Mike Masters
Encyclopedia
Michael “Mike” Masters is a former U.S. soccer forward
who is the first American to score a goal in Wembley Stadium. He played one season in the American Soccer League
, three season in its successor, the American Professional Soccer League
, and the end of the 1991-1992 English season during which his team, Colchester United
, won the FA Trophy
final. Masters also earned one cap with the U.S. national team
in 1992.
and graduated from The Wheatley School
of Old Westbury, New York
in 1985. In 1991, the school inducted Masters into its Athletic Hall of Fame for his high school soccer, basketball and track and field exploits. Masters then attended Williams College
of Williamstown, Massachusetts
. At Williams, he played on the NCAA Division III men’s soccer team from 1985 to 1988. In 1987 and 1988 he was selected as a first team All American. He finished his four years Williams with a school record forty-six goals, a record broken in 1996 by Brad Murray
.
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). In 1990, the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League
to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). Masters and the Capitals then played the 1990 and 1991 APSL seasons. In 1990, he was the third leading scorer in the APSL with 14 goals. In 1991, Masters scored seven goals as the Capitals went to the APSL title game only to lose to the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
. Despite this success, the Capitals folded during the off-season and Masters moved west to join the Blackhawks for the 1992 season. He played sixteen games, scoring four goals as the team finished 8-8. At the end of the APSL season, Masters traveled to England for a trial with Colchester United
which, after relegation the previous year, played in the GM Vauxhall Conference. The Conference is the fifth tier of English football and, while classified as 'non-league', still receives significant media coverage and support from fans. Masters quickly attained cult status amongst Colchester supporters, scoring many vital goals in the clubs promotion winning 1991-92 season, including a hat-trick in the final game - a 5-0 win against Barrow FC that saw the 'U's' promoted back to the football league. A few days later, Masters headed the first goal in Colchester’s 3-1 victory over Witton Albion
in the FA Trophy
final, sealing the so-called 'non-league' double for his side. That was the first goal scored by an American in a Wembley Stadium cup competition. Despite his productive time with Colchester, the British Home Office denied Colchester a work permit for Masters and he returned to the United States. In 1994, the Boston Storm
traded Masters to the Long Island Rough Riders
during the season. He played for the Roughriders through the 1997 season.
as a substitute for Dominic Kinnear
in a scoreless tie with Uruguay
.
He resides in New York with his wife and son.
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 is the first American to score a goal in Wembley Stadium. He 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...
, three season in its successor, 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...
, and the end of the 1991-1992 English season during which his team, Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, won the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
final. Masters also earned one cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1992.
High school and college
Masters grew up on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
and graduated from The Wheatley School
The Wheatley School
The Wheatley School is a public high school serving grades 8 through 12 located in Old Westbury, Long Island, New York and part of the East Williston Union Free School District...
of Old Westbury, New York
Old Westbury, New York
Old Westbury is a village in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 4,671....
in 1985. In 1991, the school inducted Masters into its Athletic Hall of Fame for his high school soccer, basketball and track and field exploits. Masters then attended Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
of Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,754 at the 2010 census...
. At Williams, he played on the NCAA Division III men’s soccer team from 1985 to 1988. In 1987 and 1988 he was selected as a first team All American. He finished his four years Williams with a school record forty-six goals, a record broken in 1996 by Brad Murray
Brad Murray
Brad Murray is an Australian rugby league player for the Western Suburbs Rosellas in the Newcastle Rugby League. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels lower grades while making the National Youth League Team of the Year in 2010...
.
Professional
Following his graduation from Williams in 1989, Masters signed with the Albany CapitalsAlbany Capitals
The Albany Capitals joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1989. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
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...
(ASL). In 1990, the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
to form 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...
(APSL). Masters and the Capitals then played the 1990 and 1991 APSL seasons. In 1990, he was the third leading scorer in the APSL with 14 goals. In 1991, Masters scored seven goals as the Capitals went to the APSL title game only to lose to the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks was a professional soccer team which came into existence in 1989 as a team in the Western Soccer League . The Blackhawks spent time in the American Professional Soccer League and the United States Interregional Soccer League...
. Despite this success, the Capitals folded during the off-season and Masters moved west to join the Blackhawks for the 1992 season. He played sixteen games, scoring four goals as the team finished 8-8. At the end of the APSL season, Masters traveled to England for a trial with Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
which, after relegation the previous year, played in the GM Vauxhall Conference. The Conference is the fifth tier of English football and, while classified as 'non-league', still receives significant media coverage and support from fans. Masters quickly attained cult status amongst Colchester supporters, scoring many vital goals in the clubs promotion winning 1991-92 season, including a hat-trick in the final game - a 5-0 win against Barrow FC that saw the 'U's' promoted back to the football league. A few days later, Masters headed the first goal in Colchester’s 3-1 victory over Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
in the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
final, sealing the so-called 'non-league' double for his side. That was the first goal scored by an American in a Wembley Stadium cup competition. Despite his productive time with Colchester, the British Home Office denied Colchester a work permit for Masters and he returned to the United States. In 1994, the Boston Storm
Boston Storm
The Boston Storm were a Professional Soccer Team that competed in the USISLfrom 1993 to 1995 as a founding member of the USISL Northeast Division. In 1993, they played 6 exhibition games against USISL opponents and International Competition with a record of 3-3. On July 3, 1993 they defeated the...
traded Masters to the Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
during the season. He played for the Roughriders through the 1997 season.
National team
On June 27, 1992, Masters earned his one and only cap with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
as a substitute for Dominic Kinnear
Dominic Kinnear
Dominic Kinnear is a Scottish-born American former soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.As a player, he began his professional career with Scottish club St...
in a scoreless tie with Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
.
Post-soccer
Following his time with the national team, Mike spent some time coaching at DePaul University. He went on to receive his MBA at DePaul. He currently works on Wall Street as an investment banker with Barclays Bank.He resides in New York with his wife and son.