Alan West (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Alan West is a retired English football
central midfielder. He attended Greenfield Street boys secondary modern in Hyde, Cheshire.
West began his career at Burnley, a product of the club's prolific youth system. In 1973, he was set for a move to Sunderland but was told by medical staff that he had a condition which meant he would be crippled if he continued playing. He believed there was nothing wrong, and moved to Luton Town that year.
He spent eight seasons at Luton, becoming an important player as well as club captain. West made his name as a cultured midfielder who though not prolific was a fine passer of the ball. He was ever-present in his one top-flight season with the Hatters (1974–75). In 1976, he moved the Minnesota Kicks
of the North American Soccer League
, playing with the team through the 1979 season. Moving to Millwall in 1981, West spent two seasons there before moving on to non-League football - as manager of Isthmian League strugglers Hitchin Town, being sacked in September 1988 after a poor start to the season.
West is now a pastor at a local church in Luton, named Luton Christian Fellowship. He is also the Club Chaplain at Luton Town Football Club.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
central midfielder. He attended Greenfield Street boys secondary modern in Hyde, Cheshire.
West began his career at Burnley, a product of the club's prolific youth system. In 1973, he was set for a move to Sunderland but was told by medical staff that he had a condition which meant he would be crippled if he continued playing. He believed there was nothing wrong, and moved to Luton Town that year.
He spent eight seasons at Luton, becoming an important player as well as club captain. West made his name as a cultured midfielder who though not prolific was a fine passer of the ball. He was ever-present in his one top-flight season with the Hatters (1974–75). In 1976, he moved the Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos...
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:...
, playing with the team through the 1979 season. Moving to Millwall in 1981, West spent two seasons there before moving on to non-League football - as manager of Isthmian League strugglers Hitchin Town, being sacked in September 1988 after a poor start to the season.
West is now a pastor at a local church in Luton, named Luton Christian Fellowship. He is also the Club Chaplain at Luton Town Football Club.