. He backstopped the team to the MLS Cup 1996
. He also spent one season in the American Professional Soccer League
, two in the USISL and six in the National Professional Soccer League. He earned one cap with the U.S. National Futsal Team in 1999.
where he played on the men's soccer team until 1988.
selected Simpson in the third round (25th overall) of the Major Indoor Soccer League
draft. The Sting folded a month later and the San Diego Sockers picked up Simpson in the July 1988 dispersal draft. The Sockers did not sign him and Simpson joined the Chicago Power
of the American Indoor Soccer Association in October 1988. He played each winter indoor season with the Power until February 1995 when he was traded to the Dayton Dynamo
for Jim Adams and future considerations. He finished the 1994-1995 season with Dayton. In 1990, Simpson spent a season outdoors with the Orlando Lions
of the American Professional Soccer League
. He had also spent the summer of 1994 with the expansion Rockford Raptors
of the USISL. In the fall of 1995, Simpson joined the Cincinnati Silverbacks
of NPSL. He had attended the MLS Supplemental Combine, but went undrafted in 1996. Intending to play the summer with the Richmond Kickers
, he was on trial there when he received a call from D.C. head coach Bruce Arena
asking if he wanted to join United. On April 19, 1996, the Silverbacks sent Simpson on loan to D.C. United
of Major League Soccer
. Although he began the season as a backup, he made five regular season appearances at the end of the season and was Arena’s keeper of choice for the playoffs. On October 20, 1996, he backstopped United to the MLS Championship
. He returned to the indoor game for the 1996-1997 indoor season with the Buffalo Blizzard
. However, he tore his medial and lateral meniscus thirteen games into the season. He had surgery to repair the damage, but his knee then became infected. This kept him from playing for nearly a year and a half. In 1998, he began his comeback, going on loan to the MLS Pro-40 team and playing two games with D.C. United waived him on October 30, 1998. He returned to playing full time in 1999, spending time with the MLS Pro-40 team in the USISL. United then called him back into the team and he remained with D.C. until his retirement on January 8, 2002.
of the USL A-League. On January 19, 2004, Simpson returned to United as an assistant coach for goalkeeping, a position which he still holds.
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 spent six seasons with D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He backstopped the team to the MLS Cup 1996
MLS Cup 1996
The 1996 MLS Cup was the first championship match in Major League Soccer history. The game was played in very heavy rain on October 20, 1996, at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. D.C. United beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 in extra-time, after trailing 2-0, with 17 minutes remaining.D.C...
. He also spent one season in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
, two in the USISL and six in the National Professional Soccer League. He earned one cap with the U.S. National Futsal Team in 1999.
Youth
Simpson attended Eastern Illinois UniversityEastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
where he played on the men's soccer team until 1988.
Professional
On June 17, 1988, the Chicago StingChicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
selected Simpson in the third round (25th overall) of 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...
draft. The Sting folded a month later and the San Diego Sockers picked up Simpson in the July 1988 dispersal draft. The Sockers did not sign him and Simpson joined the Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association in October 1988. He played each winter indoor season with the Power until February 1995 when he was traded to the Dayton Dynamo
Dayton Dynamo
The Dayton Dynamo was a professional indoor soccer team from Dayton, Ohio. The team played in the American Indoor Soccer Association ....
for Jim Adams and future considerations. He finished the 1994-1995 season with Dayton. In 1990, Simpson spent a season outdoors with the Orlando Lions
Orlando Lions
The Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team....
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. He had also spent the summer of 1994 with the expansion Rockford Raptors
Rockford Raptors
The Rockford Raptors were an American soccer team based in Rockford, Illinois. The team began in the USISL and moved to the USISL Pro League in 1995. In 1999, the team was relegated to the Premier Development League....
of the USISL. In the fall of 1995, Simpson joined the Cincinnati Silverbacks
Cincinnati Silverbacks
The Cincinnati Silverbacks was an indoor soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. They performed under the leadership of All-Star goalkeeper, Carlos Pena. Other star players included Gino DiFlorio , Franklin McIntosh, and Dennis Brose...
of NPSL. He had attended the MLS Supplemental Combine, but went undrafted in 1996. Intending to play the summer with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, he was on trial there when he received a call from D.C. head coach Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
asking if he wanted to join United. On April 19, 1996, the Silverbacks sent Simpson on loan to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. Although he began the season as a backup, he made five regular season appearances at the end of the season and was Arena’s keeper of choice for the playoffs. On October 20, 1996, he backstopped United to the MLS Championship
MLS Cup 1996
The 1996 MLS Cup was the first championship match in Major League Soccer history. The game was played in very heavy rain on October 20, 1996, at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. D.C. United beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 in extra-time, after trailing 2-0, with 17 minutes remaining.D.C...
. He returned to the indoor game for the 1996-1997 indoor season with the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
. However, he tore his medial and lateral meniscus thirteen games into the season. He had surgery to repair the damage, but his knee then became infected. This kept him from playing for nearly a year and a half. In 1998, he began his comeback, going on loan to the MLS Pro-40 team and playing two games with D.C. United waived him on October 30, 1998. He returned to playing full time in 1999, spending time with the MLS Pro-40 team in the USISL. United then called him back into the team and he remained with D.C. until his retirement on January 8, 2002.
Coach
In 2002, he was the goalkeeper coach for D.C. United. At the end of the season, he left the team for the Virginia Beach MarinersVirginia Beach Mariners
The Virginia Beach Mariners were an American soccer club, who formerly played in the USL First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, the second division in the US Soccer hierarchy behind Major League Soccer...
of the USL A-League. On January 19, 2004, Simpson returned to United as an assistant coach for goalkeeping, a position which he still holds.