Charlie Mitchell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Charlie Mitchell is a Scottish American
former soccer defender
and coach. He played ten seasons in the North American Soccer League
from 1970 to 1979.
in his native Scotland. He joined the Rochester Lancers
of the NASL in 1970. The Lancers won the NASL championship in 1970, and Mitchell was named an NASL all-star. He was an NASL second-team all-star in 1971 and 1975, and an honorable mention all-star in 1972 and 1974.
In 1976 Mitchell moved to the New York Cosmos
, where he had an assist on a spectacular bicycle kick
goal scored by his teammate Pelé
in a game against the Miami Toros
.
In 1977 Mitchell played for Team Hawaii
, where he became player-manager in mid-season. Team Hawaii moved to Tulsa in 1978 and became the Tulsa Roughnecks
; Mitchell was the only player Tulsa retained from the Hawaii roster.
Mitchell played the 1979 season for the Toronto Blizzard
, and finished his NASL playing career with a total of 206 NASL regular-season games and nine NASL playoff games.
. Sports Illustrated
reported that this was due to team management's dissatisfaction with the Roughnecks' low-scoring offense.
in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
for nine years until his resignation in June 2005.
Scottish American
Scottish Americans or Scots Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Scotland. Scottish Americans are closely related to Scots-Irish Americans, descendants of Ulster Scots, and communities emphasize and celebrate a common heritage...
former soccer defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and coach. He played ten seasons 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:...
from 1970 to 1979.
Club career
Mitchell played for St. Mirren F.C.St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
in his native Scotland. He joined the Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
of the NASL in 1970. The Lancers won the NASL championship in 1970, and Mitchell was named an NASL all-star. He was an NASL second-team all-star in 1971 and 1975, and an honorable mention all-star in 1972 and 1974.
In 1976 Mitchell moved to the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
, where he had an assist on a spectacular bicycle kick
Bicycle kick
A Bicycle kick or Scissor kick is a physical move made by throwing the body up into the air, making a shearing movement with the legs to get one leg in front of the other without holding on to the ground. The move can either be done backwards or sideways...
goal scored by his teammate Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
in a game against the Miami Toros
Miami Toros
The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros...
.
In 1977 Mitchell played for Team Hawaii
Team Hawaii
Team Hawaii was a soccer team based out of Honolulu that played in the NASL. The team only lasted one year, 1977. Their home field was Aloha Stadium. Previous to Hawai'i, the team played as the San Antonio Thunder. After leaving Hawai'i, the franchise became known as the Tulsa Roughnecks.-1977...
, where he became player-manager in mid-season. Team Hawaii moved to Tulsa in 1978 and became the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
; Mitchell was the only player Tulsa retained from the Hawaii roster.
Mitchell played the 1979 season for the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
, and finished his NASL playing career with a total of 206 NASL regular-season games and nine NASL playoff games.
Coaching career
After ending his playing career, Mitchell returned to Tulsa as manager of the Roughnecks. The 1980 team finished with a 15-17 record and lost to the Cosmos in the first round of the playoffs. His 1981 team started with an 11-10 record, but in July 1981, Mitchell was replaced by his assistant Terry HennesseyTerry Hennessey
William Terrence "Terry" Hennessey is a Welsh former international footballer who gained 39 caps for Wales. He played as a defender and made 400 Football League appearances in the 1960s and 1970s with Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Derby County.After his playing career, he managed a number...
. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
reported that this was due to team management's dissatisfaction with the Roughnecks' low-scoring offense.
Later career
Mitchell remained a popular figure in Tulsa, as a participant in local youth soccer programs, and as a sports bar-restaurant operator. He coached the men's and women's soccer teams at Northeastern State UniversityNortheastern State University
Northeastern State University is a public university with its main campus located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States, at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. Northeastern's home, Tahlequah, is also the capital of the Cherokee nation of Oklahoma...
in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
for nine years until his resignation in June 2005.