Carl Valentine
Encyclopedia
Carl Howard Valentine is a former professional soccer player and coach who has had a long association with soccer in the Vancouver
area (British Columbia
, Canada
).
He was the head coach of Ottawa Fury
in the USL Premier Development League
until recently taking the position as Vancouver Whitecaps FC club ambassador and staff coach in 2011 when the Whitecaps joined the Major League Soccer network
of the North American Soccer League
, Oldham Athletic
, West Bromwich Albion
of the Football League
, and the Vancouver 86ers of the Canadian Soccer League and later American Professional Soccer League
.
A striker
, Valentine began his pro career in 1976 as a 17 year-old with Football League Second Division
side Oldham Athletic
. Valentine signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps
and as a rookie helped them win their only North American Soccer League
championship in 1979. Liking life in Vancouver, Valentine became a Canadian citizen in 1983. The lure of top division English football saw Valentine sign with West Midlands
side West Brom in 1984. Valentine is the last player to score a winning goal for the Albion against their local rivals Aston Villa in a 1-0 win back in 1985. After two seasons with the Baggies, in which he played 44 first-team games and scored 6 times, Valentine returned to Vancouver to play for the new franchise Vancouver 86ers, where he remained for the next 13 years. Retiring as a full-time player in 1992, Valentine was player/manager of the club until retiring in 1999.
On November 22, 1985, Valentine signed with the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Valentine played three seasons with the Force which folded during the 1988 off season. He then signed with the Baltimore Blast
. In June 1990, Valentine signed a one year contract with the Blast only to be traded to the Kansas City Comets
in exchange for Dale Mitchell
on August 21, 1990. The Comets folded at the end of the season and in September 1991, Valentine signed with the Tacoma Stars.
at some point, Valentine passed on an offer to play for Canada at the 1984 Summer Olympics
. He decided in 1985 however to declare his allegiance to his new home country and made his debut for Canada
in a September 1985 FIFA World Cup qualification
match against Honduras
. Despite a bad case of influenza, Valentine famously assisted on both goals (with corner kicks) Canada scored to defeat Honduras 2-1 to advance to the World Cup Finals for the first (and until now, only) time.
He earned a total of 31 caps, scoring 1 goal. He represented Canada in 9 World Cup qualifiers and played in the country's all three first round ties at the 1986 World Cup Finals. His final international was an August 1993 World Cup qualification match against Australia, a game which also marked the end of the international careers of Dale Mitchell
and Mike Sweeney
.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
area (British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
).
He was the head coach of Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury is a Canadian soccer team based in Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 2005, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference....
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
until recently taking the position as Vancouver Whitecaps FC club ambassador and staff coach in 2011 when the Whitecaps joined the Major League Soccer network
Club career
Valentine had a long, successful playing career from the late 1970s to the late 1990s with several clubs, notably the Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
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:...
, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, and the Vancouver 86ers of the Canadian Soccer League and later 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...
.
A striker
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...
, Valentine began his pro career in 1976 as a 17 year-old with Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
. Valentine signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
and as a rookie helped them win their only 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:...
championship in 1979. Liking life in Vancouver, Valentine became a Canadian citizen in 1983. The lure of top division English football saw Valentine sign with West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
side West Brom in 1984. Valentine is the last player to score a winning goal for the Albion against their local rivals Aston Villa in a 1-0 win back in 1985. After two seasons with the Baggies, in which he played 44 first-team games and scored 6 times, Valentine returned to Vancouver to play for the new franchise Vancouver 86ers, where he remained for the next 13 years. Retiring as a full-time player in 1992, Valentine was player/manager of the club until retiring in 1999.
On November 22, 1985, Valentine signed with the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Valentine played three seasons with the Force which folded during the 1988 off season. He then signed with 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...
. In June 1990, Valentine signed a one year contract with the Blast only to be traded 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...
in exchange for Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell may refer to:* Dale Mitchell , American baseball player* Dale Mitchell , Canadian soccer player...
on August 21, 1990. The Comets folded at the end of the season and in September 1991, Valentine signed with the Tacoma Stars.
International career
Initially hoping to be selected to play for EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at some point, Valentine passed on an offer to play for Canada at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
. He decided in 1985 however to declare his allegiance to his new home country and made his debut for Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in a September 1985 FIFA World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
match against Honduras
Honduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
. Despite a bad case of influenza, Valentine famously assisted on both goals (with corner kicks) Canada scored to defeat Honduras 2-1 to advance to the World Cup Finals for the first (and until now, only) time.
He earned a total of 31 caps, scoring 1 goal. He represented Canada in 9 World Cup qualifiers and played in the country's all three first round ties at the 1986 World Cup Finals. His final international was an August 1993 World Cup qualification match against Australia, a game which also marked the end of the international careers of Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell (soccer)
Dale William Dink Mitchell is a former top-level professional association football striker who played for several North American teams in the 1980s and 1990s....
and Mike Sweeney
Mike Sweeney (soccer)
Michael "Mike" Sweeney is a former Canadian soccer player.-NASL:In 1980, the Edmonton Drillers of the North American Soccer League signed Sweeney. He spent three seasons with the Drillers before moving to the Vancouver Whitecaps for the 1983 season...
.
International goals
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 13 June 1992 Toronto TorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
3-0 3-1 Columbus 500 Cup