Mike Balson
Encyclopedia
Mike Balson is a retired English professional association football defender
who played professionally in England, South Africa and the United States. He currently lives in the United States where he has served several decades as a referee as well as a team and league executive. He is a member of both the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association Hall of Fame and the United Soccer Leagues
Hall of Fame.
of the North American Soccer League
. In 1982, he played for the Georgia Generals
of the American Soccer League
. He played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies during the 1986-1987 American Indoor Soccer Association season.
women's finals. In 1985, he officiated during the NCAA Division I women's tournament. In 1996, he officiated the women's quarterfinals and in 1999, he officiated the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
Final. On the men's side, he oversaw the NCAA quarterfinals from 2000 to 2003 while officiating the ACC
men's finals. In 2002, 2004 and 2005, he officiated the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. He was inducted into the NISOA Hall of Fame in 2006.
of the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League which later became the USISL and eventually the USL. He became a USISL administrator in 1991, the same year he joined the management of the Atlanta Magic
. In 1998 he became the general manager of the Atlanta Silverbacks
. In 2002, Balson was inducted into the USL Hall of Fame as a Builder.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played professionally in England, South Africa and the United States. He currently lives in the United States where he has served several decades as a referee as well as a team and league executive. He is a member of both the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association Hall of Fame and the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
Hall of Fame.
Player
A member of England's oldest family of commercial butchers, Balson grew up in England where he began playing for Exeter City in 1966. In 1974, he transferred to South African Club Highlands Park. In 1979, he moved to the United States where he signed with the Atlanta ChiefsAtlanta Chiefs
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'...
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:...
. In 1982, he played for the Georgia Generals
Georgia Generals
Georgia Generals were a professional soccer team in the USA. They played for one season in the ASL. They were formed when the Cleveland Cobras franchise moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Their owner was Walt Russell...
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...
. He played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies during the 1986-1987 American Indoor Soccer Association season.
Referee
In 1981, Balson became a member of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA). Over the years, he worked his way into the highest levels of intercollegiate refereeing. In 1984, he became a national referee, working both national junior college and NAIANational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
women's finals. In 1985, he officiated during the NCAA Division I women's tournament. In 1996, he officiated the women's quarterfinals and in 1999, he officiated the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...
Final. On the men's side, he oversaw the NCAA quarterfinals from 2000 to 2003 while officiating the ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
men's finals. In 2002, 2004 and 2005, he officiated the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. He was inducted into the NISOA Hall of Fame in 2006.
Administrator
In 1990, he was part of the establishment of the Atlanta ExpressAtlanta Express
The Atlanta Express was a soccer club based in Atlanta, Georgia that competed in the SISL.Following the 1991 outdoor season, the team became the Gwinnett County Steamers.-Year-by-year:...
of the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League which later became the USISL and eventually the USL. He became a USISL administrator in 1991, the same year he joined the management of the Atlanta Magic
Atlanta Magic
The Atlanta Magic were a soccer club that competed in the USISL from 1991 to 1996. The club originally started in 1991/92 in the indoor USISL league. They played in the 1992 USISL outdoor season as the Atlanta Datagraphic Magic, and the 1993 USISL outdoor season as the Atlanta Lasers...
. In 1998 he became the general manager of the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
. In 2002, Balson was inducted into the USL Hall of Fame as a Builder.