Otey Cannon
Encyclopedia
Otey Cannon is a retired American soccer forward
who was the first black player in the North American Soccer League
. He also played in the American Soccer League
.
Cannon attended Chico State University where he played on the men's soccer team in 1970 and 1971. Although he played only two season, his 42 goals puts him second on the team's career goals list. Chico State inducted him into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
In 1972, Cannon turned professional with the Dallas Tornado
of the North American Soccer League
. In 1974, Dallas traded him to the expansion Seattle Sounders
. In 1976, Cannon moved to the Sacramento Spirits of the American Soccer League
.
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 was the first black player 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:...
. He also played 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...
.
Cannon attended Chico State University where he played on the men's soccer team in 1970 and 1971. Although he played only two season, his 42 goals puts him second on the team's career goals list. Chico State inducted him into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
In 1972, Cannon turned professional with the Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
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 1974, Dallas traded him to the expansion Seattle Sounders
Seattle 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...
. In 1976, Cannon moved to the Sacramento Spirits 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...
.