Chris Dangerfield
Encyclopedia
Christopher George "Chris" Dangerfield (born 9 August 1955 Coleshill, Warwickshire
) is a retired English
footballer. He began his career in England before playing ten seasons in the North American Soccer League
and at least one in the Western Soccer Alliance.
and attended John Willmott School
. Preferring rugby as a youth, he began playing football around fourteen. In 1972, he began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers
, but made no first-team appearances. In 1975, he went on loan with the expansion Portland Timbers
of the North American Soccer League
, returning to the Wolverhampton reserves during the 1975-1976 season. He spent 1976 on loan again with the Timbers before being released by Wolverhampton. He returned to England to have a trial with Port Vale
in August 1976, but only made two substitute appearances. He then signed with Coventry City
where he spent the entire season on the team's reserves in The Central League. In 1977, he moved to Las Vegas Quicksilvers, but played only sixteen games before being traded to Team Hawaii
. In 1978, he began the season with the Tulsa Roughnecks
, but saw time in only one game before being sent to the California Surf
. In 1979, he signed with the Los Angeles Aztecs
then moved to the San Jose Earthquakes in 1982. At the end of the 1982 season, the Earthquakes were renamed the Golden Bay Earthquakes. That fall
they entered the Major Indoor Soccer League for the winter indoor season. Dangerfield was the 15th leading scorer with 48 games, 52 goals, 20 assists, and 72 points. The Earthquakes returned to the NASL for the 1983 outdoor seasons. Dangerfield injured his knee during the 1983-1984 NASL indoor season and lost the entire 1984 outdoor season. In February 1985, the Kansas City Comets
of the Major Indoor Soccer League made an offer to purchase Dangerfield's contract from the Earthquakes, but the deal fell through when Dangerfield was unable to pass a physical. On March 11, 1985, he signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Strikers
of the MISL. He went on to play four season in Minnesota. On June 2, 1985, he returned to the renamed San Jose Earthquakes for the Western Alliance Challenge Series. He played one more season, 1988, for the Earthquakes in the Western Soccer Alliance after which he retired from playing professionally. However, he continued to play for the San Jose Oaks
, eventually also becoming the team's coach.
, taking them to the 1992 U.S. Open Cup title. He remained in that position until 1996.
He holds a USSF "National-A" coaching license and coaches now for the De AnzaSoccer Club of Cupertino, Saratoga, West San Jose, area of California with his team competing in the US Soccer Development Academy League.
Coleshill, Warwickshire
Coleshill is a market town in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England, taking its name from the River Cole. It has a population of 6,343 and is situated east of Birmingham.-Location:...
) is a retired English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer. He began his career in England before playing 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:...
and at least one in the Western Soccer Alliance.
Player
Dangerfield grew up in Sutton ColdfieldSutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
and attended John Willmott School
John Willmott School
John Willmott School is an 11–18 community comprehensive school located in Sutton Coldfield, England and is part of the Birmingham Local Education Authority. and has been a specialist technology college since September 2001. There are 1,186 students on roll, of whom 230 are in the sixth form....
. Preferring rugby as a youth, he began playing football around fourteen. In 1972, he began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, but made no first-team appearances. In 1975, he went on loan with the expansion Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (NASL)
The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January...
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:...
, returning to the Wolverhampton reserves during the 1975-1976 season. He spent 1976 on loan again with the Timbers before being released by Wolverhampton. He returned to England to have a trial with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in August 1976, but only made two substitute appearances. He then signed with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
where he spent the entire season on the team's reserves in The Central League. In 1977, he moved to Las Vegas Quicksilvers, but played only sixteen games before being traded to 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...
. In 1978, he began the season with 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...
, but saw time in only one game before being sent to the California Surf
California Surf
The California Surf were a soccer club based in Anaheim, California who played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. Their home field was Anaheim Stadium.They originally were the St. Louis Stars...
. In 1979, he signed with the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
then moved to the San Jose Earthquakes in 1982. At the end of the 1982 season, the Earthquakes were renamed the Golden Bay Earthquakes. That fall
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
they entered the Major Indoor Soccer League for the winter indoor season. Dangerfield was the 15th leading scorer with 48 games, 52 goals, 20 assists, and 72 points. The Earthquakes returned to the NASL for the 1983 outdoor seasons. Dangerfield injured his knee during the 1983-1984 NASL indoor season and lost the entire 1984 outdoor season. In February 1985, 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...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League made an offer to purchase Dangerfield's contract from the Earthquakes, but the deal fell through when Dangerfield was unable to pass a physical. On March 11, 1985, he signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the MISL. He went on to play four season in Minnesota. On June 2, 1985, he returned to the renamed San Jose Earthquakes for the Western Alliance Challenge Series. He played one more season, 1988, for the Earthquakes in the Western Soccer Alliance after which he retired from playing professionally. However, he continued to play for the San Jose Oaks
San Jose Oaks
The San Jose Oaks are a semi-professional soccer club from San Jose, California with affiliations to the California Soccer Association and the USSF.-History:...
, eventually also becoming the team's coach.
Coach
In 1992, he became the coach of the amateur San Jose OaksSan Jose Oaks
The San Jose Oaks are a semi-professional soccer club from San Jose, California with affiliations to the California Soccer Association and the USSF.-History:...
, taking them to the 1992 U.S. Open Cup title. He remained in that position until 1996.
He holds a USSF "National-A" coaching license and coaches now for the De AnzaSoccer Club of Cupertino, Saratoga, West San Jose, area of California with his team competing in the US Soccer Development Academy League.