Micky Cave
Encyclopedia
Michael John "Micky" Cave (28 January 1949 – 6 November 1984) was an English footballer who played as a midfielder
.
, Cave was studying engineering when he started his career in non-League football
with hometown club Weymouth
in 1966. He joined Torquay United
in July 1968, soon settling into the Plainmoor
side. Although not a regular goalscorer (17 goals in 114 league games), when he did score they tended to be memorable. In July 1971 a fee of £15,000 took him to Bournemouth
. His first season at Dean Court was a struggle, and in March 1972 he joined Plymouth Argyle
on loan. However, he returned to Bournemouth and eventually played 99 league games, scoring 17 goals, before a £18,000 transfer to York City
in August 1974. His first season was York's first ever in the Second Division
and they confounded expectations by surviving, although they were relegated
the following season (with Cave winning the Clubman of the Year award). He spent the 1976 season on loan in the American Soccer League
, helping the Los Angeles Skyhawks
win the ASL title. In February 1977, after scoring 13 times in 96 league games for York, he returned to Bournemouth for a fee of £10,000. He spent the summer of 1977 on loan to North American Soccer League
side Seattle Sounders, scoring 12 goals in 22 apparances, and joined Seattle permanently the following summer after playing the last of his 42 league games for Bournemouth, in which he had scored three times. He spent the 1978 and 1979 seasons in Seattle. He then played the 1979–80 indoor season with the Pittsburgh Spirit
in the Major Indoor Soccer League, scoring 24 goals in 27 games. In 1980, he began the season with the Sounders, but played only one game before being released. He finished the season with the Cleveland Cobras
of the ASL. He then joined the Hartford Hellions
for the 1980–81 MISL season, in which he made 38 appearances and scored 24 goals, before finishing his career with two seasons back at the Pittsburgh Spirit.
Cave died in his home in Aleppo
, Pennsylvania
on 6 November 1984, aged 35, from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning
(running his car in a garage). At the time he was assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Spirit of the MISL. He has since had the Player of the Year Award named after him in his honour at Bournemouth.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Career
Born in Weymouth, DorsetDorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, Cave was studying engineering when he started his career in non-League football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with hometown club Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
in 1966. He joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in July 1968, soon settling into the Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
side. Although not a regular goalscorer (17 goals in 114 league games), when he did score they tended to be memorable. In July 1971 a fee of £15,000 took him to Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. His first season at Dean Court was a struggle, and in March 1972 he joined Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on loan. However, he returned to Bournemouth and eventually played 99 league games, scoring 17 goals, before a £18,000 transfer to York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in August 1974. His first season was York's first ever in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
and they confounded expectations by surviving, although they were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
the following season (with Cave winning the Clubman of the Year award). He spent the 1976 season on loan 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...
, helping 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...
win the ASL title. In February 1977, after scoring 13 times in 96 league games for York, he returned to Bournemouth for a fee of £10,000. He spent the summer of 1977 on loan to 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:...
side Seattle Sounders, scoring 12 goals in 22 apparances, and joined Seattle permanently the following summer after playing the last of his 42 league games for Bournemouth, in which he had scored three times. He spent the 1978 and 1979 seasons in Seattle. He then played the 1979–80 indoor season with 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...
in the Major Indoor Soccer League, scoring 24 goals in 27 games. In 1980, he began the season with the Sounders, but played only one game before being released. He finished the season with the 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...
of the ASL. He then joined the Hartford Hellions
Hartford Hellions
The Hartford Hellions were a soccer team based out of Hartford, Connecticut that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1979 to 1981. The Hellions played their first season in the New Haven Coliseum before moving to the remodelled Hartford Civic Center.In May 1981, Athletes in...
for the 1980–81 MISL season, in which he made 38 appearances and scored 24 goals, before finishing his career with two seasons back at the Pittsburgh Spirit.
Cave died in his home in Aleppo
Aleppo Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Aleppo Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,916 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on 6 November 1984, aged 35, from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide . Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect...
(running his car in a garage). At the time he was assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Spirit of the MISL. He has since had the Player of the Year Award named after him in his honour at Bournemouth.
External links
- Micky Cave profile at Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database