Andy Chapman
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Chapman (born September 18, 1959 in London, England) is a retired English-American soccer player who saw his greatest success as an indoor player in the United States. He spent six seasons in the American Soccer League
, ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League
, four in the National Professional Soccer League and two in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
.
Andy Chapman was born in London, England on September 18, 1959. An Arsenal F.C.
signee at age 16, he turned pro the following year. Chapman went to the United States
in the summer of 1978 to play outdoors for the California Sunshine
of the American Soccer League
for two seasons. In 1980, he moved to the Cleveland Cobras
, spending two seasons with them. In 1982, he moved to the Detroit Express
. The Express won the Championship in 1982 as Chapman led the league with 23 goals. His last outdoor season came in 1983 with the Express. The league collapsed at the end of the season and Chapman dedicated himself to indoor soccer. He had already established himself as an indoor player, signing in 1979 with the Wichita Wings
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). In 1984, he was a first team All Star as a forward. He began the 1984-1985 season in Wichita, but on March 1, 1985, the Cleveland Force purchased Chapman's contract. He finished the season in Cleveland, then played the 1985-1986 season with the Force before being released on May 10, 1986 as part a salary reduction effort. He then moved to the Baltimore Blast
before moving to the Wings for at least the 1988-1989 season. Chapman, known as one of the best natural goal-scorers to ever play the indoor game, was a fan favorite in every city. He finished with 307 MISL goals, a tally which ranks 8th all time. His best season was 1983-84 when he finished second in goal scoring, seventh in league overall scoring and was named to the league's All-MISL team.
In 1990, Chapman became a player-coach of the National Professional Soccer League's Detroit Rockers
. He led the league in scoring during the 1990-1991 season with 77 goals and 37 assists in 40 games. He was selected as both the NPSL MVP and a first team All Star that season. In 1992, the Rockers won the NPSL championship. In 1994, the Detroit Neon of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
hired Chapman away from the Rockers. In 2000 he came out of retirement to play for the Detroit Rockers in their last three games of the season, making him one of only two players (Goalkeeper, Victor Nogueira) to play in four different decades.
Involved in youth coaching since 1978, Chapman started the Birmingham United Football Club in 1997, a youth soccer club in Birmingham, Michigan
. The club currently has 34 teams, both boys and girls, from U-9 to U18.
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...
, ten in the 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...
, four in the National Professional Soccer League and two 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...
.
Andy Chapman was born in London, England on September 18, 1959. An Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
signee at age 16, he turned pro the following year. Chapman went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the summer of 1978 to play outdoors for the California Sunshine
California Sunshine (soccer)
The California Sunshine was an American soccer club based in Fountain Valley, California that was a member of the American Soccer League. The team was owned by Dr. Robert Everakes and his wife Alexandra, who was the general manager...
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...
for two seasons. In 1980, he moved to the Cleveland Cobras
Cleveland Cobras
The Cleveland Stars were an American soccer club based in Cleveland, Ohio and a member of the American Soccer League in 1972-73. Before the 1974 season, the name was changed to the Cleveland Cobras. The Stars' colors were blue and white...
, spending two seasons with them. In 1982, he moved to the Detroit Express
Detroit Express (ASL)
The Detroit Express was an American soccer team based in Detroit, Michigan and a member of the American Soccer League. They joined the league in 1981 after the original NASL Express were moved to Washington D.C. to replace the Diplomats who had folded at the end of 1980...
. The Express won the Championship in 1982 as Chapman led the league with 23 goals. His last outdoor season came in 1983 with the Express. The league collapsed at the end of the season and Chapman dedicated himself to indoor soccer. He had already established himself as an indoor player, signing in 1979 with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
of the 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). In 1984, he was a first team All Star as a forward. He began the 1984-1985 season in Wichita, but on March 1, 1985, the Cleveland Force purchased Chapman's contract. He finished the season in Cleveland, then played the 1985-1986 season with the Force before being released on May 10, 1986 as part a salary reduction effort. He then moved to the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (1980-92)
Baltimore Blast were a longtime member of the Major Indoor Soccer League. From 1978 to 1980, the team was played as Houston Summit but moved prior to the 1980-81 season. The team won the league's championship in 1984. The team folded when the MISL ceased operation in the summer of 1992.-History:The...
before moving to the Wings for at least the 1988-1989 season. Chapman, known as one of the best natural goal-scorers to ever play the indoor game, was a fan favorite in every city. He finished with 307 MISL goals, a tally which ranks 8th all time. His best season was 1983-84 when he finished second in goal scoring, seventh in league overall scoring and was named to the league's All-MISL team.
In 1990, Chapman became a player-coach of the National Professional Soccer League's Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...
. He led the league in scoring during the 1990-1991 season with 77 goals and 37 assists in 40 games. He was selected as both the NPSL MVP and a first team All Star that season. In 1992, the Rockers won the NPSL championship. In 1994, the Detroit Neon 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...
hired Chapman away from the Rockers. In 2000 he came out of retirement to play for the Detroit Rockers in their last three games of the season, making him one of only two players (Goalkeeper, Victor Nogueira) to play in four different decades.
Involved in youth coaching since 1978, Chapman started the Birmingham United Football Club in 1997, a youth soccer club in Birmingham, Michigan
Birmingham, Michigan
Birmingham is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan and an affluent suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103...
. The club currently has 34 teams, both boys and girls, from U-9 to U18.