Brad Smith (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Brad Smith is a retired American soccer forward
who played professionally in Germany and the United States, including the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League
.
where he was an outstanding soccer and football player. Playing as a tailback, Smith was the 1983 Los Angeles Times High School Player of the Year. He was heavily recruited several collegiate football programs. However, he was also drafted by both the San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League
and the Cleveland Force
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Smith chose to neither sign with an American team nor attend college, but moved to Germany where he pursued a professional soccer career.
and 3rd Liga
playing for Rot-Weiss Essen
and BVL Remscheid. In 1989, he returned to the Los Angeles area. In 1990, Smith played for the Los Angeles Heat
of the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). That fall, he signed as a free agent with the Wichita Wings
of the Major Indoor Soccer League where he played for two seasons. During the summer of 1991, Smith returned to the outdoor game, playing for the Salt Lake Sting
and the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the APSL. With the collapse of the MISL and the Wichita Wings in 1992, Smith moved to the Dayton Dynamo
of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1993, he returned to the Rowdies for the 1993 APSL season. In 1994, he played for the Los Angeles Salsa
, which finished runner up to the Colorado Foxes
. On November 1, 1994, the Baltimore Spirit purchased Smith’s contract from the Dayton Dynamo. In October 1996, the Spirit released Smith and he signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Silverbacks
. The Silverbacks folded at the end of the season. In 1998, Smith again played outdoors, this time with the San Diego Flash
of the USISL A-League, returning to the Flash again in 1999. On August 13, 1998, the Baltimore Blast
selected Smith in the NPSL dispersal draft.
In November 1999, the Blast sent Smith to the Buffalo Blizzard
in exchange for future considerations. He suffered from several injuries before being waived in November 2000. He retired and entered the financial career field.
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 played professionally in Germany and the United States, including the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and 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...
.
Youth
Smith graduated from Culver City High SchoolCulver City High School
Culver City High School is the main public high school of the Culver City Unified School District in Culver City, California. It was opened in 1951. The school's colors are primarily blue and silver, and the mascot is the centaur. As of 2008, the enrollment was 2,308...
where he was an outstanding soccer and football player. Playing as a tailback, Smith was the 1983 Los Angeles Times High School Player of the Year. He was heavily recruited several collegiate football programs. However, he was also drafted by both the San Diego Sockers 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:...
and the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Force
The Cleveland Force has been the name of two indoor soccer teams based in the Richfield, Ohio area:*Cleveland Force , of the original MISL*Cleveland Force , known as the Crunch from 1989 to 2002...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Smith chose to neither sign with an American team nor attend college, but moved to Germany where he pursued a professional soccer career.
Professional
Smith spent six years in the German 2. Fußball-Bundesliga2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
and 3rd Liga
3rd Liga
The 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
playing for Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
and BVL Remscheid. In 1989, he returned to the Los Angeles area. In 1990, Smith played for the Los Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. They joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League...
of 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). That fall, he signed as a free agent 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 where he played for two seasons. During the summer of 1991, Smith returned to the outdoor game, playing for the Salt Lake Sting
Salt Lake Sting
The Salt Lake Sting was a professional soccer team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They played in the American Professional Soccer League. The franchise lasted two seasons, but financial concerns caused the team's ownership to shut the franchise down on July 5, 1991...
and the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the APSL. With the collapse of the MISL and the Wichita Wings in 1992, Smith moved to the Dayton Dynamo
Dayton Dynamo
The Dayton Dynamo was a professional indoor soccer team from Dayton, Ohio. The team played in the American Indoor Soccer Association ....
of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1993, he returned to the Rowdies for the 1993 APSL season. In 1994, he played for the Los Angeles Salsa
Los Angeles Salsa
The Los Angeles Salsa was an American Professional Soccer League franchise. The club played on the campus of California State University, Fullerton at Titan Stadium in a suburb of Orange County, California...
, which finished runner up to the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
. On November 1, 1994, the Baltimore Spirit purchased Smith’s contract from the Dayton Dynamo. In October 1996, the Spirit released Smith and he signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Silverbacks
Cincinnati Silverbacks
The Cincinnati Silverbacks was an indoor soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. They performed under the leadership of All-Star goalkeeper, Carlos Pena. Other star players included Gino DiFlorio , Franklin McIntosh, and Dennis Brose...
. The Silverbacks folded at the end of the season. In 1998, Smith again played outdoors, this time with the San Diego Flash
San Diego Flash
San Diego Flash is an American soccer team based in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1998, the team returned to competitive play in 2011 when it made its debut in the Southwest Flight of the West Division of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
of the USISL A-League, returning to the Flash again in 1999. On August 13, 1998, the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
selected Smith in the NPSL dispersal draft.
In November 1999, the Blast sent Smith to the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
in exchange for future considerations. He suffered from several injuries before being waived in November 2000. He retired and entered the financial career field.