Alan Mayer
Encyclopedia
Alan Mayer, a native of Islip, New York
is a retired soccer goalkeeper
from the United States
. He played professionally in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer team
.
(JMU) where he played collegiate soccer for four seasons. He was the JMU soccer team MVP all four years while setting school records for career and season shutouts. He was selected to the James Madison University Hall of Fame in 1988.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). In 1976, the Comets moved to San Diego and renamed their franchise, the Jaws
. The team moved again in 1977 after only one season in San Diego, this time to Las Vegas, becoming the Quicksilvers. That year, Mayer earned NASL Second Team All Star honors. In 1978, the team moved again, back to San Diego where they gained the name Sockers. Mayer remained with the team through all these moves and was named the 1978 NASL North American Player of the Year. Beginning in 1979, Mayer began bouncing between indoor and outdoor soccer for several years. While on contract with the Sockers for the outdoor season, he joined the Pittsburgh Spirit
of the original Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) for the 1979-1980 MISL season. He was selected as second team All MISL with the Spirit. In 1980, the Sockers traded Mayer to the California Surf
. He played two seasons with the Surf, but retired from outdoor soccer when the Surf folded after the 1981 season. Between the 1980 and 1981 outdoor season, Mayer also played with the New Jersey Rockets of the MISL. After the Surf folded, Mayer concentrated on playing indoor soccer
for the remainder of his career. He returned to the Rockets for the 1981-1982 season before moving back to the San Diego Sockers which, while still officially part of the NASL, was playing in the MISL during the indoor season. While the Sockers had been a poor outdoor team, they quickly became the dominant U.S.indoor franchise, winning the MISL 1982-1983 championship. Mayer was the named the MISL MVP and was the MISL All Star team goalkeeper that year as well. Mayer played a single season with the Las Vegas Americans
during the 1984-1985 MISL season before moving to the Kansas City Comets
. He made the MISL All Star team for a second time during the 1985-1986 season. When that team folded in 1992, Mayer retired from playing.
, gaining 2 shutouts, with the United States men's national soccer team
from 1976 and 1977. During that period, he and Arnie Mausser
traded duties as the starting goalkeeper on the national team.
During his career, he was known for wearing a hockey style helmet.http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/1979updates/socking_san_diego.htm
of Major League Soccer
. He currently works as a sales manager for Assurant in Kansas City.
Islip (town), New York
The Town of Islip is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York . Located on the south shore of Long Island, the town population was 322,612 at the 2000 census. The smaller, unincorporated hamlet of Islip lies within the town.-Demographics:...
is a retired soccer goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He played professionally 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:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer 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...
.
Youth
After graduating from West Islip High School high school, Mayer attended James Madison UniversityJames Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
(JMU) where he played collegiate soccer for four seasons. He was the JMU soccer team MVP all four years while setting school records for career and season shutouts. He was selected to the James Madison University Hall of Fame in 1988.
Professional
After graduating in 1974, he was drafted by the Baltimore CometsBaltimore Comets
The Baltimore Comets were a soccer team based out of Baltimore, Maryland that played in the North American Soccer League. They played from 1974 to 1975. Their home field was Memorial Stadium...
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 1976, the Comets moved to San Diego and renamed their franchise, the Jaws
San Diego Jaws
The San Diego Jaws were a soccer team based out of San Diego, California that played in the North American Soccer League. They only lasted one year, 1976. Their home field was the Aztec Bowl, San Diego State University's home. Previous to San Diego, the team played as the Baltimore Comets...
. The team moved again in 1977 after only one season in San Diego, this time to Las Vegas, becoming the Quicksilvers. That year, Mayer earned NASL Second Team All Star honors. In 1978, the team moved again, back to San Diego where they gained the name Sockers. Mayer remained with the team through all these moves and was named the 1978 NASL North American Player of the Year. Beginning in 1979, Mayer began bouncing between indoor and outdoor soccer for several years. While on contract with the Sockers for the outdoor season, he joined 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...
of the original Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) for the 1979-1980 MISL season. He was selected as second team All MISL with the Spirit. In 1980, the Sockers traded Mayer to the California Surf
California Surf
The California Surf were a soccer club based in Anaheim, California who played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. Their home field was Anaheim Stadium.They originally were the St. Louis Stars...
. He played two seasons with the Surf, but retired from outdoor soccer when the Surf folded after the 1981 season. Between the 1980 and 1981 outdoor season, Mayer also played with the New Jersey Rockets of the MISL. After the Surf folded, Mayer concentrated on playing indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
for the remainder of his career. He returned to the Rockets for the 1981-1982 season before moving back to the San Diego Sockers which, while still officially part of the NASL, was playing in the MISL during the indoor season. While the Sockers had been a poor outdoor team, they quickly became the dominant U.S.indoor franchise, winning the MISL 1982-1983 championship. Mayer was the named the MISL MVP and was the MISL All Star team goalkeeper that year as well. Mayer played a single season with the Las Vegas Americans
Las Vegas Americans
The Las Vegas Americans were a soccer team based out of Las Vegas that played in the Major Soccer League. They played only one season, 1984 and lost in the first round of the championship that year. The Americans finished their only season in the league with a 30-18 record earning them second place...
during the 1984-1985 MISL season before moving to the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
. He made the MISL All Star team for a second time during the 1985-1986 season. When that team folded in 1992, Mayer retired from playing.
National team
He earned 6 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, gaining 2 shutouts, with the United States men's national soccer 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...
from 1976 and 1977. During that period, he and Arnie Mausser
Arnie Mausser
Arnold "Arnie" Mausser is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played with 8 different NASL teams from 1975-1984. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
traded duties as the starting goalkeeper on the national team.
During his career, he was known for wearing a hockey style helmet.http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/1979updates/socking_san_diego.htm
Coach
After retiring from playing, Mayer served as an assistant coach to the Kansas City WizardsKansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He currently works as a sales manager for Assurant in Kansas City.