Neil Megson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Neil Megson is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder
who currently coaches youth soccer. He played two seasons in the North American Soccer League
, nine in Major Indoor Soccer League
, one in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
and six in the USL First Division
and its predecessors. He served as head coach to the Seattle Sounders
for five seasons, winning the 1995 A-League championship and being named the 2000 USL Coach of the Year. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team
in 1988. He is the brother of former West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson
.
, played for English clubs Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers from 1959 to 1972. He then coached the Rovers for five years before moving to the United States to coach the Portland Timbers
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) in 1977. Megson played with the Frampton Rangers Youth Academy before joining Bristol Rovers F.C.
as an apprentice when he was fourteen. He was sixteen when his father moved their family to Portland. On arriving in Oregon, Megson attended Lake Oswego High School
, becoming an outstanding prep player. He was named the Oregon Player of the Year his senior year. Megson’s family returned to England, but he elected to remain in the U.S. After high school, he attended a local community college for a year.
of the NASL signed Megson. He saw time in fourteen games, but the Sounders folded at the end of the 1983 season and Megson moved to the Tulsa Roughnecks
for the 1984 NASL season. The Roughnecks and the NASL folded at the end of the season. By the time the NASL had folded, Megson was firmly established as an indoor player with the Tacoma Stars of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He had signed with the Stars as the team’s first player in the summer of 1983 and had played his first season in Tacoma during the 1983-1984 NASL off season. He remained with the Stars until the team folded at the end of the 1991-1992 season. Following the collapse of the Stars, Megson played a single season with the Portland Pride
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
in 1993. In 1994, a new Seattle Sounders
team was formed, this time in the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). Megson signed with the team as a free agent in March 1994 and spent most of his years with the team playing sweeper. In 1995, the Sounders won the A-League championship. In March 1996, Megson took on the duties of coach, as well as player, with the Sounders. In that role, he led the team to the 1996 A-League title. In August and then again in October of that year, he suffered several injuries which put him out of play for several months. Megson continued to play with the team through the 1998 season. In 1999, he became the team’s dedicated coach.
in a 1-1 tie with Chile
on June 1, 1988. He came on for Bernie James
who replaced Megson as head coach of the Sounders after Megson was fired. Megson’s second cap came two days later in a 3-1 loss to Chile. He started the game, then came off for Chris Sullivan
.
in 1993, Megson also served as an assistant coach. When he moved to the Sounders in 1994, he served as both an assistant coach and player under Alan Hinton
. On March 3, 1996, the Sounders elevated Megson from player to player-coach after the team fired Hinton. On September 28, 2000 he was named the USL A-League Coach of the Year.
In 2003, Olympic College
hired Megson to establish the school’s men's and women's soccer teams. He coached the women’s team’s first season in 2004. In 2004, he became the Coaching Director of the WestSound Football Club and remained with the club through July 2007. In 2007, Megson rejoined the Sounders club as an assistant with the Sounders Crossfire W-League
team. He is also a staff coach with the Westsound F.C. youth club.
ice cream stores and a hair salon.
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...
who currently coaches youth soccer. He played two seasons in 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:...
, nine in 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...
, one in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
and six in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
and its predecessors. He served as head coach to the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
for five seasons, winning the 1995 A-League championship and being named the 2000 USL Coach of the Year. He also earned two caps 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 1988. He is the brother of former West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
.
Youth
Megson’s father, DonDon Megson
Donald Harry Megson is an English former footballer and football manager.Don Megson is regarded as one of Sheffield Wednesday's greatest servants. He was signed from Mossley in the Cheshire League by Wednesday in 1952...
, played for English clubs Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers from 1959 to 1972. He then coached the Rovers for five years before moving to the United States to coach the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (NASL)
The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January...
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:...
(NASL) in 1977. Megson played with the Frampton Rangers Youth Academy before joining Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
as an apprentice when he was fourteen. He was sixteen when his father moved their family to Portland. On arriving in Oregon, Megson attended Lake Oswego High School
Lake Oswego High School
Lake Oswego High School is a public high school in Lake Oswego, Oregon. LOHS is accredited through the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.-History:...
, becoming an outstanding prep player. He was named the Oregon Player of the Year his senior year. Megson’s family returned to England, but he elected to remain in the U.S. After high school, he attended a local community college for a year.
Professional
In 1983, the Seattle SoundersSeattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
of the NASL signed Megson. He saw time in fourteen games, but the Sounders folded at the end of the 1983 season and Megson moved to the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
for the 1984 NASL season. The Roughnecks and the NASL folded at the end of the season. By the time the NASL had folded, Megson was firmly established as an indoor player with the Tacoma Stars of 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...
(MISL). He had signed with the Stars as the team’s first player in the summer of 1983 and had played his first season in Tacoma during the 1983-1984 NASL off season. He remained with the Stars until the team folded at the end of the 1991-1992 season. Following the collapse of the Stars, Megson played a single season with the Portland Pride
Portland Pride
The Portland Pride are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997.-History:In 1993, a new league, the Continental Indoor Soccer League began its first season. Traditionally, indoor soccer has been a winter sport, but the CISL decided to...
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
in 1993. In 1994, a new Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
team was formed, this time 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...
(APSL). Megson signed with the team as a free agent in March 1994 and spent most of his years with the team playing sweeper. In 1995, the Sounders won the A-League championship. In March 1996, Megson took on the duties of coach, as well as player, with the Sounders. In that role, he led the team to the 1996 A-League title. In August and then again in October of that year, he suffered several injuries which put him out of play for several months. Megson continued to play with the team through the 1998 season. In 1999, he became the team’s dedicated coach.
National team
Megson earned his first of two caps 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...
in a 1-1 tie with Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
on June 1, 1988. He came on for Bernie James
Bernie James
Bernie James is a former U.S. soccer player and current youth soccer coach. James spent twenty-four years as a professional, both beginning and ending his career with different versions of the Seattle Sounders. He played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American...
who replaced Megson as head coach of the Sounders after Megson was fired. Megson’s second cap came two days later in a 3-1 loss to Chile. He started the game, then came off for Chris Sullivan
Christopher Sullivan (soccer)
Christopher Sullivan is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder/forward and current soccer trainer and sports broadcaster.-Youth and college:...
.
Coach
While playing with the Portland PridePortland Pride
The Portland Pride are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997.-History:In 1993, a new league, the Continental Indoor Soccer League began its first season. Traditionally, indoor soccer has been a winter sport, but the CISL decided to...
in 1993, Megson also served as an assistant coach. When he moved to the Sounders in 1994, he served as both an assistant coach and player under Alan Hinton
Alan Hinton
Alan Thomas Hinton is an English former footballer who most notably played for Derby County and Nottingham Forest in the 1960s...
. On March 3, 1996, the Sounders elevated Megson from player to player-coach after the team fired Hinton. On September 28, 2000 he was named the USL A-League Coach of the Year.
In 2003, Olympic College
Olympic College
Olympic College is an urban-based, but rural- and urban-serving, 2-year public institution in the state of Washington.Olympic College opened its doors as Olympic Junior College on September 5, 1946. The main building was located in Bremerton...
hired Megson to establish the school’s men's and women's soccer teams. He coached the women’s team’s first season in 2004. In 2004, he became the Coaching Director of the WestSound Football Club and remained with the club through July 2007. In 2007, Megson rejoined the Sounders club as an assistant with the Sounders Crossfire W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
team. He is also a staff coach with the Westsound F.C. youth club.
Non soccer ventures
Over the years, Megson has owned at least two Baskin-RobbinsBaskin-Robbins
Baskin-Robbins is a global chain of ice cream parlors founded by Burt Baskin and Irvine Robbins in 1953, from the merging of their respective ice cream parlors, in Glendale, California. It claims to be the world's largest ice cream franchise, with more than 5,800 locations, 2,800 of which are...
ice cream stores and a hair salon.
